Saint Vincent Summer Theatre returns with 2 audience-favorite shows

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, May 23, 2022 4:30 p.m. | Monday, May 23, 2022 4:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre

Erin Stetor-Seaberg will play Sister Mary Regina and Reverend Mother in the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre production of “Nunsense,” June 14-19.

Courtesy of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre

Hannah Bearer will play Sister Robert Anne in the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre production of “Nunsense,” June 14-19.

Courtesy of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre

Taylor Ruffo will play Sister Mary Leo in the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre production of “Nunsense,” June 14-19.

Courtesy of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre

Shelby Garrett will play Sister Mary Hubert in the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre production of “Nunsense,” June 14-19.

Saint Vincent Summer Theatre will return from a two-year pandemic intermission by presenting two familiar romps from past seasons.

The theater’s 52nd season will feature the musical “Nunsense,” running June 14-19; and the popular farce “Lend Me a Tenor,” July 12-17. Performances will be staged in the Robert S. Carey Student Center at Saint Vincent College in Unity.

“We know the musicals and farces are popular with our audiences, so when we got the go-ahead, we thought a fan favorite from each of those would be a great way to restart the engines,” said Greggory Brandt, SVST producing artistic director and assistant theater professor at Saint Vincent College.

Brandt will direct both productions.

In Dan Goggin’s “Nunsense,” five of the 19 surviving Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook had accidentally killed the convent’s other 52 residents with her vichyssoise. Lacking burial funds, they decide to raise the necessary amount with a variety show complete with wacky solo star turns, madcap dance routines and an audience quiz.

Erin Stetor-Seaberg, Sarah Chelli, Shelby Garrett, Taylor Ruffo and Hannah Bearer will portray the Little Sisters.

“I directed ‘Nunsense’ in 2018, and it was one of our best-sellers ever,” Brandt said.

Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” finds famous tenor Tito Merelli passed out after mixing wine with a huge dose of tranquilizers, on his debut night with the Cleveland Opera Company. Believing Merelli dead, the opera manager taps his assistant as a replacement. From one catastrophe to another, the pair strive to save the company’s big night.

Lawrence Lesher, Kim McLeod, Matt Sweeney, Daniel Krack, Abby Middleton, Synge Maher and Justin Massetto will star.

The theater troupe last staged “Lend Me a Tenor” in 2013.

“We thought doing two shows would be a great way to get our feet wet again,” Brandt said.

Each production will include performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

The theater’s signature after-performance cabaret — with popcorn, hot dogs, beverages and entertainment by Saint Vincent College students — will not be offered this year.

“Sadly, with covid still around, we thought it would be best to wait until next year on the cabaret,” Brandt said. “It’s heartbreaking, but that’s where we are.”

Tickets for evening performances are $25, or $22 for those 65 and older. Matinee tickets are $20. To purchase, search “Saint Vincent” at showtix4u.com or visit stvincent.edu/summertheatre.

For more information, call the box office at 724-537-8900.

“It will be great to see our patrons and hear their laughter again. So many people look forward to this, me included,” Brandt said. “The theater has such a storied history, and we just want to keep the tradition going.”