Celebration Theatre to Stage THE DIVINE SISTER This Summer

Celebration Theatre will present the Houston premiere of Charles Busch's raucous and bitingly funny comedy, THE DIVINE SISTER.

Playwright/actor Busch never met a film genre that he could not spoof and with THE DIVINE SISTER he has outdone himself! Carving a career out of sending up films, as in VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, DIE, MOMMIE, DIE!, and THE LADY IN QUESTION, for THE DIVINE SISTER Busch has ransacked most every nun movie ever made. The outrageous, irreverent, and laugh out loud parody references such films as DOUBT, SISTER ACT, AGNES OF GOD, THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELS, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE SINGING NUN, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE, THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, and even THE DA VINCI CODE.

The plot of THE DIVINE SISTER revolves around the Mother Superior (played by Busch in the Off Broadway run of the play and now traditionally played by a man in drag). She is the indomitable leader of St. Veronica's Convent and is determined to build a new school for the postulants. Along the way, she must deal with a novice nun who experiences "visions", sexual hysteria among her nuns, a sensitive school boy struggling with his sexuality, an aggressive nun visiting from the Mother House in Berlin, and a former suitor intent on luring her away from her vows. An outrageous comic homage to Hollywood nuns, THE DIVINE SISTER is a fast paced, wickedly funny evening of theatre.

Directed by Ron Jones, the Celebration Theatre production of THE DIVINE SISTER boasts a cast of Houston's most versatile and talented performers. The Mother Superior will be played by Main Street Theater (MST) favorite, Joel Sandel, who played other Charles Busch female leads in MST's production of RED SCARE ON SUNSET and Theatre Lab Houston's DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! Joining Sandel is gay icon Randall Jobe as the German Sister Walburga, Elizabeth Marshall Black as the hugely athletic Sister Acacius (Mistress of Novices and wrestling coach), Brad Goertz as Jeremy, the Mother's handsome love interest, Skyler Sinclair as the young nun, Agnes (who just may have experienced the stigmata), and comic genius Michelle Britton as Mrs. Levinson (the wealthy Jewish widow whom Mother Superior begs for money). Among them, this experienced cast has performed on virtually every stage in Houston. Costumes for the production are by Toni Whitaker, sets by Craig Allen and Maredith Swiger, and lights by Greg Starbuck.

THE DIVINE SISTER debuted Off Broadway in 2011 and enjoyed a completely sold out run. THE NEW YORK TIMES review said, "THE DIVINE SISTER transforms vintage movie making into irreverently relevant theatre, in which affection and subversion live in happy, bawdy harmony." VARIETY wrote, "THE DIVINE SISTER! Call it old fashioned with its sweet, silly earnestness, but in a crass and sullen world, this kind of comedy in not only entirely refreshing, it's necessary!"

Celebration Theatre will present THE DIVINE SISTER at Classical Theatre Company, 4617 Montrose Blvd @ 59 (in Chelsea Market), Houston, 77006. Tickets are $30 ($25 for groups of 10 or more). There will be a half-price preview on Thursday, May 26, 2016 @ 7:30 p.m. and regular performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. May 27 - July 3. For tickets, visit celebrationtheatrehouston.com and for information, call (832) 330-5478. THE DIVINE SISTER IS FOR ADULTS ONLY.

Pictured: Sister Acacius (Elizabeth Marshall Black), Mrs. Levinson (Michelle Levinson), and Mother Superior (Joel Sandel)

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