SISTER ACT Confirms Broadway for Spring 2011; Zaks to Direct

By: Jul. 08, 2010
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Confirming multiple previous reports, producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment UK announced today that SISTER ACT - A Divine Musical Comedy will take a vow of hilarity when it arrives on Broadway in Spring 2011 at a theatre to be announced. SISTER ACT features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning and celebrated composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Enchanted) and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid), has a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner ("Cheers"), choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams) and is directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing...Forum, Smokey Joe's Café). Casting will also be announced at a later date.

When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior. Using her fabulous disco-ness and killer voice to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon it's nun-on-the-run time but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her newly found sisterhood. Based on the mega-hit feature film, SISTER ACT features an original Alan Menken/Glenn Slater score with a vast inspiration of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White inspired musical comedy.

SISTER ACT began previews on May 7, 2009 in the West End at the London Palladium, opened June 2 to rave notices, and has been a runaway favorite with audiences ever since. The record-breaking production has been seen by over a million people and was recently nominated in seven categories at this year's Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Awards and for four Olivier Awards. The show's Original Cast Recording is also a big favorite with fans, recently reaching Number 1 on the iTunes Soundtrack chart. A German production will open in Hamburg in December 2010, followed by productions in Australia, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Italy, France and Spain soon after.

The design for SISTER ACT will feature scenery by Klara Zieglerova (Jersey Boys -Tony Award, The Farnsworth Invention), costumes by Lez Brotherston (Swan Lake, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands), lighting by Natasha Katz (The Coast of Utopia, Aida -Tony Awards) and sound by Mick Potter (The Woman in White - Olivier Award, Bombay Dreams, Saturday Night Fever). The music department includes Musical Supervisor Michael Kosarin, Dance Music Arranger Mark Hummel, Orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Electronic Music by Andy Barrett.

Ticket information, including on sale date and point of purchase, will be announced at a later date.

 



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