( MESHUGGAH-NUNS!' Kenny Morris may not have encoun- tered meshuggah (nutty) nuns as he pursued his acting career, but he cer- tainly has met fiddlers on the roof. When he comes to the Meidow Brook Theatre to appear in the latest comedy written by Dan Goggin, he'll be entering new territory with nuns and be on familiar ground with a fiddler. Morris takes on the character of Howard in the new play Meshuggah- Nuns!, the latest installment in the Nunsense series of musical comedies. The plot has Howard joining the women on an ocean liner as he assumes the role of Tevye for a ship- board production of Catholic or Jewish," Goggin says. "You are not hurting or hating. You are just laughing." Morris, who has appeared in region- al theater with Fiddler on the Roof, has been on BroadWay in Les Miserables and with the national and internation- al companies of Sunset Boulevard, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jolson — The Musical. He worked in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids with David Cassidy in Joseph and at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit with Mike Burstyn in Jolson. "I think the Jewish community is going to have a lot of fun with Meshuggah- Nuns!," says Morris, who recently was cast in an episode of TV's Third Watch and in the film Title to Murder. "I've had a number Fiddler on the Roof, of Jewish parts, and I and it's all very remi- relate to my Jewish niscent of the three heritage through art." times Morris has The actor studied toured in the shtetl-set theater at the show. University of North "I've always been an Carolina and moved admirer of Dan to New York City Goggin," says the 40ish after completing his Morris, part of the pro- program. He went on duction that runs April to classes at Circle in 23-May 18. "His come- the Square, where his dies have outrageous classmates included humor mixed with lots The cast of "Meshuggah-Nuns!" Kevin Bacon and of love, truth and sweet- Ken Olin. ness. This is a very lively production." "Part of my research for Jewish parts The new play finds the Little Sisters includes talking to my mom and of Hoboken embarking on a water thinking about the way my grandpar- adventure as they take a vacation ents- lived in New York," says Morris, cruise to the Holy Land and suddenly whose favorite leisure activity is going find themselves starring in a show. to the theater. "With the popularity of They agree to pitch in for the original Jewish roles, I think I'm actually cast members who suddenly take ill, becoming state-of-the-art." joining the only healthy performer, Morris, who is single, supplements Morris' character. his acting career by working with Goggin, a Michigan native and computers and taking on word pro- Catholic school graduate who also is cessing assignments. directing, has included his continuing "I think of moving to non-theatrical characters, Reverend Mother, Sister work as switching from a musical to a Mary Amnesia and the rest of the gang. straight play," jokes the singing actor. The cast includes Kathy Robinson, "I also think of computers as more of who is reprising her role as Reverend a meditative profession." Mother from Nunsense and Nunsense — Suzanne Chessler Musical director Leo P. Carusone has worked with Goggin on all of his hits. Since starting with Nunsense in Meshuggah-Nuns! runs April 23- 1983, Goggin has watched his come- May 18 at the Meadow Brook dies gross more than $300 million Theatre on the campus of worldwide. Previous comedies in the Oakland University. Call for series have included a down-home show times. Meet-the-Artist theme with Sister Amnesia's Country Talkbacks with the audience will Western Nunsense Jamboree and cele- be held after each preview per- brated the holidays with Nuncrackers. formance, April 23-25, and after Meshuggah-Nuns! f i nds commonali- the Sunday matinees on April 27, ties between Jews and Catholics in the May 4 and May 11. $19-$38. midst of the humor. (248) 377-3300. "When you're laughing, you're not OfaskTRale;, • 'nffi, Ag57175357o7WIEMk "Our Specialties" Surf & Turf Dinner Chateaubriand Baby Lamb Chops Savory Broiled Prime Rib FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1939 OVER ONE HUNDRED MENU CHOICES WE SPECIALIZE IN PRIME STEAKS, CHOPS & SEAFOOD 248.373.4440 885 N. 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