The show opens at The Theatre in Solaire on June 27. But this early, I say that musical theater fans can already look forward to a very happy Broadway experience when they come to watch Sister Act. This is a stage version of the hilarious box-office hit of the same title that starred Whoopi Goldberg in 1992. But this time around, the characters and the action will be live and the music, all new and created by the celebrated Alan Menken.
Menken is by now already a most familiar name. He created the memorable music for the Disney classics Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and others as well as the musical The Little Shop of Horrors. So, although some fans of the movie might be surprised not to hear I Will Follow Him or Ode To Joy in the show, there will be more songs for them to enjoy.
The music of Sister Act is a varied lot. Menken is an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe award winner and he came up with a rich selection of tunes for the musical. So, prepare for disco and soul made for the ‘70s era. Be swept up to heaven with gospel tunes and jubilant choruses. There are also a few birit ballads. And not to forget, be ready to laugh at the riotous way Deloris Van Cartier uses her Vegas chops to whip a flock of nuns into shape as singers and to the delight of everybody, also as dancers.
We are all familiar with the Sister Act story. Deloris is a diva-wannabe from Las Vegas. She witnesses a murder by her gangster boyfriend. In fear for her life and invaluable as a state witness, she is taken to a convent where she is disguised as a nun named Sister Mary Clarence. There, she fixes the out of tune choir and their singing during services become so celebrated that even the Pope has decided to come to listen to them. But then Deloris’ ex discovers where she is and is determined to put her away. No way that will happen with her protectors of intrepid nuns.
To bring this story and the music to life on stage, Manila producer Ovation Productions has a line-up of seasoned Broadway actors ready to sing and dance their way into your hearts for the Solaire show. Opera singer Dene Hill, who has appeared in Porgy and Bess, La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Dreamgirls, Hairspray and others, leads the cast as the feisty Deloris Van Cartier.
Also in the show are Rebecca Mason-Wygal as the very strict Mother Superior; Will Travis as the cop Eddie Souther; Brandon Godfrey as the gangster boyfriend Curtis Jackson; Moses Bernal as Jackson’s henchman Pablo; Emma Brock as the always enthusiastic Sister Mary Patrick; Nancy Evans as the convent choir director Sister Mary Lazarus; Sophie Kim as the shy soprano Sister Mary Robert; Harry McEnerny V as Joey Finnachio, another one of Jackson’s crew; and Kevin O’Neil is Monsignor O’Hara.
Sister Act opens on June 27. It will be followed by performances at 8 p.m. on June 28, 29 and 30 and July 4, 5, 6 and 7. Then, there will be two shows a day, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., on July 1, 2, 8 and 9. Sister Act will be here for a very limited time of only two weeks. So, score your tickets now, before they run out.
Still on visiting shows. Disney’s The Lion King, the world’s No. 1 musical, is going on an international tour and it is coming to Manila, with additional performances in Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and South Africa. The Tony-Award winning show based on the animated Disney movie with songs like Can You Feel The Love Tonight and Hakuna Matata by Elton John, is set to open also at The Theatre in Solaire in March 2018.
Do not think that it is still a long way off. I have seen how fast tickets to The Lion King run out in Broadway, the West End and other countries. You can bet that this being its first time here, everybody will be excited to watch the show. A waitlist and an information source have been set up at LionKingInternational.com.