John Buranosky - (Sister Mary Hubert)
Two things struck me in the Nunsense process, we are not as young as we once were (this cast in particular, except for Colin) and there is always room for growth and learning.
I learned that at my age tap dancing is hard and I am not great. Also learning lines. That is reality. But I tried and did my best. I challenged my inner nun diva with compassion. This show, although because of my schedule would be my last for a while, gave me confidence.
I was not perfect for sure, but in the moments I let go, I felt I brought the audience with me and stopped worrying about perfection. I loved singing the Growing Up Catholic song as back-up singers. I too grew up catholic and it made me think of my mom and how she found solace in her religion in a very personal way. Her devotion was inspiring.
I remember the first rehearsal we wore our habits and couldn’t hear each other and could not see each other either. Leaning in and swirling our heads wildly back and forth, we of course adapted, but it was hilarious.
The men in Nunsense A-Men! will always be very special to me for many different reasons. I can only smile when I think about my experience.
FAST FORWARD
My life since Nunsense has been focused on family and friends. I did some prop design right after Nunsense for some companies in the city and an assistant director stint at Kokandy Productions but needed to have more time flexibility as my mom became increasing ill. There will always be another show opportunity but invest in family and friends when they need you.
My mom passed in August of 2019 and since then I have been slowly getting back into a creative mode. I have been in a couple sketch comedy shows with Wig Bullies in Chicago and am now a member of the Jeff Committee. I have a hard time relaxing.
I look forward to more opportunities with the Towle. It really makes a difference in people’s lives. I could not imagine my journey without some of my experiences at the Towle.
Colin Funk - (Sister Mary Leo)
I had a blast working on Nunsense A-Men! The cast was just so much fun to work with. I can remember laughing so hard it took us so long to block some of the numbers. I especially loved teaching the “girls” the tap dance. It has been one of the most special casts I’ve ever gotten to work with. This was not my first, nor my last show working with the Towle, I will continue coming back, because I’ve never felt so much like family when working on a show.
FAST FORWARD
Since Nunsense I have done a couple shows, including Avenue Q at Metropolis, but have mostly focused on some Broadway baby classes with Stages Performing Arts. I am currently enrolled in grad school for childhood development, and I’m excited to work more with kids in the future. I have also since gotten engaged and I’m planning my wedding for early next year!
Allen Horner - (Sister Mary Regina)
Nunsense A-Men! was my second show at the Towle having preformed there several years before in the wonderful The Musical of Musicals, the Musical. I was very excited to be asked to be a part of the show and to be working with a cast and director that I had been friends with for years and knew the high caliber of work they have all done on local stages. I felt excited… and scared (but that’s a different musical). Once I got the script in my hand, I felt very scared…who knew Mother Superior would have 300 lines!!!
Rehearsals were great fun and lots of work, with such a small cast you can’t hide, you can’t miss a step of choreography (even if the step should start with the right foot and not the left), you can’t not sing out (I’ll get the harmony Elizabeth) and you can’t not know what’s next (sorry Johnny B)…so we had lots of work to do. It took me awhile to find Sister Regina, but once I found the perfect reading glasses to sit on the end of my nose and shaved off my beard and mustache she just appeared and at the same time my big monologue that I had been struggling with and stressing over also just fell into my head and made sense to me. I was so very excited to come to the next rehearsal and say, much to Jeff’s surprise, “can I run it” and have Jeff love it and help me finish tweaking it. Then the Revered Mother was mine to learn to play with and to love.
This show was difficult and fun and rewarding and renewing and who knows…it could be the last one I’ll ever do. I don’t know how I could top it or ever have such a good time doing the work with amazing people (Sisters) like Jeff, Johnny, Kevin, Tom, Colin and Elizabeth. They made it a joy to do each and every time we got on stage and they held me up, encouraged me and supported me throughout the entire process.
I’ve been on the stages of many theatres in NW Indiana as an actor and singer and have even directed some big shows like Chicago, Titanic the Musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and The King and I too, but the Towle feels like my theatre home and it’s wonderful to know that I’ll be welcomed there if and when I ever want to come back. Thanks for giving me Sister Mary Regina and the wonderful experience of Nunsense A-Men!