SISTER ACT UK Tour Opens at the Curve Tonight

The Curve's all new production of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, opens tonight 30 July 2016.

Joining the previously announced Alexandra Burke as 'Deloris Van Cartier' will be Joanna Francis as 'Michelle', Jon Robyns as 'Eddie', Karen Mann as 'Mother Superior' and Rosemary Ashe as 'Sister Mary Lazarus'. Alexandra Burke will perform the role of 'Deloris Van Cartier' at all evening performances. At the matinee performances, the role of 'Deloris Van Cartier' will be played by Joanna Francis.

Aaron Lee Lambert will play 'Curtis', Sarah Goggin 'Sister Mary Robert', Susannah Van Den Berg 'Sister Mary Patrick', Allison Harding 'Sister Mary Theresa', Ricky Rojas 'Pablo', Samuel Morgan-Grahame as 'Joey' andSandy Grigelis as 'TJ'. The company also includes Nicola Bryan, Jennifer Douglas, Aiesha Pease, Sally Peerless and Justin Wilman.

Alexandra Burke can currently be seen starring as 'Rachel Marron' in the national tour of "The Bodyguard", a part she also played in the West End. She originally rose to fame after winning the fifth series of The X Factor. Her debut number one single Hallelujah sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist. Burke's first album, Overcome saw the release of her subsequent number one singles Bad Boys and Start Without You. In 2011 she embarked on her first solo tour and was invited by Beyoncé to support her I Am... Tour. Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012.

Joanna Francis has recently finished performing in the West End production of "The Lion King". Her other credits include "Carmen Jones" at the Royal Festival Hall, "The Harder They Come" at the Barbican and Stratford East and as 'Sybil' in "The Big Life" at the Apollo Theatre.

Jon Robyns has played many leading roles in the West End including 'Rod/Princeton' in the original cast of "Avenue Q" at the Noel Coward Theatre, 'Marius' in "Les Miserables" at the Queen's Theatre, 'Galahad' in "Spamalot" at the Harold Pinter and Playhouse Theatres, Alternate 'Huey' in "Memphis" at the Shaftesbury Theatre and 'Hollis' in "Road Show" at the Menier Chocolate Factory. His other theatre credits include 'Enjolras' in the 25th Anniversary tour of "Les Miserables", 'Caractacus Potts' in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and most recently 'Emmett Forrest' in "Legally Blonde" at Curve, Leicester.

Karen Mann's extensive theatre credits include 'Golde' opposite Paul Michael Glaser in the national tour of "Fiddler on the Roof", the national tour of "I Dreamed A Dream - the Susan Boyle Story" and "Copacabana", "Martin Guerre" and "Spend, Spend, Spend", all at the Watermill Theatre. She most recently appeared in "The Witches", both at Curve, Leicester and on tour.

Rosemary Ashe's many West End credits include creating the roles of 'Carlotta' in "The Phantom of the Opera" at Her Majesty's Theatre, 'Miss Andrew' in "Mary Poppins" at the Prince Edward Theatre and 'Felicia Gabriel' in "The Witches of Eastwick" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical. Her other theatre credits include "When We Are Married" at the Garrick Theatre, "Widow Corney" in "Oliver!" at the London Palladium and 'Grandma Mole' in the musical of "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and ¾" at Curve, Leicester.

Based on the smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

This all new production of SISTER ACT is directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Tony Award-Winner Sarah Travis. Set and costume design is by Matthew Wright, with lighting design by Richard G Jones and sound design by Richard Brooker.

Craig Revel Horwood is probably best known as a judge on BBC One's "Strictly Come Dancing". As a director and choreographer his many credits include the recent all-star concert of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" at the Royal Albert Hall, "Sunset Boulevard" at the Comedy theatre in the West End, the national tours of "Fiddler on the Roof", "Spend Spend Spend" and "Chess" (also Toronto) and "The Witches of Eastwick", "Martin Guerre" and "Copacabana", all at the Watermill Theatre. Craig also wrote and directed a brand new show, "Strictly Confidential" that toured the UK starring familiar faces from Strictly Come Dancing as well as the annual arena tours of "Strictly Come Dancing". As a performer his West End Theatre credits include: 'Munkustrap' in "Cats" at the New London Theatre, "Miss Saigon" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and 'Harry' in "Crazy for You" at the Prince Edward TheatrE. Craig most recently starred as 'Miss Hannigan' in the national tour of "Annie".

SISTER ACT features original music by the 8 time Oscar and Tony Award winner Alan Menken. Alan's credits include the films and stage musicals of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", "The Little Mermaid" and "Newsies" as well as "Tangled", "Enchanted", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Pocahontas" and "Hercules" on film. His other credits include the film and stage production of "Little Shop of Horrors".

SISTER ACT has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, with a book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture "Sister Act" written by Jacob Howard.

Jamie Wilson Productions was formed in 2008 and has produced over 50 productions in the UK and internationally. These include Bruce Forsyth at the London Palladium, Robin Cousin's Ice and most recently the critically acclaimed and box office hits Calamity Jane and Tell Me on a Sunday, both with Jodie Prenger. Jamie Wilson Productions is currently working with the Watermill Theatre on Crazy for You with Tom Chambers.

Curve is a spectacular state-of-the-Art Theatre based in the heart of Leicester's vibrant Cultural Quarter. Opened in 2008 by Her Majesty The Queen, the award-winning building was designed by acclaimed architect Rafael Viñoly.

Curve is a registered charity providing engaging world-class theatrical experiences for local communities, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to access, participate in and learn from the arts, nurturing new and emerging talent, and creating world-class theatrical experiences.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve is developing a reputation for producing, programming and touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work and dance. All of this presented alongside a dynamic mix of community engagement and learning opportunities, which firmly places audiences and communities at the heart of what Curve does. Recent productions and co-productions Made At Curve include: Legally Blonde: The Musical (& Daegu Opera Festival, South Korea), Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (& Haymarket Theatre, London & national tour), Ishy Din's Wipers (in collaboration with Belgrade Theatre Coventry & Watford Palace), Roald Dahl's The Witches (& national tour), Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, Hairspray, Shakespeare's Richard III, Akram Khan's Until the Lions, Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ - The Musical, and Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing (& national tour).

SISTER ACT UK TOUR 2016/17

www.sisteractuktour.co.uk

Alexandra Burke WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AS 'Deloris Van Cartier' AT ANY MATINEE PERFORMANCES

SISTER ACT TOUR LISTINGS

SATURDAY 30 JULY - SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 2016

LEICESTER CURVE - www.curveonline.co.uk

MONDAY 22 AUGUST - SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2016

LEEDS GRAND THEATRE - www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

MONDAY 29 AUGUST - SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2016

MANCHESTER PALACE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester

MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2016

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2016

BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2016

BRISTOL HIPPODROME - www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016

MILTON KEYNES - www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre

MONDAY 3 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER 2016

GLASGOW KING'S THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre/

MONDAY 10 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER 2016

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

MONDAY 17 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016

HIGH WYCOME SWAN - www.wycombeswan.co.uk/

MONDAY 24 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 2016

TRURO HALL FOR CORNWALL - www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/Online

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2016

IPSWICH REGENT THEATRE - www.apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO/

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBR - SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2016

BELFAST GRAND OPERA HOUSE - www.goh.co.uk

MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2016

DUBLIN BORD GAIS - www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016

SOUTHEND CLIFFS THEATRE - www.southendtheatres.org.uk/

MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER - SATURDAY 3 DECMBER 2016

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre/

MONDAY 5 DECEMBER - SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2016

GREAT MALVERN THEATRE - www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Alexandra Burke WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THIS VENUE. THE ROLE OF 'Deloris Van Cartier' WILL BE PLAYED BY Joanna Francis.

MONDAY 12 DECEMBER - SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 2016

CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE - www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Alexandra Burke WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THIS VENUE. THE ROLE OF 'Deloris Van Cartier' WILL BE PLAYED BY Joanna Francis.

MONDAY 2 JANUARY - SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2017

DARTFORD ORCHARD THEATRE - www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

MONDAY 16 JANUARY - SATURDAY 21 JANUARAY 2017

SHEFFIELD LYCEUM - www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

MONDAY 23 JANUARY - SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2017

SWANSEA GRAND - http://www.swansea.gov.uk/

MONDAY 30 JANUARY - SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2017

NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL - www.trch.co.uk

MONDAY13 FEBRUARY - 18 FEBRUARY 2017

CARLISLE SANDS CENTRE - www.thesandscentre.co.uk/

MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2017

BRADFORD ALHAMBRA - www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/venues/the-alhambra-theatre

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2017

WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE - www.grandtheatre.co.uk/

MONDAY 20 MARCH - SATURDAY 25 MARCH 2017

WOKING NEW VICTORIA THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre/

MONDAY 3 APRIL - SATUDAY 15 APRIL 2017

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/

MONDAY 17 APRIL - SATURDAY 29 APRIL 2017

CARDIFF WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE - www.wmc.org.uk

MONDAY 8 MAY -SATURDAY 13 MAY 2017

STOKE REGENT THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/

MONDAY 15 MAY - SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017

OXFORD NEW THEATRE - www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford/

TUESDAY 6 JUNE - SATURDAY 17 JUNE 2017

SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE - www.mayflower.org.uk

MONDAY 19 JUNE - SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2017

Newcastle Theatre ROYAL - www.theatreroyal.co.uk/

MONDAY 26 JUNE - SATURDAY 1 JULY 2017

CANTERBURY THE MARLOWE THEATRE - www.marlowetheatre.com/

MONDAY 3 JULY - SATURDAY 15 JULY 2017

PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL - www.theatreroyal.com/