Habitual Laughter
The Musical Theatre Guild is warming up for its summer offering, the award winning musical “Nunsense,” which opens July 14 at the William A. Lehnerd Production Center in Memorial Park.
The show is under the direction of Patrick Erkman. It stars a handful of talented local ladies who have made singing their habit and will don the same as they take the audience front and center into the lives of the “Little Sisters of Hoboken.”
Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina, will be played by Paula Baptiste Floyd of Butler Township who teaches at the Butler Middle School.
“She is large and in charge,” Floyd said, “but knows that Sister Hubert is essential to her success in running the order.”
“Before entering the convent, Sister Mary Regina was a circus performer, so she secretly (or not so secretly) loves the spotlight,” she added.
Floyd is a natural to being in charge of a classroom so it easily transfers to this role.
“I do love the stage and enjoy taking the spotlight during lessons where I'm bringing literature alive,” she said of how the vocations are similar.
MTG last performed the “Nunsense” musical in 2008, but it was a Pittsburgh production that caught Floyd's attention.
“I remember laughing a lot and enjoying feeling the energy of the audience as they were drawn into the throw-together hilarious show put on by the nuns,” she recalled.
The nuns in the musical are trying to stage a fundraising show.
Samantha Roth of Butler, a senior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, will portray Sister Leo the novice young nun.
“She aspires to be the world's first nun ballerina,” said Roth, who is really a dancer.
With her school so far away, Roth laments she hasn't been able to do much on stage locally for the past two years.
“I was thrilled for an opportunity to get back on stage,” she said. “I love how much we get to do with props and scenery. As performers, we don't get to do teaching as much so it's really neat that we do so much,” Roth said.
She said the songs are very wordy and each tells a story. “You have to really take the time while preparing to understand the story you are telling,” she said.
Roth last appeared on stage in the fall of 2015 where she played Snoopy in “You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
The role of Sister Mary Amnesia will be played by Holly Furman of Butler. Furman is a voice studio teacher and a barista.
“She hasn't been able to remember who she is since a crucifix fell on her head,” said Furman of her character.
“She has a childlike disposition and tries her best to help the other sisters in their endeavors, though her attempts may not always end as planned,” she said.
Furman's love for musical theater prompted her to audition for her first MTG role, and she is approaching it enthusiastically. “My part has a few character traits that could be deemed a nuisance to the other nuns, so being enthusiastic allows me to enjoy the part to the best extent,” she said.
Furman last took the stage as Marian the Librarian in “The Music Man” in a Summer Dramatics Program musical.
The other sisters are portrayed by Tammy Erkman and Chris Lilley.
The production staff includes Jessica Sanzotti, musical director; Amanda (Gilland) Barron, assistant director; Shadoe Brandt, choreographer; and Barb Osche and Eric Snyder, producers.
WHO: Musical Theatre GuildWHAT: “Nunsense”WHEN: July 14 to 23, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. SundaysWHERE: William A. Lehnerd Production Center at Memorial ParkTICKETS: $17, call 724-287-8243 or visit www.mtgbutler.org
