Sponsored by Staunton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Hard Road Theatre Productions in association with the Highland Arts Council invites you to join them for an evening of hilarious hijinks with the nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing in the state and regional premiere of the family-friendly comedy Drinking Habits 2. The play is a direct sequel to last winter’s highly popular play, Drinking Habits and features all of the same characters.

Set in the present day outside the small town of Shady Glenn, USA, Drinking Habits 2 follows the misadventures of the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing and their friends. An orphanage with a strong connection to the convent is in danger of closing unless $5,000 can be raised in four weeks. In order to raise the needed funds, the convent decides to perform a play written by Mother Superior. Meanwhile, the other nuns of the convent agree to make a secret batch of their award-winning wine to sell to supplement the play’s proceeds. But when Mother Superior believes she’s had a holy vision, the lead male actor can’t remember his lines, and the woman playing the Blessed Mother can’t stop her uncontrollable cravings because she’s pregnant with twins, things are thrown into chaos and everything that can go wrong does just as the curtain rises.

Directed by Tom Varner, the cast includes Breanna Noe as Sister Augusta, Linda Collman as Sister Philamena, Chad Korte as George, Mary Knebel as Mother Superior, Evan Fifer as Paul Billings, Gentry Nessel as Sally Andrews, Megan Jakel as Kate, and Rob Bowman as Father Chenille. According to Varner, audiences are in for a real treat as Hard Road’s production is only the second place in the world to be performing this play. The play hasn’t even been officially published, yet, and is being produced in direct accordance with the author. “Drinking Habits was so successful and well received than when we were presented with this opportunity, we couldn’t pass it up,” said Varner. “It isn’t necessary to have seen the first show to enjoy this one. Audiences are going to love this show and what occurs as the convent tries to put on their play while the sisters secretly start bootlegging wine again.”

Drinking Habits 2 is acceptable for families as it contains no foul language or adult situations. Performance dates are Jan. 21, 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held in the Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL 62249. Ticket prices are $10 and can be purchased online (www.hardroad.org), at the door, or in person at the Highland Chamber of Commerce.

Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing Highland and the surrounding area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions.