Growing Up Catholic (from Nunsense): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This songbook captures the comedic heart of Nunsense in an accessible piano/vocal format that works beautifully for singers, accompanists, and directors building shows or recitals around theatrical comedy songs. Goggin's melodies are immediately memorable and sit naturally in the voice, while the harmonic language stays rooted enough that pianists at intermediate levels can handle the accompaniments without losing the character. The collection spans styles (country, pop, novelty) without ever feeling scattered, giving you flexibility to pull single songs or program the whole score.

Lighthearted and irreverent, with moments of genuine warmth breaking through the satire. These songs celebrate the ridiculous and the vulnerable in equal measure, so the emotional tone shifts from campy fun to surprisingly tender within a single number.

Singers preparing audition material or cabaret selections from musical theater will find strong character songs in this collection. Music directors building a Nunsense production or a comedy-centered recital can work from a single, organized score without hunting through multiple sources.

• Commit fully to the comedic intent in your phrasing and delivery. These songs are written to land jokes, so timing and clarity matter as much as vocal technique.
• Work the lyrics for specificity. Many of these numbers build humor through concrete details and images; let the language breathe and land.
• Balance the piano accompaniment so it supports the vocal line without crowding it. The melodies need air to be heard.
• Lean into the theatrical personality of each song. 'Growing Up Catholic' and 'Say It in Yiddish' each have their own flavor; don't flatten them into generic cabaret delivery.

Build a musical theater revue around comedy songs by drawing from different styles in this collection. Use individual numbers as audition pieces or for a cabaret night focused on theatrical humor, or perform the full score as a staged production for intermediate-level theater groups.

• comedic timing and character work through song
• stylistic versatility across pop, country, and novelty genres
• sight-reading piano/vocal arrangements with chord symbols
• projection and clarity in rapid-fire lyrical passages