Saying it is guaranteed to lift your spirits, the Marion Palace Theatre will stage the musical comedy “Nunsense” for three performances on the theatre’s main stage on April 17, 18 and 19, 2015. Please note, due to the number of advance ticket sales this production has been relocated from the May Pavilion to the main theatre.
The “Nunsense” concept originated as a line of popular greeting cards featuring a nun who offers the reader clever quips with a religious slant. Inspired by the card’s quirky characters, “Nunsense” creator Dan Goggin wrote the concept into a cabaret show. After a successful run in Manhattan, New York for 38 weeks, Goggin expanded the story into a full-length theater production, which has delighted audiences worldwide since 1985.
The “Nunsense” story is humorous and unexpected: Five out of 52 nuns at the Little Sisters of Hoboken survive an unfortunate accident, where their cook Sister Julia, Child of God, unintentionally kills the rest with her tainted vichyssoise soup. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior leads a fundraising effort to bury the ill-fated nuns, but her attempts fall a little short. With four deceased nuns on ice in the deep freeze and time running out, the five remaining Sisters decide to raise the money by putting on a variety show. They take over the local middle school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth grade production of “Grease.” What ensues is an audience pleasing show with hilarious characters, outrageous songs, tap and ballet dancing, an audience quiz, and comic surprises.
Clare Cooke directs this local production with a cast led by Julia Vanderhoff playing the former circus performer turned nun – Sister Mary Regina, Mother Superior. Vanderhoff most recently appeared in the Palace Production of “Bingo! the Musical” and has portrayed the wise-cracking elf, Sassy, in “Christmas at the Palace” since 2009.
Also in the cast of five are Sharon Gale as Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; Margaret Bowman as the streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Leah Menzie as Sister Mary Leo, the newly appointed nun who is a wannabe ballerina; and Kelly Andrews plays the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head.
In addition to Cooke as director, the talented artistic team includes Music/Vocal Director – Dee Ehrman, Choreographer – Kristi Wink, Stage Manager – Barb Yaksic, Assistant Stage Manager – Rhonda Arnold, Costume Director – Susan Wenig and Technical Director – Steve Beltz.
“Nunsense” is sponsored by OhioHealth. Media sponsors are WMRN AM and Buckeye Country.
Tickets are on sale now for $15 and may be purchased by calling (740) 383-2101, by visiting www.marionpalace.org, or at the Marion Palace Theater Box Office at 276 West Center Street, Marion. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.
If You Go
WHAT: Marion Palace Theatre production of “Nunsense”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. – Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18; 2:00 p.m. – Sunday, April 19
WHERE: Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W Center St., Marion, OH 43302
RUNNING TIME: approximately 2 hours, one intermission
TICKETS: $15 General Admission. Charge by phone (740) 383-2101 or online www.marionpalace.org
BOX OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and one hour before each performance. The box office is closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Show and theatre information may be found at www.marionpalace.org.
