The Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts in Doylestown presents “Late Nite Catechism,” beginning June 26.
“Late Nite Catechism,” written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, made its debut May 28, 1993 at the Live Bait Theatre in Chicago, and since then has grossed over $100 million in box office receipts.
It has been presented in more than 410 cities around the world and played six countries with over 3.5 million people in attendance. The show has raised more than $4 million for retired Sisters and Catholic organizations. There have been over 100 “Sisters” presenting the eight shows now in the series.
“Late Nite Catechism” is a comedy that takes audience members back – sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully – to the children they once were. The irrepressible Sister teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of “students” (the audience).
Over the course of the play, Sister goes from benevolent instructor, rewarding the “students” for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and laminated saint cards, to authoritative drill sergeant.
These abrupt mood swings are bound to strike a resonant chord with everyone who survived the ups and downs of going to school with an omniscient authoritarian at the helm.
The Catholic Register (Toronto) said, “The show appeals to Catholics and non-Catholics alike since ‘Sister’ clearly explains religious references in lighthearted ways while maintaining a serious tone that isn’t too preachy and far from being saccharine.”
“Late Nite Catechism” was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award in New York and won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for Maripat Donovan. It is the longest running one-woman show in Off-Broadway history.
“Late Nite Catechism” is the first in Bucks County Center for the Performing Arts’ series of shows, running June 26 to June 30, followed by “Cabaret” July 17 to July 28, and “The Producer” Aug. 7 to Aug. 18. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 2 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets range from $37 to $57, and subscriptions start at $99 for all three shows. For information, visit
buckscountycpa.org or call 215-297-8540.
