Dan Goggin came to New York from Alma, Michigan to study as a classical countertenor. He began his professional career singing in the Tony award-winning Broadway production of “Luther” starring Albert Finney. While appearing in a comic folk-duo called “The Saxons” he began writing. This led to scores for the off-Broadway musical, Hark! (in which he also appeared) , the Broadway production of Legend and two revues. Goggin received the 1986 Outer Critics’ Circle Awards given to Nunsense for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Music. Nunsense and Nunsense 2: The Second Coming, both starring Rue McClanahan have been recorded for the A&E Television Network. Nunsense 3: The Jamboree toured the U.S. starring Georgia Engel and has been recorded for television at the Grand Ole Opry starring Vicki Lawrence. Nunsense A-Men! opened at the 47th Street Theatre in New York in June 1998 and has since been produced with “Laugh-In’s” Arte Johnson, impressionist Frank Gorshin, and Olympic Champion Greg Louganis. Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical premiered in October 1998, followed by a national tour starring Dody Goodman, Jeff Trachta and Dawn Wells. The Nuncrackers television special playing on the PBS network starring Rue McClanahan with guest star John Ritter, received and Emmy nomination for Best Musical Score. Meshuggah-Nuns: The Ecumenical Nunsense premiered in September 2002 and is currently out on DVD. The All-Star touring production of Nunsense featuring Kaye Ballard, Georgia Engel, Mimi Hines, Darlene Love and Lee Meriwether marked the 20th anniversary of the original show. In 2004 Dan’s “serious piece” The Traditional Latin Mass was recorded by cast members and friends. In 2005 Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue premiered and in 2008, there was a national tour of Nunsense starring Sally Struthers. Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class (A one-nun musical) and Nunset Boulevard: The Nunsense Hollywood Bowl Show are the latest shows in the series.
Nunsense is a hilarious talent show staged by five survivors at the Little Sisters of Hoboken nunnery, the rest of the sisterhood having succumbed to botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia, Child of God. The remaining “Little Hobos” parade their talents at a variety show staged to raise funds so that the last four of the dearly departed can be buried.
The score pulses with merriment and an unabashed desire to make you laugh, with songs and spontaneous comic interludes paced at break-neck speed. Amid the merriment is a riotous audience participation quiz that has everyone rolling in the aisles, Nunsense offers a cornucopia of hilarity for the whole family, proving conclusively that nun rhymes with fun!
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