"Late Nite Catechism" makes a lot of references to the "joy" that was the Catholic school experience. Does anyone remember the Pagan Baby Fund? Have you resorted to burying a St. Joseph statue in your yard to help sell your house in this economy? Have you committed an act of insubordination that it will go on ... GASP ... your permanent record?

If so, you could find yourself on a blast from the past. If none of this sounds familiar to you, don't worry. Mary Zentmyer, who plays Sister in the production coming to St. Joseph at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Missouri Theater, says there is one aspect of "Late Nite Catechism" that crosses any religious barriers.

"Everybody's had a strict teacher, so they get it," Zentmyer says. "They don't have to be Catholic to enjoy it."

"Late Nite Catechism" has gained substantial popularity since Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan penned the Catholic comic play and debuted it in Chicago in 1993. Now, it's grown to feature multiple traveling productions that bring this Sister act to cities across the country.

Technically, it's a one-woman show about Sister teaching her third-grade catechism class in the 1960s. But once the crowd shows up and Sister walks on stage, everything changes.

"It's a participation show. When you come in, the audience is my class," Zentmyer says.

And you better behave unless you want to be made into a hilarious example. You could end up in time out on stage in a child-sized "forgive me chair." Ladies, don't let Sister catch you wearing a skirt unless you want to get brought up for a measurement. You'd better not sit too close to your date so you can "make room for the Holy Spirit." And make sure you turn off that pesky cell phone unless you want it confiscated.

"You have to get out of your e-mail and iPod and go back to chalk dust and a No. 2 pencil," Zentmyer says. "Everything was black and white - the habit and the rules."

But all of this ridicule and punishment is exactly what makes "Late Nite Catechism" so popular. Even though the show just played at Northwest Missouri State University back in January, Jeff Haney, business manager for Robidoux Resident Theatre, says that some people who attended that show are coming down for another session with Sister.

"It's kind of a cult show for a lot of people," Haney says. "It's one of the shows they see over and over because the Sisters are different."

Zentmyer also was the Sister who performed at Northwest, but she says that she show is never the same twice, partly because of frequent improvisation and the different "troublemakers" in the crowd. And while other actresses who play Sister might intimidate with their physical presence, Zentmyer has other ways to make you pay attention.

"I play her as more of a feisty granny kind of nun," she says. "I don't have that weight to me, so I play her more like granny from 'The Beverly Hillbillies' with a shaking fist."

By the time it's all over, "Late Nite Catechism" might be one class people of any religion would like to retake.

"As a regular theater-goer, it's a different twist on theater," Zentmyer says. "It's a fun show because you get to play."

Tickets for the show are $12 to $27. A "Late Nite Lunch" catered meal from Luna's will be served for 100 patrons at noon. Tickets are $16 and reservations are required. For more information, call 232-1778 or go to www.rrtstjoe.org.