Late Nite Catechism
Encyclopedia
Late Nite Catechism is a long-running solo comedy
play
about a fictitious Catholic
nun
, written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. The show itself is a form of participatory theatre
where the actress playing the nun is the only person on stage, and members of the audience become members of the nun's school class.
Funds from the play help to support retired nuns in need. Donovan discovered that, when Social Security was implemented in the United States, the Catholic Church opted out for nuns. This has since changed and social security is in place. However, the raising of funds for the local monastery is always offered to each presenting organization. If the offer is taken, at the end of each performance, the actresses encourage everyone in the audience to give generously. To date, the Late Nite Catechism franchise has collected over two million dollars for retired Sisters.
Donovan originated the role of Sister. For her work in Late Nite Catechism, she was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award in New York for outstanding solo performance. She was also nominated for two Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Awards for writing and performance, and won the LADCC for Best Solo Performance in 1999.
Quade wrote the original 60-page draft in three weeks, and over time the authors revised the material. Quade produced the show in Chicago, and in 2000, was nominated for a Los Angeles Drama Circle Critics Award.
Late Nite Catechism is currently produced by the New York based company Entertainment Events, Inc. They took over the aspect of production in 1999.
In 2011 Entertainment Events, Inc. prevailed in an arbitration proceedings with Quade. The company claimed breach of contract and copyright infringement, over a 1995 licensing agreement. Under the ruling, Vicki Quade is not permitted to produce Late Nite Catechism or her sequels outside of her Chicago territory - a 50-mile radius. This prohibition applies even if the character in the sequels is called "Mother Superior" or any other name. In addition the arbitrator has awarded Entertainment Events, Inc. with damages sought.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
about a fictitious Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. The show itself is a form of participatory theatre
Participatory theatre
Participatory theatre is a form of theatre in which the audience interacts with the performers or the presenters. Classroom exercises often include elements of participatory theatre....
where the actress playing the nun is the only person on stage, and members of the audience become members of the nun's school class.
Funds from the play help to support retired nuns in need. Donovan discovered that, when Social Security was implemented in the United States, the Catholic Church opted out for nuns. This has since changed and social security is in place. However, the raising of funds for the local monastery is always offered to each presenting organization. If the offer is taken, at the end of each performance, the actresses encourage everyone in the audience to give generously. To date, the Late Nite Catechism franchise has collected over two million dollars for retired Sisters.
Donovan originated the role of Sister. For her work in Late Nite Catechism, she was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award in New York for outstanding solo performance. She was also nominated for two Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Awards for writing and performance, and won the LADCC for Best Solo Performance in 1999.
Quade wrote the original 60-page draft in three weeks, and over time the authors revised the material. Quade produced the show in Chicago, and in 2000, was nominated for a Los Angeles Drama Circle Critics Award.
Late Nite Catechism is currently produced by the New York based company Entertainment Events, Inc. They took over the aspect of production in 1999.
In 2011 Entertainment Events, Inc. prevailed in an arbitration proceedings with Quade. The company claimed breach of contract and copyright infringement, over a 1995 licensing agreement. Under the ruling, Vicki Quade is not permitted to produce Late Nite Catechism or her sequels outside of her Chicago territory - a 50-mile radius. This prohibition applies even if the character in the sequels is called "Mother Superior" or any other name. In addition the arbitrator has awarded Entertainment Events, Inc. with damages sought.