For Immediate Release: August 10, 2005
Media Contact: Bryan S. Clark, The Academy Theatre, 609.291.9000

Continuing The Academy Theatre's exciting and critically acclaimed third season is the hysterical holy phenomenon created by Dan Goggin, a story that follows five nuns with a need to bury their unfortunate frozen sisters; it's not ridiculous, it's Nunsense! Although this time, it's with a popular Goggin's twist - the nuns are all men, making this show Nunsense...Amen!

Nunsense, and its six offspring since its debut in 1985, are the brainchild of Dan Goggin, whose writing life now revolves around the piece. Goggin received the 1986 Outer Critics' Circle Award given to Nunsense for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Music. Says Goggin, "People ask me why I don't do something different, but all the shows in the series are different." This becomes particularly true when Goggin's wacky nuns, supposedly based on real women of the cloth, become men, who never took a vow of chastity.

The Academy Theatre's production of Nunsense... Amen! will feature five popular favorite actors from The Academy's stock directed by Cyndi Debor, who returns to take the reins of this production after playing in this season's opener, Cabaret.

Director Cyndi Debor will have her directorial debut on The Academy stage with this production of Nunsense... Amen!, but she's no stranger to the theatrical process. She came to us from Pittsburgh in June of 2004 and has been delighted with the theatre opportunities here. Cyndi has been acting and directing for more than 30 years in and around the Pittsburgh area, and she credits members, past and present, of The New Kensington Civic Theatre as her theatrical mentors and muses. Some of Cyndi's favorite acting roles include The Wife of Bath (Canterbury Tales), Miss Hannigan (Annie), and even Mother Superior (Nunsense I & II). Her directing credits, to name a few, include The Dining Room, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Foreigner, Anything Goes, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Runner Stumbles and Veronica's Room, along with many workshops and children's shows.

The cast of Nunsense... Amen! will bring some of The Academy's crowd pleasers back to the stage to please again. Among them will be Keith Nielsen, taking the role of Mother Superior. Keith is happy to return to The Academy Theatre for his sixth on-stage role. Previous productions included Evita, Godspell, (twice), Company and Jacques Brel... As a music director at The Academy he has worked with the productions of Honk, Jr. (Children's Theatre) and Baby.

Outside of The Academy Theatre Keith has appeared with the choruses of The Princeton Festival and NJ Opera Festival. While a student at Westminster Choir College he was a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir and performed at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

Bryan Lesnick will portray Sister Leo. Bryan first arrived on the arts scene in 2001 and has been a force ever since. Working strictly as an actor for the past few years, Bryan's professional credits include, Evita (Che), Godspell (We Beseech Thee), Cabaret (Emcee), and A Chorus Line (Mike) with The Academy Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon) with Midnight Productions, and Footloose (Ren). He has also just released his demo, A Page Out of Suburban Boredom for your listening enjoyment.

Joining Lesnick is Rob Del Colle as Sister Robert Anne, who is just coming from his hugely successful production of The Sound of Music at The Academy Theatre. Simultaneously while directing Sound of Music, he has been directing Step II Production's Gypsy and, of course, been in rehearsal with the rest of the boys. Rob is no stranger to The Academy Theatre however, having been in the second show of the season A Chorus Line and last year's production of The Rocky Horror Show. Rob's career as a performer spans many years and graces many stages, including the Walnut Street Theatre, the Bristol Riverside Theatre, and The Stage Door Theatre in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Darryl Thompson will grace The Academy Theatre stage for the first time performing as Sister Hubert. Darryl has just finished being Assistant Director with Rob on The Academy's Sound of Music. In addition he has performed with various community theatre and musical groups between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Darryl was an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Grammy Jazz Ensemble and the Burlington Gospel Chorus. He has performed with the DTM Project, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and toured the east coast as an instrumentalist with the 60's rock n' roll group "The Dovells." In addition to this work, Darryl has written and debuted his own original musical, Never a Day Without Sunshine with Step II productions in 2002.

Finally, and not so forgetfully, Nunsense... Amen! will star Michael De Shields as Sister Mary Amnesia. Michael has graced The Academy Theatre's stage since it opened three years ago and has starred in such shows as A Chorus Line, Cabaret (Cliff), Company (Paul), and Godspell (ensemble). He has also performed extensively in Lower Bucks County, Northeast Philly, and Lancaster County, PA. Some previous roles include Anthony in Sweeney Todd, the Bishop in Jekyll and Hyde, John Hinckley in Assassins, Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra, and the Padre in Man of La Mancha.

Nunsense... Amen! will have two feature spots on AM 1490 WBCB. The first will be on August 12th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the "Smilin'" Lou Powers Show, the second will be a live remote broadcast from The Academy Theatre on August 20th from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. just before the 2 p.m. matinee.

Nunsense... Amen! opening night (August 12th) will offer an opportunity to meet and speak with all the performers and the producers of the show. This event will also include special offers on the rest of the season, invitations for local media groups and organizations, and free concessions after the show.

Nunsense... Amen! has, at this time, a limited run of only nine performances. The show runs from August 12th to August 26th, 2005. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Box Office at 609-291-9000. A seating chart and more information on The Academy is available by checking our website. www.theacademytheatre.com.

For more information regarding The Academy Theatre, this press release, or to arrange for interviews call Bryan S. Clark at 609-291-9000 or by emailing clarkbs1@juno.com or theacademytheatre@yahoo.com.

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