Way Off Broadway will Rock the Pews with SISTER ACT

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre will welcome the "Sunday Morning Fever" this fall when its production of the Heavenly musical comedy Sister Act takes to the stage beginning September 8th.

Based on the hit motion picture starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act is a musical comedy sensation. When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood.

The original Touchstone Pictures film starring Goldberg as Deloris and Maggie Smith as Mother Superior was released in 1992, becoming a box office success. In total, the film brought in over $230 million worldwide. The movie's popularity spawned a sequel the following year. A little known fact is that Bette Midler had originally been the star producers were considering for the role of Deloris before Goldberg took the part.

It wasn't until 2006 that a version of Sister Act first made it to the stage, premiering at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California. At the time, a critic for the Los Angeles Times wrote that the musical had "Broadway blockbuster written all over it."

Before taking its Broadway bow, the show opened in London in 2009. In addition to being one of the show's producers, Whoopi Goldberg also joined the cast as the Mother Superior for a limited engagement toward the end of the run.

After the show closed in London and some revisions had been made, Sister Act opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York City during the spring of 2011. Patina Miller, who had originated the role of Deloris in London (and had been in the ensemble of the Pasadena production) starred, alongside theatre veteran Victoria Clark as Mother Superior.

The New York production ran for almost 600 performances and received a number of Tony Award nominations including ones for Best Musical, Best Book of Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Miller), and Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Clark).

The cast of this fall's production will be led by stage veteran Genevieve Williams as the wise-cracking disco diva Deloris Van Cartier. Williams first appeared at WOB in 2010 when she stepped into the role of Sylvia for several performances of the Elvis-inspired musical All Shook Up. She went on to play Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray and Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, both during the 2011 Season. Those were followed by turns in Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical in 2012 and Steel Magnolias in 2013.

Williams will be joined on stage by Zachary Bryant, Joe Chacón, Melissa Gregory, Michael Hudson, Jaimie Lea Kiska, Carol Niedringhus, Michael Reid, Amanda Schrider, Jordan B. Stocksdale, Kasey Taylor, Tori Weaver, Megan E. West, and Jessica Billones as Mother Superior.

Sister Act has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and a book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner. Additional material was provided by Douglas Carter Beane. It was originally produced on Broadway by Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment in association with The Shubert Organization and Disney Theatrical Production.

Way Off Broadway's production is directed by the theatre's Executive Producer, Bill Kiska, with choreography by Dee Buchanan, and music direction by Jordan B. Stocksdale.

Sister Act will run from September 8 - October 27, 2017, with performances every Friday and Saturday evening, and matinees on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday of each month.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (301) 662-6600 or by visiting the theatre in person.

For additional information about Sister Act, or any of Way Off Broadway's productions, visit www.wayoffbroadway.com.

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