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Nunsense SeriesOpening Date: Various dates between 1983 - 2012
Medium: Television, VHS, and DVD Where to watch: DVD, BroadwayHD |
muStage Production Notes
Although the various productions of Nunsense were filmed and recorded between 1994 and 2012, this page serves as the entry for all the productions. All the shows in Nunsense series were written and directed by Dan Goggin, with the television recordings directed by David Stern. Teri Gibson was the choreographer. Leo P. Carusone and David Nyberg provided the arrangements on most of the productions, and Carusone also often served as the conductor. Where credits differ, they are listed below.
Nunsense is the creation of writer, director, composer, and producer Dan Goggin.
A musical revue about a group of nuns, the immensely popular show has been staged all over the world in 26 different languages. It has spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs, and in 2017 will become a television series.
Nunsense began life as a revue titled Nunsense Story. The show played at the Duplex Theatre in Greenwich Village in 1983 and although it was initially only scheduled for a 4 day run, played for 38 weeks.
The revue was further developed through a workshop at the Baldwin Theatre in the summer of 1985. The resulting show, Nunsense, opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre in December 1985. The musical revue went on to win four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Best Off-Broadway Musical.
Nunsense transferred to the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre in 1985, where it remained for ten years, becoming the second-longest running off-Broadway musical. It held the title until 2008, when it was overtaken by I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change. According to historian Anita Endsley, as of 2005, Nunsense creator Dan Goggin had earned $7 million from a $61,000 investment in the show.
A&E Television filmed and aired Nunsense in 1994. Image Entertainment released the show on VHS in 1997. Acorn Media released Nunsense I and II on DVD in 1998.
The popularity of Nunsense led to the creation of multiple spin-offs, most of which have been filmed and released on VHS and DVD. The filmed versions of the various shows have been released individually, and in sets.
The show is available for licensing through Tams-Witmark Music Library.
Various Nunsense productions are available on BroadwayHD.
Although the various productions of Nunsense were filmed and recorded between 1994 and 2012, this page serves as the entry for all the productions. All the shows in Nunsense series were written and directed by Dan Goggin, with the television recordings directed by David Stern. Teri Gibson was the choreographer. Leo P. Carusone and David Nyberg provided the arrangements on most of the productions, and Carusone also often served as the conductor. Where credits differ, they are listed below.
Nunsense is the creation of writer, director, composer, and producer Dan Goggin.
A musical revue about a group of nuns, the immensely popular show has been staged all over the world in 26 different languages. It has spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs, and in 2017 will become a television series.
Nunsense began life as a revue titled Nunsense Story. The show played at the Duplex Theatre in Greenwich Village in 1983 and although it was initially only scheduled for a 4 day run, played for 38 weeks.
The revue was further developed through a workshop at the Baldwin Theatre in the summer of 1985. The resulting show, Nunsense, opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre in December 1985. The musical revue went on to win four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, including Best Off-Broadway Musical.
Nunsense transferred to the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre in 1985, where it remained for ten years, becoming the second-longest running off-Broadway musical. It held the title until 2008, when it was overtaken by I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change. According to historian Anita Endsley, as of 2005, Nunsense creator Dan Goggin had earned $7 million from a $61,000 investment in the show.
A&E Television filmed and aired Nunsense in 1994. Image Entertainment released the show on VHS in 1997. Acorn Media released Nunsense I and II on DVD in 1998.
The popularity of Nunsense led to the creation of multiple spin-offs, most of which have been filmed and released on VHS and DVD. The filmed versions of the various shows have been released individually, and in sets.
The show is available for licensing through Tams-Witmark Music Library.
Various Nunsense productions are available on BroadwayHD.
Filmed Production Notes
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Nunsense
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Release Date: 1994
Theatre: Frauenthal Theatre, Michigan Producer: Neil Rosen, Tim McGinn, Tim Pastoor Musical Arrangements: Michael Rice, David Nyberg Choreography: Felton Smith Scenic Design: Barry Axtell Lighting Design: Paul Miller Design Coordinator: J.C. Howe Sound Design: Arnie Bruinsma television: Michael Shoske Wardrobe: Marcia Van Kuiken Make-Up: Kathy Price Stage Manager: Paul J. Botchis Conductor: Michael Rice Cast: Rue McClanahan (Rev. Mother Mary Regina) Christine Anderson (Sister Robert Anne) Semina De Laurentis (Sister Mary Amnesia) Christine Toy (Sister Mary Leo) Terri White (Sister Hubert) |
Nunsense II: The Second Coming
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Release Date: 1994
Theatre: Frauenthal Theatre, Michigan Producer: Jim McGinn, Neil Rosen Stage Manager: Paul J. Botchis Conductor: Michael Rice Cast: Rue McClanahan (Rev. Mother Mary Regina) Christine Anderson (Sister Robert Anne) Semina De Laurentis (Sister Mary Amnesia) Christine Toy (Sister Mary Leo) Terri White (Sister Hubert) Opened in July 1993 at the Western Michigan Playhouse. It was filmed for television, airing in 1994. The show was released on VHS in 1997 and on DVD in 1998. |
Nunsense III: Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree
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Release Date: 1998
Theatre: Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Minnesota Producer: Jim McGinn, Neil Rosen Costume Design: Ron Zastrow Stage Manager: Paul J. Botchis Cast: Vicki Lawrence (Sister Mary Amnesia) Rue McClanahan (Mother Superior) Deborah Del Mastro (Sister Robert Ann) Nancy Johnson (Sr. Mary Wilhelm) Jennifer Smith (Sr. Mary Leo) Scott Wakefield (Father Virgil) Opened in December 1996 at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in Minnesota. Aired on television in 1998, and was released on VHS and DVD in 2003. |
Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical
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Release Date: 2001
Theatre: Chanhassen Fireside Theatre, Minnesota Costume Design: Ron Zastrow Stage Manager: Paul J. Botchis Cast: Rue McClanahan (Reverend Mother) John Ritter (Narrator) Bambi Jones (Sister Hubert) Deborah Del Mastro (Sister Robert Anne) Semina DeLaurentis (Sister Mary Paul (Amnesia)) Richard Long (Father Virgil) Carrie Keskinen (Sister Leo) P.J. Terranova (John) Alison Walla (Louise) Jackson Donalds (Billy) Sarah Donalds (Maria) Lin Tucci (Sr. M. Winifred) Teri Gibson (Stage Manager) Mike Long (Fr. Mike) Yolanda Vega Opened in November 2001 at the Chanhassen Fireside Theatre. It was aired on television on PBS in 2001, for which the show received an Emmy nomination for Best Musical Score. Nuncrackers was released on VHS in 2003, and DVD in 2004. |
Nunsensations - The Nunsense Vegas Revue
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Release Date: 2007
Theatre: Westchester Broadway Theatre Producer: Dan Goggin, Scott M. Robbins Scenic Design: Barry Axtell, George Puello, Steven Loftus Costume Design: Rich Hamson Lighting Design: Rich Latta, Andrew Gmoser Sound Design: Jonathon Hatton Conductor: Leo Carusone Cast: Bonnie Lee (Mother Superior) Deborah Del Mastro (Sister Robert Anne) Bambi Jones (Sister Mary Hubert) Carrie Keskinen (Sister Mary Leo) Jeanne Tinker (Sister Mary Paul aka Amnesia) Georgia Engel (Sister Marie Eugene) Carolyn Droscoski (Gloria, the Pump Room's Head Usher) Dan Foss (Brother Dan), Tom Mustachio (Pump Room announcer) The DVD was released in June 2007 and includes an interview with creator and director Dan Goggin. |
Meshuggah-Nuns!
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Release Date: 2010
Theatre: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Minnesota Orchestrations: Leo P. Carusone, David Nyberg Choreography: Felton Smith and Teri Gibson Scenic Design: Barry Axtell Costume Design: Rich Hamson Cast: Bonnie Lee (Mother Mary Regina) David Edwards (Howard Liszt) Bambi Jones (Sr. Mary Hubert) Deborah Del Mastro (Sr. Robert Anne) Jeanne Tinker (Sr. Mary Paul (Amnesia)) Stephanie Wahl (Gretel Gundersen) |
Nunset Boulevard
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Release Date: 2012
Theatre: Di Capo Theatre, New York Cast: Deborah Del Mastro (Sr. Robert Anne) Bambi Jones (Sr. Hubert) Bonnie Lee (Reverend Mother) Jeanne Tinker (Amnesia) Stephanie Wahl (Sr. Leo) |
Sources
Articles
Websites
- BWW News Desk, “New 'Nunsense' to Premiere at W.B.T.; Plans for TV & DVD,” BroadwayWorld (Jan 21, 2007)
- BWW News Desk, “‘Nunsensations' DVD, with Engel, Available June 26,” BroadwayWorld (May 15, 2007)
- BWW News Desk, “MESHUGGAH-NUNS! Gets DVD Release 4/27,” BroadwayWorld (April 14, 2010)
- BWW News Desk, “NUNSET BOULEVARD to be Filmed in NYC 7/15-16, Public Invited,” BroadwayWorld (July 7, 2011)
- Anita Endsley, “Protestant's Guide To Catholic "Nunsense": A Performance Study And Analysis Of "Sister Mary Hubert,” Masters Thesis, University of Central Florida (2005)
- Aileen Jacobsen, “A Cast of Nuns Performing ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ on a Cruise,” New York Times (June 26, 2009)
- Kenneth Jones, “Meshuggah-Nuns Is Fifth in Nunsense Series, Premiering in September,” Playbill (June 21, 2002)
- Alvin Klein, “Nuns Who Make People Laugh,” New York Times (May 12, 1996)
- Alvin Klein, “Stage in Trouble? Send in the Nuns,” New York Times (Dec 13, 1998)
- Marisa LaScala, “Theater Review – Meshuggah-Nuns,” Westchester Magazine (Feb 2009)
- Donald G. McNeill Jr., “On Stage, and Off” New York Times (Feb 10, 1995)
- Herbert Mitgang, “THE STAGE: 'NUNSENSE,' A MUSICAL,” New York Times (Dec 15, 1985)
- Peter M. Nichols, “Home Video,” New York Times (Sept 5, 1997)
- Steve Trainman, “DVD ETA: A Flood of Second-Hald Releases Signals Format’s Arrival,” Billboard (July 11, 1998)
Websites
- Nunsense! Accessed via: http://nunsense.com/index.cfm#home
- IMDB, “Nuncrackers,” Accessed via: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285806/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
Written by Luisa Lyons (April, 2017, updated March 2020)