It's Official: She's Fabulous! Raven-Symone Joins SISTER ACT Mar. 27; Patina Miller Departs Mar. 18

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced that Raven-Symone will take over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in the hit Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, beginning performances on Tuesday, March 27. Ms. Symoné will take over the role from Tony and Olivier Award nominee PATINA MILLER, who will give her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which will celebrate its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater.

“Finding an actress who can play Deloris in Sister Act is no easy feat,” states producer Whoopi Goldberg. “She’s got to sing like an angel, dance her heart out, and land some really big laughs – and, trust me, doing it all in a habit is not easy! Luckily for us, Raven is more than up to the challenge and I think audiences are going to be wowed by her performance – we couldn’t be more excited that she’s joining the company.”

“Performing on Broadway has always been a dream of mine and I am beyond thrilled to be making my debut with this role in such a fantastic show,” stated Ms. Symoné. “Sister Act has everything – amazing songs, hilarious jokes and a fabulous lead character you can root for – I can’t wait to get onstage and share her story with audiences eight times a week.”

Actress and singer RAVEN-SYMONÉ is best known for her role in the Emmy-nominated comedy series, “That's So Raven,” on the Disney Channel, for which she received three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series/Special and two Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Television Actress. "That's So Raven” received the 2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children's Series/Special and was nominated for two primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Program in 2005 and 2007. Raven was named producer for the series' fourth season which aired in 2007. Most recently, Raven starred on the ABC Family comedy “State of Georgia,” which marked her return to television after a five year hiatus. Raven’s film credits include Roger Kumble's College Road Trip opposite Martin Lawrence; Garry Marshall's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement opposite Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews; and Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2 opposite Eddie Murphy. Raven began her television career as 'Olivia' on the critically acclaimed series, "The Cosby Show." She also starred on the ABC comedy series, "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," for four seasons. She is making her Broadway debut with this production.

SISTER ACT features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Enchanted), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee and Grammy-winner Glenn Slater (Tangled, The Little Mermaid), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (“Cheers”) with additional book material by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed). Directed on Broadway by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing…Forum, Smokey Joe’s Café), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia, Bombay Dreams) and is based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture, Sister Act written by Joseph Howard.

The Broadway company of SISTER ACT features Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello as Mother Superior, Fred Applegate as Monsignor, Sarah Bolt as Sister Mary Patrick, John Treacy Egan as Joey, Demond Green as TJ, Chester Gregory as Eddie, Kingsley Leggs as Curtis, Marla Mindelle as Sister Mary Robert, Audrie Neenan as Sister Mary Lazarus and Caesar Samayoa as Pablo.

SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe disco diva whose life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly redis­covers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, 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 received five 2011 Tony Award nominations: BEST MUSICAL, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Alan Menken (music)/ Glenn Slater (lyrics)), BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane), BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Patina Miller) and BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Victoria Clark).

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