To help kick off the inaugural season of the Columbus Repertory Theatre, Kate Musgrove looked over a list of shows and decided on “Nunsense.”
“We needed a fun, family show,” said Musgrove, a Columbus State University theater professor. “This is a show where you can bring the kids and do something fun with them.
“It’s good family fun. Singing and dancing nuns? Now, that’s funny.”
“Nunsense” is a musical comedy about the five surviving Little Sisters of Hoboken, a one-time missionary order that ran a leper colony on an island south of France. When their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, inadvertently made tainted vichyssoise that killed 52 residents of the order, the surviving nuns must hold a talent show to raise money to bury their deceased sisters.
The nuns take over a gymnasium that’s getting ready for an eighth grade production of “Grease.”
Talented nuns
And who are these five nuns? Rev. Mother Regina, wants to be a star. “She enjoys the spotlight,” said Ansley Usery, who plays the mother superior. “She tries to keep things in order.”
And she used to perform in the circus. “She wants to be famous and in charge,” Usery said. “She does a high-wire act.”
Sister Mary Hubert, played by Jessica Hill, is the mistress of the novices. Hill said her character is the mother figure to many of the nuns at the convent who went through novice training with her.
Sister Robert Anne is a street-wise nun from Brooklyn, played by Caroline Garcia. “She’s kind of tough,” Garcia said.
Sister Robert Anne’s talent lies in impersonating famous people.
Sister Mary Leo, played by Heather Willis, is a novice. “She wants to be the first nun ballerina,” Willis said. “The Rev. Mother won’t let me wear a tutu. Mary Leo wants to dedicate her life to God through ballet.”
And then there’s Sister Mary Amnesia, played by Sonnet Moore. A crucifix fell on her head and she lost her memory. “Sister Amnesia doesn’t know her own name,” Moore said. “She’s trying to figure out who she is. Yes, she’s ditzy.”
Sister Amnesia’s talent? “She’s a ventriloquist,” Moore said. “I have a puppet. But I really want to be a country music singer.”
The actors have had about three weeks to learn their tap numbers. “We’re working very hard,” Hill said. Rehearsals have been fun, she said.
Summer fun
Garcia really likes working with this group of actors.
Since many students have either gone to work at other theaters or home to visit their families, there aren’t many distractions, Willis said.
Zachary Wright is acting as musical director for both “Nunsense” and “Blue’s Clues Live! Blue’s Birthday Party.”
“It’s been challenging,” he said.
Musgrove also has a student assistant director, Cameron Hoelzer; and chorographer Brenda Ito has a student assistant choreographer, Brad Coggin, who is also in “Blue’s Clues.”
Hill, Garcia, Brittain White and Hoelzer are going to teach at the Springer Opera House’s Theater Academy once this show closes. Moore said she’ll go home to visit her family.
After graduation, Willis will join the Disney College Program in Orlando as an intern. Musgrove will go to New York City to see graduate Amber Dickerson in “Pinkalicious.”
But for now the cast is focused on opening the show tonight. “Bring the whole family,” Musgrove said. “Come and enjoy a night of singing and dancing nuns.”
