Nuns and comedy will collide this weekend with “Nunsense: the Mega-Musical,” presented by Encore Musicals of Owensboro.
The shows are at 7 p.m. on April 26 and 27 and at 2 p.m. on April 28, all at 3rd Baptist Church (527 Allen Street).
Encore Director Ronda Rodgers said this is the first time Encore has taken on this musical.
“Why now? Well, that’s two-fold,” she said. “We wanted a good comedy to balance the season. We presented ‘Sound of Music’ in the summer of 2023, and therefore had all the nun costumes already. It was a perfect time.”
Rodgers said the original “Nunsense” had only five nuns who shared the story. She said the “Mega-Musical” is super-sized, including 10 nuns and one friar.
“The larger cast brings even more excitement and laughter to the stage, including the infamous Sr. Julia, Child of God,” Rodger said.
Rodgers gave a brief look at the show “Sr. Julia is the convent cook. She prepared some vichyssoise, and 52 of the convent sisters died of botulism. They had the money to bury 48 of the dead sisters, but there are 4 more in the freezer. The premise of the show is that it’s a benefit to raise money to bury the last four dead sisters.”
In addition to Sr. Julia, the show includes:
- Sr. Mary Regina, the Reverend Mother with an unusual past
- Sr. Hubert, the Mistress of the Novices
- Sr Mary Amnesia, upon whose head a crucifix fell and she doesn’t remember who she is
- Sr. Robert Anne, the street-wise nun from Brooklyn
- Sr. Mary Leo, who wants to be the first nun ballerina
Rodgers said the show isn’t all about invoking laughs, though.
“Although it’s definitely a comedy, there are also touching moments – like when Sr. Robert Anne tells about her challenges growing up, what Sr. Rose Frances meant to her, and then sings about ‘Growing Up Catholic.’ It’s a beautiful moment in the show,” Rodgers said.
Encore has been rehearsing 4 nights per week for 8 weeks.
“I’m so proud of the work this cast and crew have done,” Rodgers said. “They are committed to making this a top-quality production on every level. We’ve maintained a very organized rehearsal schedule to be sure we’ve covered everything well. In a musical, you have to learn the music including up to five-part harmonies, the choreography which takes lots of practice, and the presentation of the story. It takes a big commitment from everyone involved. We really want the community to love it.”
Familiar faces for the Owensboro theatre crowd include Lore North, Tara Estes, and Misty Miller. First-timers with Encore include Aimee Burch, who has performed in the past but not for the last 25 years, and June Dill, who taught theatre in South Dakota and relocated to Owensboro when she retired.
Rodgers said it’s always important to recognize those who aren’t on stage but are just as vital to a successful production.
“Although you’ll see 10 nuns and a friar on stage, there are many folks behind the scenes who have made this show happen,” she said. “We’ve all come together from all walks of life as the Encore family and we just love doing this. We want to give the community a couple hours of joy and laughter in these often stress-filled days. ‘Nunsense’ definitely does this.”
