Nunsense News: Rue McClanahan on Tape | Playbill

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News Nunsense News: Rue McClanahan on Tape The long-running Off-Broadway hit Nunsense and its sequel, Nunsense 2, have been released on video under the Acorn Media label. Rue McClanahan stars in the two-tape, one-package release, which is commercially available in major video stores. For information on where to purchase Nun 1&2 call (888) 606-3342.

The long-running Off-Broadway hit Nunsense and its sequel, Nunsense 2, have been released on video under the Acorn Media label. Rue McClanahan stars in the two-tape, one-package release, which is commercially available in major video stores. For information on where to purchase Nun 1&2 call (888) 606-3342.

McClanahan best known for her work on TV's "The Golden Girls," appeared in 1976's California Suite on Broadway.

The Off-Broadway perennial (3,672 performances) closed in 1994 and hadn't been seen in New York since its brief, holiday-time revival in 1995. This year, Nov. 25-Dec. 7, Dan Goggin's spoofy look at nuns putting on a talent show again came to Off-Broadway, at the Theatre at St. Clement's Church on West 46th St. The twist? That production, performed in Portuguese and with an all-male cast, came straight from Rio de Janeiro, where it's been playing for three years.

As reported by Playbill On-Line's Brazil correspondent, Nertutila Achao, author Goggin caught the production in Sao Paolo in 1996 and began negotations to bring Northwest Brazil's Baiana de Partifaria Company to New York. Currently, they're at Rio's Quatro Theatre.

Asked about his next show, the third in the Nunsense series, Goggin told Playbill On-Line, "We just started the Nunsense Jamboree, which is going on tour with Georgia Engel [of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"] as Sr. Mary Amnesia. The tour will begin in Topeka, KS, Oct. 1, and tour the U.S. through March 1. (The original production starred Vicki Lawrence last summer.) Plus, we've just been told the "Clairol On Broadway" TV series will sponsor a special on the Jamboree next year -- I'm terribly blessed!" Goggin added, "A sit-down company of Jamboree is already playing in Orlando, FL with Jeannie Tinker. She's one of our best, prize Amnesias. Also, another company is running at Circa 21 in the Quad cities [in the central states]."

Are there plans to bring Jamboree to NYC? "We're debating New York when the tour finishes in March," said Goggin. "Maybe spring 1998. My business manager says, `We don't really need to do New York do we?' But all the creative people on the old Nunsense are still with us! It was our home for ten years, so I'm partial.."

Asked if he had any other projects on the burner, Goggin said, "Whenever I finish a Nunsense I say, `this is it, I have no more jokes.' But so many theatres are telling me, `if only you would write a Christmas Nunsense show, we'll all take it. So it looks like Christmas 1998, we'll try out the first Nunsense Christmas.

"Sister Leo is finally going to able to wear a tutu," Goggin said, "so she can dance in `The Nutcracker.' But one of the little children will smack her with the baton, so she'll be out of the running. The first act finale will have the Rev. Mother appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy. She'll be on a safety wire so the audience will think she's dancing on point. As I guess you can imagine, whoever's working the wire will let things get out of hand."

Goggin even has the Christmas Nunsense finale planned out: "I never do a show without a closing gospel number. This one will be 'It's Better To Give Than To Receive,' so we can end with a positive holiday message."

--By David Lefkowitz

 
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