Late Nite Catechism Comes to the Belding Theater at The Bushnell
Contact: Jennifer Gallagher (860) 987-6082; E-mail: jennifer_gallagher@bushnell.org
HARTFORD, Conn., January 7, 2003 - Catechism classes are never as much fun, or as hilarious, as when they are led by Sister in the international hit comedy Late Nite Catechism by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Late Nite Catechism comes to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Belding Theater as part of the Edwards & Angell Off-Broadway Series April 15-16, 2003. Tickets will go on sale Monday, January 20, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are priced at $37.50 and will be available at The Bushnell Box Office in Hartford, by calling (860) 987-5900, or online at www.bushnell.org.
Late Nite Catechism is an uproarious piece of theater that takes audience members back ( sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully ( to the children they once were. The irrepressible Sister teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of "students" (the audience). Over the course of the play, Sister goes from benevolent instructor, rewarding the students for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and laminated saint cards, to authoritative drill sergeant. These abrupt mood swings are bound to strike a resonant chord with everyone who survived the ups and downs of going to school, with an omniscient authoritarian at the helm.
The Catholic Register in Toronto said, "The show appeals to Catholics and non-Catholics alike since 'Sister' clearly explains religious references in lighthearted ways while maintaining a serious tone that isn't too preachy and far from being saccharine." The New York Times declared "Late Nite Catechism speaks to an audience much broader than the membership of any one church."
Late Nite Catechism, which was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award in New York and won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for Maripat Donovan, is currently playing in New York, Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia, St. Paul, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Chicago, where it has been playing to full "classes" since it opened in 1993. Productions in Boston, Sydney and Melbourne ended after playing two years in each city. Sister is always available for private classes and fundraisers through Entertainment Events, Inc. at (877) FUNNY NUN.
Ticket and Performance Information - Late Nite Catechism comes to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Belding Theater April 15-16, 2003. Both performances start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $37.50 and will be available starting Monday, January 120 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at The Bushnell Box Office, located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, by calling (860) 987-5900, or online at www.bushnell.org. Groups of 20 or more may call (860) 987-5959.
About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts -The Bushnell is Connecticut's premier performing arts center, hosting more than 450 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. In November 2001, The Bushnell completed a $45 million expansion project that added a second, 908-seat theater to the existing historic structure. The new, state-of-the-art performance hall allows for expanded arts, entertainment and community offerings. The Bushnell's nationally-recognized arts-in-education program, PARTNERS (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), is a cross-community educational effort serving 40 schools in 17 districts throughout the Greater Hartford area. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a non-profit organization. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.