Directors Jay Fultz and Lara Gonzalez are excited to announce the casts of MCP’s super summer show … the double-header Nunsense and Nunsense A-Men. Along with Producers Susan Berger and Paula Fultz, they are welcoming ten veteran performers to the Mason Community Playhouse stage.
Cast in Nunsense are five faces that are very familiar to MCP audiences. Portraying Sr. Mary Regina, the Mother Superior of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, is former president, and a 14-year veteran of the group, Julie Poux. Noted for both her vocal talent and acting skill, among her stage appearances are Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men and Tanya in Mamma Mia! Accomplished both on and off the stage, her most recent credit for the troupe was as stage manager of Belles, performed in March.
Regina’s second-in-command, Sr. Mary Hubert, will be brought to life by MCP’s quintessential “nun”, Mary Taylor. Mary is a 17-year veteran, who began her association with the group as the Mother Abbess in their production of The Sound of Music. Mary is a mainstay of MCP’s musical revues, appearing most recently in November’s All Together Now, and has shed the habit to portray iconic roles such as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof.
Current MCP President and recently-honored Grace Campbell Award recipient. Lara Gonzalez, will portray Sr. Mary Robert Anne. Lara began her association with the group in 2011, appearing in Seussical, the Musical. Since then, she has shared her considerable talent in every way. She is an accomplished vocalist, instrumentalist, actress, technician, and general all around organizer. She has served as producer, director, vocal director, instrumental director, conductor, cast member and crew member with MCP and other area theatre groups.
Kelley Flaugher, who first appeared with MCP in 2003’s Hello, Dolly!, has brought her singing, dancing, and acting skills to the troupe whenever she can pry herself from the role of Mom. That is, unfortunately, not often enough. A skilled vocalist, Kelley was a critical part of the trio who recreated the songs of the Andrew Sisters in the group’s production of Sentimental Journey: A Salute to the USO. She most recently appeared in the ensemble of Mamma Mia! and will be gracing the stage, once again, this time as Sr. Mary Amnesia.
Rounding out the Nunsense cast as Sr. Mary Leo, will be 19-year veteran Kim Toft. Most recently appearing in All Together Now with MCP, she has filled some of theatre’s most recognizable roles for the troupe … the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, and Marian in The Music Man. Kim has also served the group as a Board Member, a producer, a director, and in many staff positions.
Not to be outdone, the cast of Nunsense A-Men is filled with experienced talent. Portraying Sr. Mary Regina, when the stage crew must take the stage in the nuns’ absence, is an MCP member with twelve years of service. Since appearing with the group in 2005’s The Sound of Music,
Jay Fultz has lent his considerable talent to more than 25 productions. Proficient in comedies, dramas and musicals, Jay has been an antagonist in The Foreigner, the beloved Jacob in Joseph, and a part of the three-person comedy genius of the Tuna Series. Jay currently serves on the MCP Board of Directors and has directed for the group, as well as served on production staffs and crews.
Filling the role of second-in-command at the convent will be 32-year veteran Stephen Catlin. (Yes, he started out as a child.) Experienced both on and off stage, Steve has filled the roles of Bernard in Boeing, Boeing, Jack Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, Sir Harry in Once Upon a Mattress, and Lord Farquaad in Shrek, the Musical. With 28 on stage credits, he also boasts dozens of off stage credits, including Lighting Design.
MCP has been happily prying Brian Bisig from in front of the orchestra and behind the piano onto the stage again. Brian is a skilled musical director, who filled that role for MCP’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Most recently, he did double-duty for All Together Now, as one of the vocal directors and as a vocalist on stage. He joined MCP in 2009 with his performance as Gad in Joseph, and he will take the stage this summer as Sr. Robert Anne.
For some reason, MCP is unable to get Brandon Dunphy to audition for any role that does not result in his donning women’s clothing. He first appeared with the group as the Big Bad Wolf in 2015’s Shrek, the Musical. He followed that up with an appearance as Andre Thibault in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Then it was four shows as multiple characters ... men, women, and children ... in the Tuna Series. Now, he is continuing his track record as Sr. Mary Amnesia.
Capping off the A-Men cast is Matt Lovell. Matt has performed in only one MCP production, participating in the virtual 2020 Gender Bender. But the troupe is honored to have him return and take on the role of Sr. Mary Leo. Matt’s talents are many. He is a skilled vocalist, dancer, actor, writer, director, choreographer, costumer, and puppeteer. Matt has performed with more than two dozen theaters in the Dayton/Cincinnati area, including children’s theatre productions. Matt is currently in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as Erronius for Cincinnati Landmark Productions.
Nunsense and Nunsense A-Men will be musical directed by Pete Padolik and choreographed by Abby Farmer.
Nunsense performances will be July 15 & 16 at 8:00pm, and July 17, 23 at 3:00pm. Nunsense A-Men performances will be July 21, 22 & 23 at 8:00 pm, and July 24 at 3pm. Tickets will go on sale mid-May.
MAIL: P.O. Box 300, Mason, OH 45040 / PHONE: 513.398.7804
E-MAIL: masonplayers@masonplayers.org