Summerlin resident Lisa Donovan takes on Mother Superior role in “Nunsense”

You might say she has a voice like "nun other."

Lisa Donovan, who has a long career as a singer, said she's always looked forward to her newest gig. The triple threat has just taken over the role of Mother Superior in "Nunsense," playing at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road.

When the part opened up, director Nancy Gregory nabbed Donovan an open-ended contract. The northwest Las Vegas-area resident took on the role in mid-July.

"It's fun to watch Lisa on stage again in a musical comedy show ---- seeing Lisa singing, dancing, acting and doing wonderfully silly comedy, all of which I've seen her do many times in different properties over the years," said Stan Evans, her manager.

Donovan said gigs have always come her way, a sort of "when one door closes, another opens" analogy played out in real life.

"Lucky for me, it's a swinging door," Donovan said.

Best known to television audiences for her long-running musical game show "Face the Music," she also created the role of Nurse Kelly on "The Young a nd t he Restless" and has appeared on a number of TV series.

Donovan starred in the New York City revival of the Rodgers and Hart Broadway musical "Babes i n Arms ," garnering rave reviews. The New York Times likened her to "a young Ginger Rogers," a nod to the director of the play, Ginger Rogers herself.

Working with Rogers, said Donovan, was one of the highlights of her career.

"I'm sitting with her ... in her hotel room ... and she's got these big, blue eyes, and she's telling me all she learned in show business," Donovan said.

One of those things: When standing still on stage as other actors speak their lines, curl the toes. Say again?

Rogers apparently used that trick to portray tension in her stance. Rogers shared even more with Donovan.

"She gave me Ruby Keeler's dancing shoes to wear, but they were too big for me," she said.

Other stars she's worked with include Keely Smith, whom Donovan called "hip" and "cool." She and Smith didn't share the stage but had back-to-back shows at the Desert Inn. Another notable star: George Burns -- the epitome of funnymen.

"If there was an opportunity for a one-liner, he was right there with one," she said.

She also worked with Bob Hope, who ensured she had an upgraded dressing room, got paid up front and who made her role in his show a better one.

"He gave me the funny lines to highlight me," she said, sounding incredulous at his generosity.

She told how Hope had once donated his time to a charity event, but the function didn't bring in the expected amount of funds needed.

"He pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check for the difference," she said. "Now that's class."

Don Rickles incorporated her into his act as well. After she opened for Donald O'Connor, he brought her back on stage to dance beside him for his "Singin' in the Rain" number.

"There were girls, dancers, behind us in slickers ... and me, on stage, dancing with Donald O'Connor," she said and chuckled at the thought.

She said he wasn't running up the walls to do back flips at that point in his career, but he held himself with that confident ease as only dancers can.

When not on stage, she hits the cruise ship circuit.

Last year, Donovan stayed in Las Vegas to put together her own show, "Boo! A Frightfully Fun Musical," which played at the Starbright Theatre in Sun City Summerlin. Her sister, Ina Jo Donovan, two years her junior, who lays claim to her own impressive credits in entertainment, joined her in the show. Now, the two are reunited for "Nunsense."

"We're a sister act for real," the elder sister joked.

Ina Jo Donovan credited Gregory's direction and choreography with making the show "total fun for the audience. I feel the songs are the best part of this show."

Gregory said Lisa Donovan has great timing.

"Each character in this ensemble must not only be distinctive but also connect immediately to the audience," she said. "Mother Superior, Lisa's role, sets the tone for the entire show the minute she walks on stage."

"Nunsense" is the world-famous musical comedy now playing at 4 p.m. in the Shimmer Cabaret. The show is dark Tuesdays. For tickets, call 732-5755.

Contact Summerlin View and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.