MESHUGGAH-NUNS! Returning to Meadow Brook Theatre, 4/22-5/17

The Little Sisters of Hoboken are taking an all-expense paid cruise to the Holy Land, but once again find themselves plunged into comedy, song and dance.

"Meshuggah-Nuns!" returns to Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University from April 22 through May 17.

When nearly the entire cast of the shipboard show gets sick, the sisters step in to star in an onboard variety show. Only one cast member is still healthy, and he was supposed to be playing Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof." Can he and the sisters band together and save everyone's cruise from disaster? If you've ever seen a Nunsense! show, you know the answer is yes!

"When Meadow Brook produced "Meshuggah-Nuns!" in 2003, it was incredibly popular," said Cheryl Marshall, MBT general manager. "It's still the highest-grossing show we've ever presented. Our Audiences have been clamoring for us to bring back a Nunsense! show, and "Meshuggah-Nuns!" is perfect since we could have Cindy and Eddie back again."

Williams and Mekka-best known as Shirley Feeney and her love interest, Carmine Ragusa in the 70s sitcom "Laverne & Shirley"-last appeared together at MBT in 2009 in the hit comedy "Kong's Night Out." In "Meshuggah-Nuns!" Williams is Reverend Mother, leader of the Little Sisters, while Mekka is Howard Lizst, who was ready to play Tevye, but now finds himself sharing the bill with a bunch of multitalented nuns.

"Meshuggah-Nuns!" was created by Michigan native and Catholic school graduate Dan Goggin. Growing up in Alma, Mich., Goggin knew the nuns educating him were special. After spending time in New York, singing both on Broadway and as a band member, he came up with the idea for "Nunsense!" that has now been a hit for 30 years. "Nunsense!" and its sequels-including "Meshuggah-Nuns!"-have been translated into more than 20 languages and have been produced thousands of times around the world.

"When you're laughing, you are not Catholic or Jewish. You are not hurting or hating. You are just laughing," Goggin said.

Goggin is pleased to return to Meadow Brook to direct "Meshuggah-Nuns!" In addition to Williams and Mekka, the cast includes Bambi Jones (Sister Hubert), Margot Moreland (Sister Robert Anne) and Jeanne Tinker (Sister Mary Paul a.k.a. Amnesia).

Choreography is by Teri Gibson, with music direction by Eric Alsford. Terry Carpenter is the stage manager with set design by Barry Axtell, lighting design by Reid G. Johnson, and sound design by Mike Duncan.

Eric Alsford (keyboard) directs the band of Patrick Q. Kelly (synthesizer), Don Platter (woodwinds), and Nick Matthews (percussion).

Tickets range from $26 to $41 and are available by calling the Meadow Brook Theatre box office at 248-377-3300 or going online at www.ticketmaster.com. Student discounts are available at the box office. Groups of eight or more should call 248-370-3316 for group pricing.

This production of "Meshuggah-Nuns!" is made possible through the support of The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Kresge Foundation, The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and the Meadow Brook Theatre Guild.

Meadow Brook Theatre is located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.mbtheatre.com. Meadow Brook Theatre is a nonprofit, cultural institution serving southeast Michigan for 49 years.

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