Sister is back in Boston, ruler in hand, for the first time in 31 years. “'Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism” has returned to the Charles Playhouse, with Newton native Denise Fennell bringing the beloved nun character to Massachusetts audiences for the first time, according to CBS Boston.
The one-woman comedy show has deep roots in Boston theater. Late Nite Catechism began an 18-month run at Boston's All Saints Church back in 1995, next door to the Charles Playhouse, before moving to the neighboring venue now for a 12-week engagement, according to The Boston Globe. Per CBS Boston, creator and original Sister performer Maripat Donovan actually performed at the Charles Playhouse herself 31 years ago, and she later trained Fennell to take on the role.
A Newton Native Takes the Habit
Fennell has played Sister for nearly 17 years, performing the role around the United States and Canada, per the Globe's report. This run marks the first time she has brought the character to her home state. CBS Boston notes that Fennell told WBZ-TV each performance differs through a combination of scripting and audience interaction, a dynamic she described in more detail to the Globe: “Depending on how the audience answers the questions, it can take the show in a totally different direction.”
That improvisational streak isn't unique to this engagement. Back in 2023, as the franchise marked its 30th anniversary, its creator told the Chicago Tribune that “each performance is always a bit different, but the narrative remains the same.” The franchise's roots trace back to Chicago's Live Bait Theatre, where Late Nite Catechism debuted in 1993, created by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, according to BroadwayWorld.
What's On the Syllabus This Time
This installment finds Sister tackling new territory. Per ExploreBoston.com, the current production focuses on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites, a shift in subject matter for a show built around sharp-witted classroom banter and unpredictable crowd participation.
Performances of ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism run at the Charles Playhouse through November 22, 2026, BroadwayWorld reports. Sister isn't leaving for long: a holiday follow-up, Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold, is scheduled to run from November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027, the same outlet notes.
A Franchise With a Long Reach
Decades after its Chicago debut, the Sister character has built a sizable following, though exact figures vary by source. ExploreBoston.com describes Late Nite Catechism as a nine-title franchise that has entertained more than 12 million people around the world, while the production's own website lists more than 10 million audience members across more than 40,000 performances, according to Entertainment Events Inc. As of 2023, the Chicago Tribune reported weekly performances continuing at Chicago's Greenhouse Theater Center alongside touring dates, including a stop that October at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana. The show has also traveled well beyond the Midwest and New England over the years, with a TheaterMania interview once listing stops spanning Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Seattle, Portland, New Orleans, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Sydney and Melbourne.
