NUNSENSE

NENAProductions Theater Project, Ocean Grove’s resident theater company,  staged the habit-forming musical comedy NUNSENSE Fridays and Saturdays, March 1 – 9 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, March 10 at 3PM. Directed by the theater company’s Artistic Director, Nick Montesano.

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Originally hailed by the New York Times as “Wacky and outrageous with a hysterical anything goes sense of fun!” Nunsense is a barrel of laughs for any and all ages with zany songs and never ending smiles. The book, music, and lyrics are all by Dan Goggin.

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Nunsense follows the crazy antics of five nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken convent. When their cook, Sister Julia, child of God, accidentally serves up some tainted soup, 52 of the sisters are poisoned and die, leaving only five living nuns who were not at home the day of the toxic meal. When the convent's first-in-charge, Reverend Mother Regina, splurges on a flat screen LED TV, the sisters find themselves strapped for cash, as they still have four dead nuns to bury. The nuns decide to put on a benefit performance in the setting of the musical Grease in order to raise the rest of the money before the health department discovers their secret. 

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The cast line-up features NENA veteran performers including; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices played by Tara Beams (Merrily We Roll Along, Godspell); a streetwise nun named Sister Robert Anne played by Heather McLaughlin (Bat Boy, Urinetown) ; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina played by Emily Monus (Fun Home, A New Brain); and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head played by Amanda Munice (The Secret Garden, Avenue Q). Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer is played by Amy Skalecki, making her NENA debut, but a Jersey Shore stage veteran.

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Jeff Brown serves as Musical Director for the production, with Allison Walter as Stage Manager and Arnold Teixeira as Technical Director.

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All seats are $25. Tickets can be purchased at any time on-line through www.ticketleap.com, or by telephone at 732-988-1007. The Theater lobby box office opens for ticket sales one hour prior to a performance. All performance take place on the main stage of The Jersey Shore Arts Center, 66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756.

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Today, the former Neptune High School and current Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) still provides an "education" to Monmouth County. In addition to providing a venue for arts-related activities, the JSAC also is a home to creative professionals who offer instruction and participation in the arts, dance, music, and theater.

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Photos by Melissa Cacioppo