Virginia Repertory Theatre Presents SISTER ACT

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Sister Act on Friday, November 16, 2018 at the November Theatre/Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad Street. The show will run through Sunday, January 6, 2019. Previews will be on Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15, 2018. With music by Alan Menken, book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, lyrics by Glenn Slater and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane, this uplifting musical comedy is based on the hit 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Follow the fallen showgirl, Deloris Van Cartier, as she unexpectedly finds sisterhood and redemption when forced to take refuge in a convent. Nominated for 5 Tony Awards and 5 Drama Desk Awards, this gospel musical extravaganza will have audiences leaping to their feet!

Virginia Rep is thrilled to welcome Felicia Curry back to the November Theatre. Audiences will remember Curry as Lorrell in 2016's summer smash hit Dreamgirls, and Celie in The Color Purple in 2014. Recent Washington DC credits include Thoughts of a Colored Man (Arena Stage), The Scottsboro Boys (Signature Theatre), Jefferson's Garden (Ford's Theatre) and Nina Simone: Four Women (Arena Stage).

Newcomer to the Virginia Rep stage, Sincée J. Daniels joins the cast as Curtis. Daniels is reprising his role, after recently understudying Curtis at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Recent regional credits include My Big Gay Italian Funeral (St. Luke's Theatre) and Flashback the Musical (Seven Angels Theatre). Gwynne Wood also makes her Virginia Rep debut as Sister Mary Robert. A Virginia native, Wood recently graduated from the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent regional theatre credits include Lucky Stiff (Bristol Valley Theater Company) and Little Women (Seacoast Repertory Theatre). Veterans to the Virginia Rep stage, Durron Tyre (Dreamgirls, South Pacific) and Andrea Rivette (Mary Poppins, Fun Home) round out the principal company as Eddie and Mother Superior.

Local favorite Robin Arthur will direct and choreograph the production. Arthur directed both Virginia Rep's 2006 and 2017 remount of Beauty and the Beast. Arthur's Virginia Rep performing credits include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Clean House, Into the Woods, and Mame. Anthony Smith returns to Virginia Rep as Music Director after musical directing this summer's smash hit, West Side Story. Smith also associate musical directed last season's holiday spectacular, Mary Poppins, and served as Musical Director for Cadence Theatre Company's Fun Home in partnership with Virginia Rep.

Ron Keller will serve as scenic designer. Keller recently retired as Interim Chair of TheatreVCU, where he taught award-winning design students for almost 35 years. Notable Virginia Rep credits include Shakespeare in Love, The End of War, and Dreamgirls. Virginia Rep Assistant Costume Director, Sarah Grady, will design costumes. Her work was last seen in the summer hit musical, West Side Story, and she designs regularly for Cadence Theatre Company. Master Electrician BJ Wilkinson will serve as lighting designer. Recent credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and West Side Story.

The full creative team and cast list is below.

Direction & Design team includes Direction and Choreography by Robin Arthur, Music Direction by Anthony Smith, Associate Direction by Lisa Hermanson, Production Stage Management by Jocelyn A. Thompson*, AEA Assistant Stage Management by Luke Robinson*, Assistant Stage Management by Brody Thrash, Scenic Design by Ron Keller+, Lighting Design by BJ Wilkinson, Costume Design by Sarah Grady and Sound Design by Derek Dumais.

The Cast features Felicia Curry* as Deloris Van Cartier, Sincée J. Daniels* as Curtis, Durron Tyre as Eddie, Andrea Rivette* as Mother Superior, Gwynne Wood as Sister Mary Robert, Kelsey Cordrey as Sister Mary Patrick, Susan Sanford* as Sister Mary Lazarus, Alisa Ledyard as Sister Mary Martin of Tours, Jenny Hundley as Sister Mary Theresa, Corinne MacLean as Sister Mary Stephens, Makenzie Mercer Pusey as Sister Celeste, Mallory Keene as Sister Irene, Michael Hawke* as Monsignor O'Hara, Anthony Cosby as TJ, Paul Major as Joey, Mark Parello Jr. as Pablo, Landon Dufrene as Ernie, Zakiyyah Jackson as Michelle, Michaela Nicole as Tina and Terrence Bennett and Havy Nguyen as the Ensemble.

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A.

+ Member of USA, United Scenic Artists', local 829

Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office (804-282-2620) or online at www.virginiarep.org. Full price tickets cost $36-63, with discounted group rates available. U-Tix for college and high school students are $15, available by phone or in person on the day of show only, with a valid Student ID required.

The Performance Schedule includes evening performances at 7:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and every Thursday, evening performances at 8:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday and matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and Saturdays and every Sunday.

Parking

Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-parking is available for patrons within blocks of the theatre. Valet is complimentary for patrons who dine at Max's on Broad or Tarrant's Cafe before the show. Valet is no longer located in front of the theatre, and has been moved less than one block away to Jefferson Street.

Accessibility Programs

Audio Described Performances

In collaboration with Virginia Voice, Virginia Rep is pleased to offer Audio Described performances, in which actions, expressions and gestures are described during gaps between dialogue throughout the performance for patrons with low vision or blindness. In addition to live audio description during performances, patrons are also invited to participate in a tactile tour before the performance.

Induction Loop

The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.

Community Tickets Grant

Virginia Rep is thrilled to offer a free Community Tickets Grant for nonprofit organizations. We encourage all organizations who have a demonstrated need for complimentary tickets to fill out a short application on our website: bit.ly/CommunityTix

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