September 28, 29, October 4, 5 & 6, 2024

The taking of photographs, either with or without flash, and the use of any and all recording devices is prohibited.  Please make sure all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices remain turned off during the performance.

MESHUGGH-NUNS! is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

Introduction

Welcome to St. Margaret's! Our parish is pleased to present to you Maggie's Little Theater's production of "Meshuggah-Nuns". Since "Nunsense-The Mega-Musical" was presented at Maggie's in 2014, the Little Sisters have been extremely busy! As a reward, the sisters have been given passage on the "Faith of All Nations" cruise. Unfortunately (or unfortunately), the entertainment on the cruise, a production of "Fiddler on the Roof" is laid low by seasickness. The only cast member not stricken is Tevye. The sisters are called to save the day and work with Tevye to put on a show for the cruise goers. Sit back back and join Tevye, Reverend Mother, Sister Robert Anne, Sister Amnesia, and Sister Hubert on the high seas!

WHO’S WHO ON BOARD

Nydia Blackshear (Sister Esther Cecilia) is no stranger to the theater whether it's on stage or behind the scenes. Her past on stage performances include The Little Mermaid, Parkside Goes Big, The Envelope Please, Man of La Mancha, Guys and Dolls,  Lucky Stiff, Summer Serenade, Hairspray, Les Miserable, Godspell, All Shook Up, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat, Price of Vodka, The Wizard of OZ, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bus Stop, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Scappino. Nydia has been an assistant director/stage manager in Please Christmas Don’t be Late, BIG, and Please Christmas Don’t be Late 08’ for Maggie’s Little Theater; The Moonlight Room for Outrageous Fortune Players; and Rumors, Lucky Stiff, Broadway Goes To The Movies, The Butler Did It, and Something's Afoot for Parkside Players. She currently works as a Music Together & Rhythm Kids teacher and loves teaching very young children the joys of music and music making. On her “off” time she enjoys singing with the Queens College Choral Society and has been an active member since 2000. She would like to thank everyone involved in this production for their hard work and dedication.

Alie Campbell (Sister Mary Paul/Amnesia) is so excited to be in her first production with Maggie's Little Theater! After 6 years of adulting, she is dusting her dance shoes off and hopefully you can’t tell it’s been that long… Alie majored in Musical Theater at Ohio Northern University, and since graduation she has been working in talent representation in the city. She’s currently a talent agent at MMG, a modeling and commercial agency in the heart of Manhattan. She lives a mile away with her boyfriend and two daughters (their cats, Cricket and Freya). Thanks for having me, Maggie's! 

Kim Guarino (Original Cast—Reverend Mother) is excited to be returning to Maggie’s Little Theater. Previous roles include Aunt Julia (Hedda Gabler), Nat (Rabbit Hole), Louella Parsons (Shakespeare in Hollywood), Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret), Marmee (Little Women), Fruma Sara (Fiddler on the Roof), Mrs. Harcourt (Anything Goes) and Ma Strong (Urinetown). Ensemble appearances include Kiss Me Kate, Les Miserables and She Loves Me. Many thanks to everyone at Maggie’s for making this such a wonderful experience. Special shout out to the cast, Ray, Ginny and Monica - I love you all !

Virginia Harmon (Choreographer) was most recently seen onstage at Maggie’s Little Theater in Steel Magnolias as Annelle, other Maggie’s shows include Kiss Me Kate (ensemble) and The Addams Family (Morticia). She thanks this amazing cast, and director, and sends her love to Thom and their two magical little daughters. Proud co-founder of citygateproductions.com  

Regina Lim Fischedick (Sister Mary Gaye) is so happy to be back again to her original home theatre group, Maggie's Little Theater. This wonderful crew marked her debut in Queens theatre in 2009 with All Shook Up. Originally from the Philippines, she's a corporate drone by day and an avid member of the Queens theatre community at night, performing and producing shows she puts her heart into. She's been an advocate for the NYC arts scene since 2009 (minus wedding and pandemic years) with different groups around Queens, all while always striving to thrive to be her 5 year old, Finny's, mama.  Thank you to the Meshuggah-Nuns! team for accepting me and my kickass cast for welcoming me with open arms. I am humbled to be part of this talented cast with beautiful voices.  Thanks to my baby, Finny, for understanding Mama’s time away, Bubs for holding down the Fischedick Fort during all my rehearsals and shows, and as always, this show is dedicated to my Mommy and George in Heaven.

Ben Kaminski (Brayden) In NYC, Ben has been seen as Larry & Others ("Sno Ball", City Gate Productions), Macbeth ("Sound & Fury & Shakespeare", Parkside Players), and Dennis ("All Shook Up", Royal Star Theater). He has been a member of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus for over four years. Before, Ben worked in Connecticut music directing multiple children's theater productions, and directing  for Wethersfield Teen Theater Company. With WTTC, Ben starred as Harold Hill in "The Music Man", Jesus in "Godspell", & Leo Bloom in "The Producers". Thanks to my people and fiancé, Dany.

Monica Maddock (Director/Reverend Mother) While Monica is no stranger to the theater community, she is thrilled to be making her Directorial Debut at Maggie's Little Theater!!  Previous credits with Maggie's include: Reno (Anything Goes), Natalie (All Shook Up), Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Larkin), Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense), Maggie (Lend Me A Tenor), and Susan (Big: The Musical).  She would like to send her thanks to DAME and Joe for the opportunity, Ray and Ginny for the collaboration, and Claire for being her ride or die for this production.  And to this incredible cast, thank you for the trust, creativity, laughs, and for making this the best darn cruise ship entertainment to ever set sail!  YOU BETCHA!

Paul Mastrella (Purser Max) is very happy to make another appearance at Maggie’s Little Theater - this time in Meshuggah-Nuns! His recent appearances include Some Enchanted Evening (ensemble member - also at Maggie’s), The Music Man (Charlie Cowell), All Shook Up (Jim Haller),  42nd St (Andy Lee), and Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp). Paul is extremely grateful for the awesome support provided by the creative team (Monica, Ray and Ginny) and production team (Claire, Miriam, Alan, Ed, Dolores, Joe and Danielle). You are all awesome - thank you!!

Brooke Lynn McGowan (Sister Mary Hubert) is so excited to be playing Sister Mary Hubert and for this opportunity to work with an incredible cast, director, and crew! Brooke most recently portrayed Hedda in Hedda Gabler at The Gingerbread Players. She began performing at the age of 8 at Centenary College in the Young Performers Workshop (YPW), and has performed in the tri-state region ever since, notably with the CityKids Repertory Company and at Don't Tell Mama's.   Brooke received a BA in Theater Studies & Musical Theater at Montclair State University, and began singing with a local rock band shortly after. Realizing that she wanted to find her own voice, she began writing and performing her own songs at open mics in the East Village. After performing professionally, recording a CD of standards called Maybe This Time and teaching music in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has returned to NYC. Brooke is currently the host of the long-running Christopher Street Open Mic, and the Director of Marketing for The Plantrician Project, a non-profit that educates healthcare professionals and students about the health benefits of nutrition. Enjoy the show!  ww.brookelynnmcgowan.com / Instagram: @brookelynncreative_

Alan Perkins (Howard Liszt) had the honor of playing Tevye in MLT’s 2013 production of Fiddler on the Roof and has always hoped he’d have the chance to revisit the role.  He never imagined it would be this way!  For Maggie’s Little Theater: Kiss Me, Kate (Second Man) The Addams Family (Caveman Ancestor), Guys & Dolls (Nathan Detroit), Lend Me a Tenor (Bellhop), Anything Goes (Elisha Whitney), All Shook Up (Jim Haller), and The Claus Family Christmas Spectacular (Santa). Additionally: 1776 (Benjamin Franklin – Josie Award Winner) and Seussical (Horton) for the JC Players.  Alan is an Eagle Scout, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, a Sinfonian, and a proud member of the Brooklyn Wind Symphony.  Huge thanks to: the Production Team for all their hard work; my wife, Miriam, for her love, support, and dinners on-the-run; and Monica, Ray, and Ginny for their direction, trust, and patience.

Kristin Robles (Sister Robert Ann) is thrilled to be making her Maggie’s premier with this terrific cast. She has a BA in theater dance and studies voice with her wonderful teacher Olivia Grugan. Some of Kristin’s past roles include Babe Williams- Pajama Game (Parkside Players), Sister Amnesia- Meshuggah-Nuns (Plaza Theatrical Productions) Sheila- A Chorus Line (The Heights Players), Texas - Cabaret (The Heights Players), and Miss Cratchitt- Gypsy (Theatre by the Bay). When she is not performing Kristin is teaching special education and is a dedicated mother to three beautiful kids. “I would like to dedicate this show to my children. Without you my life would be incomplete.”

Sister Mary Annette (herself) makes her second appearance at Maggie's Little Theater after first appearing on the stage for "Nunsense-The Mega-Musical."  She is delighted to be back and can't believe it's been eleven years (for which she blames Reverend Mother).  She enjoys keeping the other sisters on their toes (especially since she has none).  She is eternally grateful for the mobility given her by the "nun behind the curtain".  Thanks to the Little Sisters of Hoboken, her esthetician Alan, and to Kim, who she misses more than she can say.

MAGGIE’S LITTLE THEATER In our 18th season at St. Margaret, with a mission to produce popular, original, and lesser-known works for the parish and surrounding communities, Maggie’s Little Theater has produced 29 shows.  Following that mission, Maggie’s Board of Directors selects plays and musicals they hope will entertain and enrich patrons and performers both. We strive to cast young performers and production staff whenever possible.  Many of our cast and crew have had their first theatrical experiences with us and have gone on to study and work in stagecraft.  We thank all our patrons, supporters, volunteers and participants.  Please visit www.maggieslittletheater.org – sign up for our mailing list, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or the site formerly known as Twitter to see what’s next!

To the cast, crew, pit, creative team, producers, and Nigel:

Congratulations on the fruits of all your labor, and on bringing some more smiles to this space!  Special shoutout to Kim, who dedicated so much to this she nearly truly broke a leg... and to Monica, for jumping in & being amazing in yet another way.

Longtime Maggie's fan,

Lindsay

The Staff

Creative Staff
Director: Monica Maddock
Music Director: Ray Naccari
Choreographer: Virginia Harmon
Stage Manager: Claire Spinetti
Producers: Joe Annese, Miriam P. Denu, Alan Perkins, Dolores Voyer, Ed Voyer

Performance Staff
Lighting: Dolores Voyer
Sound: Ed Voyer
Sound Effects: Dolores & Ed Voyer
Stage Crew: Claire Spinetti

Production Staff
Technical Director: Ed Voyer
Art Director: Alan Perkins
Graphics & Print: Alan Perkins
Costumes: Miriam P. Denu
Props: Miriam P. Denu, Alan Perkins, Danielle Flemming, Farah Tello Diaz
Production Manager: Joe Annese
Webmaster: Alan Perkins

Stage Crew:
Set Design: Ed Voyer
Carpenters: Ed Voyer, Bitty Cammarata, Julian Czerewin
Set Painting: Alan Perkins

House Staff:
House Manager: Miriam P. Denu, Dolores Voyer
Reservations: Joe Annese
Box Office: Joe Annese, Jim Gillespie
Concessions Manager: Miriam P. Denu
Ushers & Kitchen Staff: Ronnie Malandrakis, Mary Pascale, Mary Griglik, Friends of Maggie’s