When Cherry Jones originated the role of Sister Aloysius in 2005, she did not know that John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” would take the Pulitzer Prize, multiple Tony Awards — including Best Actress — and numerous other high honors. She knew only that the strong character represented certainty, a dangerous quality in today’s world.

“I immediately took her to be an extraordinary and noble woman,” she says. “She gets crazy on a few subjects, but she goes to work every day to prepare each child under her supervision as best she can. She has no doubt about her convictions, so in playing her, I had to grow myself. It’s not my job to be in conflict with her reactions. Onstage, I’m in complete and total alignment with her.”