Aloha Performing Arts Company

The nuns are coming, the nuns are coming! Aloha Performing Arts Company has finalized the cast of it next production, Dan Goggin's zany musical comedy "Nunsense," and rehearsals are well underway. The premise: a group of nuns with no stage experience must put on a variety show to make money, in order to bury several members of their order who died of botulism, accidentally poisoned by the cooking of Sister Julia, Child of God. They sing, dance, operate puppets, tell jokes, and even engage the audience in an actual game of Bingo, all in an effort to raise the funds to inter the dead sisters, who are being kept in the freezer.

Leading the cast as Sister Mary Regina, Mother Superior, is Catherine Hansen, well known to APAC audiences for such portrayals as the title character in "Mame," Dotty in "Noises Off" and Penelope Pennywise in "Urinetown." Sister Hubert, second in command and Mistress of the Novices, is played by Sara Hagen, who last appeared in "To Kill a Mockingbird" as Mayella Ewell, and has been in every APAC production of "The Rocky Horror Show." Sue Boyum, also a veteran of "The Rocky Horror Show," is playing Sister Robert Anne, the tough nun, as well as serving as vocal director. Audiences will remember Sue as the title character in "Annie Get Your Gun," among other memorable roles, and as the director of "Alice in Wonderland, Jr." Kelly Ann Miles plays the memory-challenged nun, Sister Mary Amnesia. Kelly, a veteran of numerous APAC productions, was recently honored with the annual Luna Award for consistent, long-term dedication and service to the organization. Sister Mary Leo, the young nun who wants to be a ballerina, is played by Tiffany Hughes, who is also the choreographer of the show. Tiffany has appeared in APAC's productions of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Bye Bye, Birdie."

Jerry Tracy directs the show, with Dale Ross as music director. Designers include Ann Marsh, costumes; Peter Underwood, set; Jing Jing Tsong, graphics, Kate Jacobson, props; Robin O'Hara, lighting, and Jeffrey Werle, makeup. Toni Reynolds is stage manager, and the producers are Ken Ross and Shawn Nakoa. David A. Payne is dance captain and Tiffany Kutsunai is assistant director.

"Nunsense" will be performed at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu October 16 through 31, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Audience members interested in participating in a pre-show Bingo game should arrive 15 to 20 minutes before curtain time. Refreshments will be served at the concession stand throughout the performances, and the Aloha Theatre Cafe will be open for dinner on show nights. Tickets are $18 and $15, and are available by phone Monday through Thursday at 322-1648, online at www.apachawaii.org, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain time. On Friday October 23 and 30, all seats are $15. For more information, call 322-9924.

9/17/09