Vernon Hills actor stars in ‘Nunsense’ at Metropolis

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Updated: June 6, 2011 12:11PM

Kelli Clevenger has had scant experience with nuns but that hasn’t stopped the multitalented performer from donning a habit for Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s “Nunsense.” The Vernon Hills resident plays Sister Mary Hubert in Dan Goggin’s wacky musical about a convent where 52 sisters were accidentally poisoned by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God. In order to raise money for the funerals, the five remaining nuns put on a talent show.

“Hubert is the second-in-charge nun who ultimately dreams of being mother superior but is happy in her role as the backbone of the convent,” Clevenger said. “She is the one that sort of keeps the group together. She really gets a kick out of the younger nuns who are causing a lot of the chaos and drama for Mother Superior. She’s the instructor for the novices.”

Clevenger, who was in another production of “Nunsense” eight years ago, noted that she did more extensive study for this production because, “I’ve grown as an actor in the last eight years and learned the importance of actually understanding everything that’s happening in the show.”

Great songs

While declaring that “all of the songs are great,” Clevenger is particularly happy with the ones she gets to sing. In one, she advises the younger nuns to “Tackle that Temptation with a Time Step.” She also performs in two duets, “The Biggest Ain’t the Best” and “Just a Coupl’a Sisters,” and sings the final number, “Holier than Thou.”

Director David Belew said he chose Clevenger for the role of Sister Mary Hubert because, “She has a great voice, she’s very funny, she has excellent timing and she is also an incredible tap dancer, which is going to give us an interesting twist on one of the numbers.”

Clevenger has been dancing since the age of 3, singing since 10 and doing musical theater since high school. “Eventually, I went on to do a variety of other things,” she said. “I was a competitive clogger. I toured with a dance show called ‘Dancing on Common Ground.’ The bulk of my training has been in experience.”

Despite her performing talent, the Memphis native earned a degree in physical therapy from the University of Tennessee — Chattanooga. She has been working as a physical therapist for 12 years while maintaining a busy performing schedule.

Most recently, Clevenger was in “She Loves Me” at Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe. She has performed frequently with Light Opera Works and has appeared with numerous other Chicago theater companies in the six years she has lived in this area.

Moving on

Clevenger will soon be moving to Jacksonville, Florida, where her husband — who is in the military — is being transferred. Although Clevenger said, “I am very sad to be leaving this wonderful city,” she is glad to be reunited with her husband who just returned from serving for two years in Guam.

For now, Clevenger is enjoying being part of this five-nun cast. “I’m working with a fantastic group of women who all know how to carry their own weight,” she said. “We are having a blast.”

She’s sure audiences are going to be equally enamored with this show. “Whether you are Catholic or not, there is funny for everyone,” she said. “It is one of those shows within a show. There’s a lot of audience interaction. We want them to know they are a part of this show.”

“It’s a well-written show. It’s a funny show,” director Belew added. “I think when things are not always great in our day-to-day lives, with some of the stuff we’ve all dealt with the last couple of years, it’s so much fun to have a show where you can laugh, with great music.”