When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in 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 and community, 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 feature 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.
The latest entry, Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy (***½out of four), may be less giddily profane, and thought-provoking, than The Book of Mormon, but it has its own distinct and surprising charms. Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater provide original tunes that nod cheekily, but with genuine affection, to that pop era while also propelling the story with a style and exuberance specific to well-crafted musical theater.
The part of Deloris Van Cartier was written for a personality performer, and though Patina Miller has many talents-and a voice like a soft-serve ice-cream swirl-she isn't funny in a specific way. (The show may be keeping its heroine's sassiness in check to avoid African-American stereotypes, but it hasn't given her anything else to fill the void.) Victoria Clark is her trusty self as the crusty Mother Superior who butts wimples with Deloris, but the show's only real color is provided in smaller comic roles, such as Demond Green's dim-witted thug and Audrie Neenan's rigid sister. When the show sticks Neenan with rapping-old-lady shtick-both anachronistic and passé-it gives itself over to the sin of inanity, but otherwise it's harmless Broadway filler: an underseasoned Philly cheese steak.
2006 |
World Premiere |
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2007 |
Atlanta Production |
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2009 | West End |
Original London Production West End |
2011 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2012 | US Tour |
US National Tour US Tour |
2022 | West End |
West End Revival West End |
2024 | West End |
West End |
West End |
West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patina Miller |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Victoria Clark |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Glenn Slater |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Alan Menken |
2011 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | 0 |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Victoria Clark |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patina Miller |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Lez Brotherston |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Jerry Zaks |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Chester Gregory |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Marla Mindelle |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design | Natasha Katz |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | 0 |
2011 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score | 0 |
2011 | Theatre World Awards | Performance | Patina Miller |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Bill Steinkellner |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Douglas Carter Beane |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Cheri Steinkellner |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Disney Theatrical Productions |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Disney Theatrical Productions |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | The Shubert Organization |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Stage Entertainment |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Whoopi Goldberg |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Glenn Slater |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Alan Menken |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Victoria Clark |
2011 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Patina Miller |
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