Tim Flaherty’s ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, INC. and producer Robert Dragotta announced the 21st anniversary and return to Actors Temple Theater of LATE NITE CATECHISM, the long-running hit solo show written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, starring Denise Fennell as “Sister.” Marc Silvia conducts.
LATE NITE CATECHISM is a thunderous theater piece that takes viewers – sometimes wistfully, sometimes fearfully – back to the children they once were. The irrepressible Sister teaches a catechism class for adults to a room full of “students” (the public). Over the course of the play, Sister evolves from a benevolent instructor, rewarding “students” for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and laminated holy cards, to an authoritative drill sergeant. These sudden mood swings are sure to strike a chord with anyone who has survived the ups and downs of going to school, with an all-knowing bossy helm.
The production will air every Sunday at 2 p.m. starting September 17. Actors Temple Theater is located at 339 W 47th St, between 8th and 9th Avenues. Tickets cost between $39.50 and $49.50 and can be purchased by visiting www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/Late-Nite-Catechism or by calling (212) 239-6200.
Late Nite Catechism debuted at the Live Bait Theater in Chicago, Illinois on May 28, 1993, and since then has grossed over $100 million at the box office. It was shown in over 410 cities around the world, played in six countries with over 3.5 million people in attendance. The show has raised over $4 million for retired sisters and Catholic organizations. There have been over 100 actresses who have performed “Sister” and eight shows in the Catechism series. Late Nite Catechism made its Off-Broadway debut in August 1996 at St. Luke’s Theatre, where it ran for six years until 2002.
The show was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award in New York and won the LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for Maripat Donovan. It is the longest-running solo show in Off-Broadway history and in the cities of Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, St. Louis, Scottsdale, New Orleans and Los Angeles. Sister continues to entertain her classes and is available for private lessons and fundraisers through Entertainment Events, Inc. at (877) FUNNY NUN.
“The show appeals to Catholics and non-Catholics alike since ‘Sister’ clearly explains religious references in a light-hearted way while maintaining a serious tone that’s not overly preachy and far from sugary,” said The Catholic Register (Toronto) in its review. . The New York Times in 1996 stated that “late night catechism is for a much wider audience than members of a single church.”
Denise (Marie Christina) Fennell (“Sister”). Maripat Donovan, the creator of the Late Nite Catechism series and the original “Sister”, discovered Denise Fennell when she appeared as Tina in the Off-Broadway production of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. Maripat apparently saw something that led her to believe that there was a nun hiding somewhere behind the bride chewing gum and cracking wisdom, and she was right. She trained Denise personally for the role. Denise is now a veteran of the Late Nite Catechism series and has performed to rave reviews across the United States and Canada. She recently completed a series of Shear Madness at the Stages Repertory Theater in Houston, TX and won accolades for her character work as Barbara Demarco. She also appeared in Shear Madness’ Off-Broadway company in New York. Denise is best known for her portrayal of “Sister” on the Late Nite Catechism series and in Jane Wagner’s award-winning comedy The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. She debuted as Madeline Monroe in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, eventually taking on the role of Tina in Off-Broadway before touring the United States and Japan. As a producer, Denise co-created Totally Tubular Time Machine and Birdy’s Bachelorette Party (NYC & Las Vegas) and her most recent project, Channeling The King, a touching and funny one-man show featuring the greatest hits. of Elvis Presley.
Robert Dragotta recently produced Motherstruck with the Culture Project and Rosie O’Donnell Off-Broadway at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre. Other off-Broadway productions include The Fartiste, Girls Night: The Musical, Late Nite Catechism with Entertainment Events. Sarah Jones: Bridge & Tunnel, Shout: The Singing 60’s Musical, We’re Still Hot and White Chocolate. On Broadway, productions include Bombay Dreams with Andrew Lloyd Weber, Flower Drum Song, with Lea Salonga, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Noises Off. Other productions include Lorna Luft in Songs My Mother Taught Me at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale and London’s West End and the national tour of Some Like it Hot, with Tony Curtis. Other productions include: Minor Demons, Electra, Now Hear This!, Epic Proportions, How to Succeed in Business, The Elephant Man and Russell Simon’s DEF POETRY. He was also producer of David Mamet’s play Boston Marriage with Zoe Wanamaker in London’s West End. Mr. Dragotta has produced documentary films and two infomercials, including the award-winning documentary ‘Encounters with Truth’ which starred Mahatma Ghandi’s grandson Rajmohan Ghandi.’
ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, INC. is based in New York. EEI has made its mark in the theatrical touring industry by delivering a variety of new and exciting plays and musicals to an ever-growing list of professional presenting organizations across the country. Additionally, EEI has hosted more than 1,500 fundraising events for schools, church groups and private parties. EEI brings together all aspects of production under one roof: sales, production, casting, creation and technical. EEI’s productions have been produced and presented in all 50 states as well as in Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. Since 1999, EEI has produced: Late Nite Catechism: The Series, Maybe Baby, It’s You, The Yiddish Are Coming, The Yiddish Are Coming!, Shout! The musical mod, the wedding of Tony N Tina, the defense of the caveman, we are always hot! Musical comedy. EEI is also the former producer of Menopause The Musical by Jeanie Linders. EEI is now proud to present Girls Night: The Musical, ‘Twas A Girls Night Before Christmas: The Musical, Dishing With the Divas, Help! My husband has disappeared: my daughter is getting married and I have hot flashes! Till Death Do Us Part: Late Night Catechism 3, Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold, Sister’s Easter Catechism: Will My Bunny Go to Heaven? , Las Vegas Late Catechism: Sister Rolls the Dice!, Sister Summer School Catechism: God Never Takes a Vacation!, Sisters Back to School Catechism: The Holy Spirit and Other Terrifying Tales!
