SISTER ROBET ANNE'S CABARET CLASS Plays 7/10-7/17 At Playhouse On The Green

Playhouse on the Green is proud to present SISTER ROBERT ANNE'S CABARET CLASS, a "One-Nun-sense Musical Event" by "Nunsense" composer Dan Goggin, for 4 regular performances and one special Gala evening from Friday, July 10 through Saturday, July 17, 2009.

Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class is a celebration of the songs Sister Robert Anne has debuted in the six "Nunsense" musicals with two new songs from the upcoming seventh "Nunsense" called Nunset Boulevard: The Nunsense Hollywood Bowl Show. This sneak preview at Playhouse on the Green will mark the first public performance of the show prior to playing venues around the country. When award-winning composer Dan Goggin discovered that Sister Robert Anne had 17 songs in the "Nunsense" Musical series he and musical director, Leo Carusone, realized "that was enough for an evening of its own." And what could be better in these tough economic times than a "One-Nun-sense Musical Event"!

Dan Goggin directs Deborah Del Mastro as Sister Robert Anne. Leo P. Carusone is "Our Musical Director, Father Carusone, a Franciscan Priest". Richard Latta is Lighting Designer. Patti Rice is Stage Manager.

Adult single tickets are $32. Senior Citizens tickets (65 and older) are $29. Tickets for those 21 years and younger are $18. Tickets can be purchased 24/7 on-line at www.playhouseonthegreen.org or by calling TheaterMania at (866) 811-4111 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends).

A special Gala Benefit Performance takes place on Saturday, July 11. This unique evening begins at 7PM with a cocktail hour, followed by a performance of Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class at 8PM and a Q&A with Nunsense composer Dan Goggin. The evening concludes with an exclusive post-show champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception with Goggin, Deborah Del Mastro, and Leo P. Carusone. Goggin will sign copies of the newly-published "Nunsense 25th Nunniversary Songbook", which will be on sale in The Playhouse lobby.

Gala Benefit tickets are $100 and may be purchased at www.playhouseonthegreen.org or by e-mailing your name and phone number to events@playhouseonthegreen.org. For questions regarding the Gala Benefit performance of Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class, please call 203-696-0033.

Playhouse on the Green is located at 177 State Street between Main Street and Markle Court in downtown Bridgeport. Free, secure parking one block from the theater is available. For more information visit www.playhouseonthegreen.org or call 203-333-3666.

Dan Goggin (Writer/Director) came to New York from Alma, Michigan to study as a classical countertenor. He began his professional career singing in the Broadway production of Luther starring Albert Finney. While appearing in a comic folk-duo called "The Saxons" he began writing. This led to scores for the Off-Broadway musical, Hark! (in which he also appeared), the Broadway production of Legend and two revues. Goggin received the 1986 Outer Critics' Circle Awards given to Nunsense for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Music. His "nunless" musical Balancing Act has toured the U.S. and played in London and Australia. Nunsense and Nunsense 2: The Second Coming, both starring Rue McClanahan have been recorded for the A&E Television Network. Nunsense 3: The Jamboree toured the U.S. starring Georgia Engel and has been recorded for television at the Grand Ole Opry starring Vicki Lawrence. Nunsense A-Men! opened at the 47th Street Theatre in New York in June 1998 and has since been produced with "Laugh-Ins" Arte Johnson, impressionist Frank Gorshin, and Olympic Champion Greg Louganis. Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical premiered in October 1998, followed by a national tour starring Dody Goodman, Jeff Trachta and Dawn Wells. The Nuncrackers television special playing the PBS network starring Rue McClanahan with guest star John Ritter, received an Emmy nomination for Best Musical Score. Cast recordings of the shows as well as songbooks, videos and DVDs are available at 1-800-YES-NUNS. Dan's project, Meshuggah-Nuns: The Ecumenical Nunsense premiered in September 2002 and is currently playing is several U.S. venues. The all-star touring production of Nunsense starring Kaye Ballard, Georgia Engel, Mimi Hines, Darlene Love and Lee Meriwether marked the 20th anniversary of the original show. In 2004 Dan's "serious piece" The Traditional Latin Mass was recorded by cast members and friends. 2005 marked the premiere of the newest installment of shows, Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue. In 2008 Goggin directed Emmy winner Sally Struthers in the national tour of Nunsense playing over 70 U.S. cities.

Deborah Del Mastro (Sister Robert Anne) is a longtime member of the Little Sisters of Hoboken, Deborah has originated Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense Jamboree, Nuncrackers, Meshuggah-Nuns! and Nunsensations - and can be heard on all cast cds as an original cast member. She has filmed Nunsense Jamboree with Vicki Lawrence, Nuncrackers with Rue McClanahan and Nunsensations! with the original cast. She has had the great pleasure of working with Lee Meriwether, Georgia Engel, Kaye Ballard, Vicki Lawrence, Sally Struthers, Dodie Goodman, Rue McClanahan and Marcia Wallace along with other wonderful stars and amazing colleagues. Along the way Deborah has also played roles such as Eliza Doolittle, Rhetta Cupp, Luisa (the Girl), Miss Jones and Patsy Cline as well as appearing in Forbidden Broadway, Side By Side By Sondheim and is also a Beach Blanket Babylon San Francisco alumni. Ms. Del Mastro has also sung in many Big Bands and Jazz Combos, has performed her own one-woman show at the Plush Room in San Francisco and has opened for Bob Newhart, Neil Sedaka, and Al Green and has worked with Tony Sandler of Sandler and Young . As a U.S. Navy Band veteran, she is, indeed, playing the trumpet! Of all the roles Deborah has played in her long and varied career, she is most proud of her role as Mom to Sarah and Jackson.

Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class
Book, music, lyrics, and direction by Dan Goggin

Performances Schedule:
Friday, July 10 at 8PM
GALA BENEFIT PERFORMANCE - Saturday, July 11 at 8PM (cocktail hour begins 7PM)
Sunday, July 12 at 3PM
Friday, July 17 at 8PM
Saturday, July 18 at 8PM

Playhouse on the Green is a 54-year-old 501(c)(3) not-for-profit theater company in residence at a beautiful 228-seat jewel-box theater in the heart of downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut. Playhouse on the Green's mission is to enrich Bridgeport's cultural life by providing an eclectic variety of live Stage Entertainment and arts education programs at an affordable cost, as well as providing opportunities for area artists. Among these programs are its mainstage season of plays and musicals; "Playhouse Greenhouse" and "Project Broadway", it's arts education programs for kids and teens; a Sunday evening series of music and comedy; and the "Page to Stage New Play Reading Series", which brings the new work of Connecticut playwrights to the stage.