Review: NUNSENSE is Still Habit Forming After All These Years! Visit STAND Performing Arts Ministry for these Fun-Loving Nuns!

Nunsense

Books, Music & Lyrics by Dan Goggin

Directed by Kevin Dilks

Produced by Stand Performing Arts Ministry

Audience Rating: PG-13 subject matter
Run Time: 2 Hours with one 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Floor and riser seating
Hearing Devices: Not available
ASL Showing: Feb 28, 2026
Sensory Friendly Show: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable Volume Level
Audio/Visuals to prepare For: None 

Reviewed by Michael Winters

For anyone unfamiliar with the Little Sisters of Hoboken, here’s the divine setup: Nunsense, the irreverent musical comedy by Dan Goggin, premiered in 1985 and has since become one of Off-Broadway’s longest-running hits. The story follows five surviving sisters who stage a talent show to raise funds to bury the last four of their 52 convent mates—victims of an unfortunate culinary mishap courtesy of Sister Julia (Child of God). It’s a premise as cheerfully macabre as it is enduringly crowd-pleasing.

Stand Performing Arts Ministry’s production of Nunsense delivers a dose of musical theatre nostalgia, wrapped in playful irreverence and genuine charm. Even before the house lights fully dim, the habit-clad ensemble spills into the audience, engaging patrons with mischievous warmth and signaling that these sisters are anything but convent-conventional. That pre-show interaction neatly establishes the show’s tone: spirited, self-aware, and delightfully cheeky.

As the show unfolds, each nun reveals a glimpse of her own story. From the opening number, “Nunsense Is Habit Forming,” the cast sets a comedic pace that carries through the evening. What follows is a parade of punchlines, affectionate jabs at Catholic life, and tender moments—reminding the audience that beneath the wimples and wisecracks, this is a show with both heart and humor.

Jessica Chick’s Sister Mary Leo, the earnest novice with ballerina dreams, is both charming and sharply funny. Her on pointe solo—confessing her hope to become the Church’s first dancing nun—blends technical grace with comic flair. Chick’s timing remains crisp throughout, earning steady laughs while keeping the character’s sincerity intact.

The dynamic between Judi Conger’s spotlight seeking Reverend Mother and Donna Cates’ Mother Superior Sister Mary Hubert crackles with wit and tension. Their relationship—a teasing blend of affection and exasperation—fuels a lot of the play’s humor. Hubert’s indignation over Reverend Mother’s decision to splurge on a High-Definition TV rather than properly tend to the remaining sisters sparks a series of delightfully sharp exchanges, each more comically charged than the last.

Melissa Tillman shines as Sister Robert Anne, a former tomboy turned nun whose mischievous streak and irreverent humor keep the audience laughing. Once a rough-and-tumble child herself, Robert Anne delights in testing authority at every turn, and Tillman infuses the role with sharp wit and playful energy. Her brand of “convent humor” lands effortlessly, drawing clever, mischievous laughs throughout the performance. As choreographer, Tillman crafted routines perfectly suited to a group of nontheatrical nuns, even tipping her hat to The Will Rogers Follies with bright blue hazardous material gloves that pop brilliantly against the black habits.

Rounding out the convent’s quirky ensemble is Connie Sanchez as Sister Mary Amnesia, the unlucky nun who loses her memory when a crucifix falls on her head. Completely adrift, she wanders through the scenes with charming confusion and unpredictable antics. Sanchez fully embraces the character’s lovable silliness, delivering hilariously inappropriate moments that keep the audience laughing from start to finish.

Kevin Dilks has directed a production that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre, particularly on opening night when energy and anticipation were high. The cast works very well together and seems to be having a fun time. There were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit sluggish, which softened punchlines, but these are refinements that will likely settle as the run continues. A touch more lift in the tempo of certain songs could further enhance the show’s bubbly charm and keep its comic rhythm sparkling.

Nunsense is a timeless musical, and with its flexible script, there’s plenty of room to sprinkle in contemporary updates while keeping the laughs flowing. Stand Performing Arts Ministry delivers an evening that will have audiences giggling—and for those with a Catholic school upbringing, it’s full of fondly familiar flashbacks to hymnals, hall passes, and the occasional ruler-on-the-knuckles discipline. Take a pilgrimage to Keller, support the Sisters’ spirited fundraiser to bury the last few of their dearly departed convent mates, and enjoy a night of heavenly humor. Tickets can be found at standministries.org

Let theatre take you places—it’s worth the ride.

Michael Winters