SISTER ACT National Tour to Play Merrill Auditorium, 1/17

Direct from Broadway, Sister Act, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, comes to Merrill Auditorium presented by Portland Ovations. Called "In a word, DIVINE!" by the Associated Press, Sister Act arrives on January 17th for two performances at 3pm and 8pm.

Produced by Whoopi Goldberg, TROIKA Entertainment and Sister Act On Tour, LLC, Sister Act received five 2011 TonyAward nominations including BEST MUSICAL, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Alan Menken (music)/Glenn Slater (lyrics), and BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane).

"To hear people laugh and cheer the way they do at Sister Act - a show people think they know but are pleasantly surprised to discover is not what they are expecting-is a magical experience for a producer," says Producer Whoopi Goldberg. "Happily, audiences across the country are able to get in on the fun as Deloris and her fabulous sisters spread the love nationwide."

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 Glenn Slater (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.

When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put into 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, 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 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 features scenic design by Klara Zieglerova (Jersey Boys), costume design by Lez Brotherson (Swan Lake),lighting design by Natasha Katz (Once),sound design by Peter McBoyle (Come Fly Away)and hair design by David Brian Brown (Death of a Salesman).

Tickets for Sister Act at Merrill Auditorium are now on sale, online at www.portlandovations.org, by phone at 207.842.0800 or in person at PortTIX, the box office at Merrill Auditorium. Ticket prices range from $40 to $63 for Portland Ovations Members and $45 to $70 for the general public. Sister Act is locally sponsored by J.S. McCarthy Printers.

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