Jeri Ryan and Market House Theatre

CONGRADULATIONS to Paducah, Kentucky native Jeri Ryan and her husband Christophe Eme on the birth of their daughter, Baby Gisele weighing 7lbs. and 13oz.

“She is absolutely beautiful and an angel she is!” according to her father.

Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine on Star Trek Voyager, Ronnie Cook on Boston Public, and Jessica Devlin on Sharks) is from Paducah, Kentucky and started her career at a local community theatre. Market House Theatre was started in 1964. In the 1980’s The "Footlights at Market House Theatre" program for children was developed and regular classes were added. Jeri started in the Footlights program. She played Show White in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.

From 1990 to 2000, the theatre has seen phenomenal growth. It has become a regional theatre drawing audiences from Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Southeastern Missouri and Western Tennessee. Market House Theatre has won national recognition with awards at every state competition it has entered.

Located in the historic Market House Building, the theatre has also been a centerpiece of historic restoration in downtown Paducah.

My Kentucky Celebrity Cookbook has had 2 wonderful contributions this month. I received a recipe for Lamb from Jeri and her husband Christophe Eme. They own the Ortolan Restaurant located at 8338 W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles, CA.

I also received a recipe from Mary Margaret Hoffman. Mary Margaret has been a volunteer for nearly 40 years at Market House. She is now in her 80’s, but still tries to do one play a year. Mary Margaret was the Executive Secretary for McCracken County Judge Raymond Schulz and volunteered with the little theatre just because she loved it.

Many young people who hoped to get a start in the theatre have worked with her over the years. She played Jeri Ryan’s grandmother in a play in the 1980’s when Jeri was 12 years old.

I am still hoping to get a recipe from April Cochran who is the founder of FOOTLIGHTS programs. April is the Education Director for the Theatre, as well as having served as president of the Kentucky Theatre Association, and board member of the American Association of Community Theatre. She is an extremely busy and talented woman. I hope she will find the time to work my cookbook into her schedule.

I also received a recipe this week from another Kentucky Theatre. Actors Theatre of Louisville and The Stephen Foster Outdoor Drama has promised to send a recipe next week.