Laguna Playhouse to Present SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM: WILL MY BUNNY GO TO HEAVEN?, 4/7-14

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are delighted to bring back their favorite Sister in a return offering, SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM: Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?, written and performed by Maripat Donovan (alternating with Nonie Newton-Breen) and directed by Mark Silvia. "Sister is back and as funny as ever. Our audiences are going to be Heaven-sent at this Easter delight," offers Wood. "Our audiences will be resurrected with laughter. What better way to begin the Spring than with an evening with Sister?," adds Wareham. SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM will begin performances on Monday, April 7 and run through Monday, April 14, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Celebrate spring with Sister as she answers the time-worn questions: "Why isn't Easter the same day every year like Christmas?" and "Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?" Part pageant and wHOLY hysterical, Sister answers questions about pet heaven, unearths the origins of Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter bonnets, Easter baskets and the significance of those adorable baby chicks!

MARIPAT DONOVAN (Playwright/Sister) originated the role of Sister in "Late Nite Catechism" and has toured internationally, receiving rave reviews for her work in Chicago, Boston, Providence, New York, Toronto, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, London, and Dublin. She worked in Chicago theatre for more than 20 years, winning Joseph Jefferson citations for her work in "Portrait of a Shiksa" and "The Good Times are Killing Me." For her work in "Late Nite Catechism," she was nominated for the coveted Outer Critics Circle Award in New York for Outstanding Solo Performance. Maripat won the Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance in Los Angeles.

NONIE NEWTON-BREEN (Sister) hails from a large Irish-Catholic mob in Chicago, honing her comedy skills at the dinner then later at Chicago's famed Second City Theatre where she learned to "write on her feet." She performed at the Green Mountain Guild in Vermont, toured clubs and colleges in the South with the improvisation group, The Reification Company. She enjoyed a long run in Jerry Mayer's Aspirin & Elephants at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Nonie earned an Emmy for writing and performing "Oh, Art!" in Chicago for PBS. She has appeared in soaps, sit-coms, and hidden camera shows. Television writing credits include: "Candid Camera," "CBS' "Say What?" and "Late Date." Since 2001, Nonie has toured the country in the Late Nite Catechism plays. She has performed at The Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, The Golden Apple in Sarasota, Florida, The Laguna Beach Playhouse, The Pasadena Playhouse, the Coronet in Hollywood, Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the Lyric in Stuart, Florida, the Empire-Majestic in San Antonio, Texas, the Kirkland Center in Washington, Olney Theatre in Maryland, Stages Theatre in Houston, The Arvada Center for the Arts where she was nominated for an Ovation Award in Denver for best solo performance 2006 (Sister's Christmas Catechism). Nonie's Sister writes original roasts for corporate and private events. She dedicates this show to Sister Regina Therese, her fifth grade nun, who whacked her frequently...usually for a very good reason.

MARC SILVIA (Director) has been writing with Maripat Donovan on the Late Nite sequels beginning with Late Nite Catechism 2. He directed most of the "Sisters" in the Late Nite series since it began its original run in Chicago in 1992. Marc is also an award winning actor and saw his first plays produced in Chicago at the Econo-Art Theatre Company, where he was Artistic Director. Marc and Maripat recently finished Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas...Sister Rolls the Dice, the latest in the Late Nite series.

Performances will be Monday, April 7 & 14, Tuesday, April 8 & Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30pm. (Nonie Newton-Breen performs at the April 8 & April 9 performances.)

Tickets range from $35 - $55 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Student discounts are available at the Box Office. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. The box office is open Mondays - Sundays: noon to 5 p.m. (open until 7:30 pm on performance days).

For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

Founded in 1920, The Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is noted for its artistic excellence, wide-ranging theatrical programming, award-winning youth education offerings and community partnerships. A member of the League of Resident Theatres, The Laguna Playhouse is a valued part of the Laguna Beach arts community that serves all of Southern California with year-round, professional, high-quality productions in theatre, music and dance.

Because of its longstanding commitment to the arts, The Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for excellence by the LA Drama Critics Circle, NAACP, Backstage, ArtsOC, OC Weekly, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and more. Laguna Playhouse educational programming, which includes classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and a school tour, has been honored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education.

Serving more than 100,000 patrons each season, The Laguna Playhouse has brought many talented performers to Southern California, including Davis Gaines, Stephanie Zimbalist, Rita Rudner, Sally Struthers, Cloris Leachman, Julie Harris, Harrison Ford, Charles Durning, Marlo Thomas, Roddy McDowell and Bette Davis.