Gerold Opera House to stage Christmas musical
The Waupaca Community Theatre will present Dan Goggin’s “Nuncrackers” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 9-11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Gerold Opera House in Weyauwega.
“Nuncrackers” is a holiday musical that revisits some of the characters from the original “Nunsense” show.
Audiences will recall characters such as Sister Mary Regina, the mother superior of the convent; Sister Mary Hubert, Mistress of Novices; Sister Robert Anne, who is waiting for her big break on Broadway; Sister Mary Paul, the nun formerly known as Amnesia; and Sister Mary Leo, who intends to be the first famous nun ballerina.
The sisters are joined by Father Virgil Manly Trott, the “real-life” brother of Sister Mary Leo, as well as five student talent show winners from Mount Saint Helen’s School.
This time around, the Little Sisters of Hoboken have taken it upon themselves to produce a Christmas special for Cable Access.
The audience will enjoy the many acts that the sisters prepared for the event, including a sing-along, a Secret Santa activity with members of the audience, an appearance by the mischievous Sister Mary Annette, and many toe-tapping tunes. The group even performs their own interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Ballet.”
As is often the case with this quirky group of nuns, not everything goes to plan with their TV special. The audience will be privy to the nuns’ hilarious attempts to keep the show on track, despite unanticipated obstacles and comedic conundrums. The feel-good story will leave folks laughing and ready for the holiday season.
The comedy features such musical numbers as “Twelve Days Prior To Christmas,” “Santa Ain’t Comin’ To Our House,” “A Carnival Christmas,” “Jesus Was Born In Brooklyn,” “In The Convent” and “It’s Better To Give.”
With music, lyrics and book by Dan Groggins, the Nunsense Christmas Musical is the Waupaca Community theatre’s 23rd musical production.
Cast
The cast includes Lori Zelinske as Sister Mary Regina, Lori Bauer as Sister Robert Anne, Carmen Riebel as Sister Mary Hubert, Kira Morrissey as Sister Mary Paul, Dean Sondrol as Father Virgil Manly Trot, and Kay Ellingson as Sister Mary Leo.
The Mount Saint Helen’s School students are played by Allison Landre, Lili Liegl, Emmett Danielson, Isabella Saunders and Kiera Konkol.
Liz Kelley and Linda Trepasso are co-directing “Nuncrackers.” While a directing debut for Kelley, Trespasso has directed and helped to produce numerous shows in the area, including the 2016 Waupaca Community Theatre production of “Nunsense.”
This family show is intended for audiences of all ages and includes a live pit orchestra.
Tickets are $17 and $22. All seats are reserved cabaret style seating. Ticketing information can be found at www.fineartsfestival.org and on the Waupaca Community Theatre’s Facebook page.
The Waupaca Community Theatre is a division of the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival.
For more information, visit www.fineartsfestival.org and Waupaca Community Theatre on Facebook.