CenterStage presents ‘Nunsense II’

“Nunsense II: The Second Coming,” featuring two of Spokane’s favorite faux-nuns, Jean Hardie and Kathie Doyle-Lipe, opens Friday at the CenterStage Dinner Theatre.

Both actresses are practically official members of the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Hardie has appeared in more than 50 local performances of “Nunsense” and its various sequels, and Doyle-Lipe isn’t far behind at about 35.

Both were in the original Spokane production of “Nunsense II: The Second Coming,” which played the Spokane Civic Theatre in 1993 and was revived at The Met in 1994.

Hardie revisits her signature role, that of the Mother Superior. Doyle-Lipe plays the second-in-command, Sister Mary Hubert, instead of her original 1993 role, Sister Leo, the novice.

“I thought, ‘12 years later as the novice? I don’t think so,’ ” said Doyle-Lipe. “This is fun for me, trying a different role.”

Doyle-Lipe has proven to be the most versatile of nuns, having played Sister Hubert, Sister Robert Anne and Sister Leo in various “Nunsense” productions.

“Nunsense II: The Second Coming” was the first of author-composer Dan Goggin’s six sequels, and it closely follows the formula of the original: Five wacky nuns put on a variety show and deal with various off-stage crises.

It functions mostly as a vehicle for five actresses to have a wimple-wearing blast. The other nuns will be played by Katie Sarah-Phillips, Karla Morrison and Angela Snyder.

This production is directed by … well, nobody. The actresses are using the original 1993 Civic choreography by Troy Nickerson.

“We have a video, thank goodness,” said Doyle-Lipe.

Nickerson has come in to a few rehearsals to help the nuns brush up on their high-kicks. Leslie Grove is the musical director.

The show opens Friday and continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 18 at CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 and the show at 7:30

Tickets are $39 for dinner and show, $19 for the show only, through the CenterStage box office (747-8243) or TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

‘Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business’

The Spokane Children’s Theatre kicks off its 60th anniversary season with a musical version of the children’s story “Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business.”

This story, based on the book by Barbara Parks, is about what happens when kindergartner Junie B. Jones declares her newborn brother to be “the cutest little monkey I ever saw.” Joan Cushing wrote this new musical version.

An all-adult cast includes Nicole Hicks, Tami Knoell, Tony Caprile and Jamie Flanery. Danielle Read plays Junie.

The show opens Saturday and continues on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 23. Saturday performances are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Sunday performances are at 1 p.m., with a 4 p.m. performance added on Oct. 16 only.

All shows are at the Lair Auditorium at Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. Tickets are $6 for children, $7 for adults, through TicketsWest.

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

Spokane’s newest theater group, Ignite Community Theatre, kicks off its first full season with one of the beloved warhorses of American theater, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

This is Joseph Kesselring’s 1941 black comedy about two sweet, elderly sisters who have an unusual way of passing the time: They murder all of the sweet, elderly men who come calling.

The production will feature Kim Roberts and Renae Meredith as the sisters and Jon Jordan as their nephew Mortimer.

It opens Friday and continues Saturday, Sunday and Oct. 13-15. All shows are at 8 p.m., except Sunday’s matinee at 2 p.m., in the Cajun Room of the Rendezvous Events Facility, 1003 E. Trent Ave. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, students and military, available at the door or by calling 993-6540.

‘Native Voices at the Autry’

Eight one-act plays written by area American Indian youth will be presented Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Davenport Gallery of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave.

As part of the national “Native Voices at the Autry” program sponsored by the Autry Museum of the American West, young playwrights from the Coeur d’Alene Tribal School’s grades six through eight were paired with mentor actors or writer to produce the plays. They are performed by professional actors.

The program is included in regular museum admission: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students (free for children 5 and under, and museum members).

For information call 456-3931.