Whoopi to play DELORIS in Sister Act London (confirmed - delayed to 2021)- Page 4
Whoopi to play DELORIS in Sister Act London (confirmed - delayed to 2021)
#75Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/29/19 at 12:45pmListen, I ADORE Whoopi, but sometimes it appears she even has trouble just walking around The View’s set.
#76Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:17am
That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a 65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you.
#77Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:36am
George in DC said: "That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you."
It has been noted in the press material they plan on "reinventing the role of Deloris for an older actor." We won't know until April what exactly they plan to change.
#78Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 9:08am
I just think its so wrong when actors try to go back into parts that they have aged out of. Robert Preston was offered the chance many times to reprise "The Music Man" for a ton of money and he always declined. He said the character was in his late 30s-early 40s and he was too old for the part. To play the part at his age would be a disservice to the character and he loved "Harold Hill" far too much to do that. I always admired him for that.
Updated On: 11/30/19 at 09:08 AM
#79Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 11:54am
This place reeks of ageism.
Non sibi sed patriae
Updated On: 11/30/19 at 11:54 AM
superiska123
Understudy Joined: 12/21/17
#80Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 7:54pm
In general, I am a big fan of age appropriate casting. However, i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical. Sure, Deloris should be and usually is younger, but this is a special event/version of the show for Whoopi's fans and I for one think it's a great idea.
Ellen Greene was also "too old" to play Audrey in 2015 opposite Jake Gylenhaal but she knocked it out of the park...
#81Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 8:38pm
superiska123 said: "In general, I am a big fan of age appropriate casting. However, i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical. Sure, Deloris should be and usually is younger, but this is a special event/version of the show for Whoopi's fans and I for one think it's a great idea.
Ellen Greene was also "too old" to playAudrey in 2015 opposite Jake Gylenhaal but she knocked it out of the park..."
You can add Ted Neeley to that list. All things considered he still sounds pretty good. I'm still bummed I missed his last tour.
SouthernCakes
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
#82Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 11/30/19 at 8:42pmI don’t get the age hate. They’re clearly reworking the show. So it’ll make sense...
#83Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 12/1/19 at 1:00pmBut Whoopi also has the vocal range of a rock. They're rewriting it specifically for the things she cannot do and then Brenda Edwards has to deal with that and the physical/vocal limitations they're now baking into the show to accommodate Whoopi. It's not ageist to say someone who can't sing, barely move, & nearly died this year isn't the best person to tailor your entire show around now because she'll be in it for 6 weeks.
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#84Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 12/1/19 at 1:05pm
While they are rewriting the entire show, can they just put the Shaiman score back in?
#85Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 12/1/19 at 4:22pm
The Little shop of Horrors and JCS comparisons are not accurate, because those performers have sung that songs ever since the movies came out.
Whoopi has nothing to do with the musical, scenes and songs as they are written. They are rewriting the entire show.
I can understand people liking a movie, but what on earth does it have to do with the musical except the name?
#86Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 12/1/19 at 4:43pm
George in DC said: "Dear Whoopi, act your age "
What does that even mean??
Non sibi sed patriae
John Adams
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
#87Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 12/1/19 at 11:05pm
Highland Guy said: "This place reeks of ageism."
superiska123 said: "i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical."
This isn't about ageism, and Whoopi isn't re-creating her iconic role in a musical. Without knowing how drastic the re-write will be to account for Whoopi's age, first (logical) impression is that Whoopi playing Delores could look a lot like "Baby Jane".
She's not re-creating an iconic musical role. In the movie, Delores barely sang (thankfully). The other nuns (the characters who actually sang enjoyably), and Shaiman's arrangements were what stood out in the original film. The movie and the musical are two, different animals. Too different to be able to say "re-creating" the role.
Since it seems there will be a re-working of the book to accommodate for Whoopi's age, there's even less reason to be able to consider this engagement as a re-creation.
When Ellen Greene performed Audrey again, it actually was a re-creation of her iconic performance of both her stage and screen work.
#88Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/24/20 at 6:58amBeen delayed a whole year now.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#89Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/24/20 at 9:13am
*sigh*
I was so looking forward to this. At least it’s still happening next year.
Plannietink08
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/11
#90Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/24/20 at 12:38pm
George in DC said: "That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you."
I can’t speak for everyone but I’d assume most of us who have bought tickets for this are doing so not to see an age appropriate actress play the role well and sing it out of the park - we’ve done so to see Whoopi, a legend of the screen, in person. We’re all aware that she doesn’t fit the role and that she won’t sing the role particularly well either but she’ll bring that bit of Whoopi magic that has made her so successful.
I’ll catch the tour in Glasgow with Brenda Edwards to see how the changes work with an older actress in the role but I’m seeing Whoopi in London purely to see Whoopi.
"Charlotte, we're Jewish"
#91Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/24/20 at 3:20pm
qolbinau said: "Been delayed a whole year now. "
As expected. And it has to be done in the summer as long as Whoopi is on The View.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#92Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/24/20 at 9:54pm
Why would anyone rush to see WG as Deloris?--Mother Superior, yes, but Jennifer Saunders has that part. And running from gangsters[that was the worst part of the musical], that's not gonna happen.
Watch Whoopie on TV and if that isn't enough then you deserve all that you get in the musical-the fans will yell and scream as usual, so that is all that matters[and the $s of course].
#93Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 4/27/20 at 10:37amI got an email from Ticketmaster this morning that my same seats for the show were automatically transferred to a new date in August of next year and I have to say I’m relieved. I had been stressed out at the thought of the frenzy of getting tix again so this is nice.
#94Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 12:39pm
Delayed until 2022 - and Whoopi has dropped out.
I’m confused as to why “This necessary change of date now means that Whoopi will no longer be able to appear”. Does Whoopi have gigs lined up through next summer?
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
#95Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 12:59pmMaybe she’s just “done” with it? Or maybe she’s working on the new Sister Act film? Either way, this one really bums me out. They’re saying how it’s still going to happen next year with a big star and all so I guess I won’t get a refund just yet but yeah, I had really been holding onto this as something to look forward to this year.
#96Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:06pmOff topic, I know, but has The Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford Sunday in the Park given any indication of delaying?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
#97Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:09pm
No, there hasn’t been any update on it. The website still says “2021” but now that Ashford’s sitcom got picked up I doubt it’ll happen, either. 
#98Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:27pm
Whoopi is obviously older so I wouldn't be shocked if fear of doing theatre in a (hopefully) post-covid world is still a little worrisome for her, so pulling out instead of continuing to prolong it makes sense. Re: Sunday, I feel like it'll also be postponed since we've still got a ways to go, even if the West End is trying to open up more shows by the summer. And like you said, Annaleigh has her show, (and if Jake can make the time, I'm sure she can too) but they both seem so committed to doing it still, I think Summer 2022 would be most likely.
#99Whoopi to play in Sister Act West End?
Posted: 2/16/21 at 2:19pmShe does have some projects on the horizon that have likely gotten delayed due to covid-19. The next season of Star Trek, Sister Act 3 plus a few other movies.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
