Photo Flash: ActorsNET presents the Regional Premiere of Bo Wilson's THE CHARITABLE SISTERHOOD
By: A.A. Cristi Nov. 27, 2017
The Heritage Center in Morrisville, Pennsylvania will rock with laughter as ActorsNET presents the regional premiere of Bo Wilson's comedy, The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular. The show features comedy, music, mayhem and a mystery: Who stole the baby Jesus from the nativity scene?
A holiday sequel to Wilson's The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church, which ActorsNET staged three seasons ago, this comic romp again highlights the antics of the colorful characters of a Virginia church's volunteer organization. Joe Doyle of Morrisville, company co-founder and general manager, directs the five-woman cast, including three returning from their original cast.
Virginia Barrie of Ewing, New Jersey co-stars as Bea Littleton, alongside two other original cast returnees - Allison Deratzian of North Wales, Pennsylvania as Tina Yates and Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski of Trenton, New Jersey as Janet Murchison. Also co-starring are Susan Fowler of Lambertville, New Jersey and Susan Blair of Philadelphia as Lucille Orton. Show dates are weekends December 1 to 17.
"In the first Sisterhood comedy, the church ladies helped a runaway abused woman who was on the lam after being accused of killing her abusive husband," Doyle said. "The ladies hired Janet Murchison, a New Jersey private detective, to join them in their efforts. By that play's end, the detective had unearthed evidence that the killing had been self-defense.
"This time around, the mystery is who stole the baby Jesus from the church crèche?" Doyle noted. "In their small town, the local churches hold a competition to judge who has the best nativity scene. Last year, the Second Trinity Victory Church won. This year, baby Jesus has been abducted. The prime suspect is Lucille Orton, who heads the women's organization in a rival church - again prompting our heroines to call in the New Jersey detective.
"Along the way, the ladies in Act I decorate the church basement, which doubles as a theater, and in Act II produce a hilarious Christmas show with songs and sketches, as the audience views both the onstage performance and the mayhem occurring backstage. In the end, the mystery is solved. So, we invite our patrons to attend, join in the merriment and see if they can figure out 'who dunnit' before the big heartwarming reveal at show's end," the director stated.
"Comedy, singing -- this holiday show has everything, including an Ugly Holiday Sweater slide show!," Doyle concluded. "It's a great show to help everyone ring in the holidays."
The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular performs weekends December 1 to 17 at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 North Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+), $15 for WHYY card members and students (high school & college) and $10 for children age 12 and younger. To reserve, call 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com .
Two women suspect the other kidnapped holy figures from their churches’ nativity scenes. “Who stole baby Jesus?â€? “Who stole Saint Joseph?â€? Could it because their churches are competing in a citywide Best Nativity Scene Competition? Virginia Barrie (left) and Susan Blair (right) costar in the ActorsNET regional premiere of Bo Wilson’s new holiday comedy, The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular. As the twin mysteries resolve, can the two unite to appear together in a holiday pageant? The questions will be answered at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA. Performs weekends Dec. 1 â€" 17; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com.
When the figure of baby Jesus is stolen from a Nativity Scene outside a small-town Virginia church, a Hackensack, NJ private detective is summoned to solve the case. Who can figure who stole the figure? This question is answered and a lot more entertainment is instore as ActorsNET presents the Dec. 1 â€" 17 regional premiere of Bo Wilson’s new holiday comedy, The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular. Virginia Barrie (left) costars as complainant Bea LIttleton with Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski, who plays investigator Janet Murchison. Combining a first act mystery with a madcap second act variety show, this show has humor and heart! The production can be seen at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com.
Susan Fowler (left) and Allison Deratzian (right) perform a holiday sketch as part of the second act of the ActorsNET regional premiere of Bo Wilson’s new holiday comedy, The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular. Ms. Fowler brought a “deer friend� to meet The Three Kings who trekked to Bethlehem, depicted by Ms. Deratzian (accompanied by two puppets mounted on her shoulders) NOT AS Wise Men, but wise guys. Act One revolves around the abduction of the baby Jesus figure from the Charitable Sisterhood’s Nativity Scene, while the second depicts the church’s riotous annual holiday show, where almost anything that can go wrong does! ActorsNET performs the show at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com.
Susan Fowler (left) and Susan Blair (right) help ring in the holidays weekends Dec. 1 â€" 17 in a skit involving southern trailer park residents describing their visit from Saint Nick â€" turning the familiar tale of the “Night Before Christmasâ€? on its head. The skit is part of a show within a show as ActorsNET presents the regional premiere of Bo Wilson’s new holiday comedy, The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular. The first act revolves around the abduction of the baby Jesus figure from the Charitable Sisterhood’s Nativity Scene and the second depicts the church’s riotous annual holiday show, where almost anything that can go wrong does! ActorsNET performs the show at The Heritage Center Theatre, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For information and reservations, call 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com.
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