Saint Michael's Playhouse's SISTER ACT Opens This Month

Saint Michael's Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Chuck Tobin today announced the June 21 opening of the Playhouse's 2016 summer theater season with the five-time Tony-nominated musical Sister Act, the sparkling smash hit musical comedy that the New York Post called "ridiculously fun." Performances begin on Tuesday, June 21. Performances are Tuesday - Saturday evenings June 21 - 25, 28 - July 2 (8pm), and Saturday matinees June 25 and July 2 (2pm).

Sister Act, directed by Keith Andrews (The Playhouse's Spamalot, Young Frankenstein, Drowsy Chaperone) with music direction by Scott Nicholas (The Playhouse's Fiddler on the Roof) features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (Broadway's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Glenn Slater (Broadway's The Little Mermaid), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner.

THE SHOW

Sister Act, based on the 1992 hit film of the same name which starred Whoopie Goldberg, is a divine musical blockbuster that tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and hides in the last place anyone would think to look - a convent. Disguised as a nun, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Sister Act is a heavenly tribute to the universal power of friendship and a reason to rejoice. "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," says Whoopi Goldberg, star of the original film and producer of the Broadway show.

Sister Act features the Playhouse's professional acting company led by Brit West as Deloris, Kathryn Markey as Mother Superior, Tyson Jennette as Curtis, David L. Murray Jr. as Eddie, Lilly Tobin as Sister Mary Robert, Sarah Michelle Cuc as Sister Mary Patrick, Amanda Ryan Paige as Sister Mary Lazarus, Bill Carmichael as Monsignor O'Hara, Vincent Ortega as Joey, Timothy McNeill as TJ, Sebastian Ryder as Sister Mary Theresa, Caitlin Mesiano as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, Chelsey Whitelock as Michelle, Amanda Downey as Tina, also featuring Richie Bernache, Eugenio Contenti, Christian Kohn, Rosemary Loar, Kaity McSalis, Elana Valastro.

Brit West (Deloris) appeared in the National Tours of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Legally Blonde: The Musical. Regional credits include Deloris in Sister Act (Fulton Theatre, Tuacahn Center For The Arts), Mimi in Rent (Bristol Riverside Theatre), Dynamite in Hairspray (Arrow Rock Lyceum, Mac-Haydn Theatre), Abraham Lincoln in Hair (Skyline Theatre Co.), Serena in Legally Blonde (North Carolina Theatre), Joanne in Rent (John W. Engeman Theatre), Pilar in Legally Blonde (Ogunquit Playhouse). Sister Act marks Brit's Saint Michael's Playhouse debut.

Kathryn Markey (Mother Superior) appeared on Broadway in 3 From Brooklyn, and is a featured artist at In Your Face New York and the Broadway Playhouse series in NYC. Regional credits include Holidays with The Chalks, (Alliance Theatre) Memphis and A Christmas Story (Engeman), American Family in 3 Chords (Bay Street), Over The Tavern (Penguin Rep), God of Carnage, Dancing at Lughnasa (Northern Stage). Saint Michael's Playhouse performance credits include Young Frankenstein, Woody Guthrie, Nunsense, The Drowsy Chaperone, Brighton Beach trilogy, Pirates of Penzance.

Tyson Jennette (Curtis) is currently a member of the Broadway company of The Book of Mormon, 2011 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, where he has been an original cast member for over five years. Other credits include James 'Thunder' Early in Dreamgirls, Lancelot in Camelot, Horse in The Full Monty, and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. In addition to theater interests, Tyson is a trilingual American Sign Language interpreter and proud CODA (child of Deaf adults), who holds a master's degree from Harvard University. Saint Michael's Playhouse credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

David L. Murray, Jr. (Eddie) appeared in the Off-Broadway productions of Vote for Me, Legend of the Word, and This Clement World. Regional credits include Violet, Dracula, White Christmas, Seussical The Musical, Smokey Joe's Cafe. Sister Act marks David's Saint Michael's Playhouse debut.

Lilly Tobin (Sister Mary Robert) appeared in the New York productions (Madison Square Garden) and National Tours of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Regional credits include Dierdre in The Cottage (Engeman), Frenchy in Grease (Walnut Street, Riverside, Northshore Music Theatre and NCT), Penny in Hairspray, Suzy in Marvelous Wonderettes, Philia in Forum, Audrey in Lost Highway, Amnesia in Nunsense (Flat Rock Playhouse), Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly! (Gateway Playhouse), Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (Ogunquit Playhouse and Engeman), H2$ (Walnut Street and Riverside). TV: Michael and Michael Have Issues (Comedy Central). Saint Michael's Playhouse credits include Daisy in Biloxi Blues, Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Sarah Michelle Cuc (Sister Mary Patrick) appeared in the National and International Tours of Sister Act spending much of last year raising her voice across the United States and Tokyo. Regional credits include R&H's Cinderella (The Gateway Playhouse), Grease (Millbrook Playhouse), Into the Woods (Brooklyn Players), Disney's Beauty & the Beast (Court Theatre), john & jen (The Blue Room). Sister Act marks Sarah's Saint Michael's Playhouse debut.

Amanda Ryan Paige (Sister Mary Lazarus) appeared in the New York productions of Zanna Don't! (Houseman), Trailer Park (NYMF), Awesome 80's Prom (workshop/co-writer), Charlie Brown, Henry and Mudge (Lortel), Babes In Toyland (Avery Fisher), Lucky Stiff (APAC), and the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, Water Coolers. Regional credits include Spitfire Grill, Nunsense, Spelling Bee (Northern Stage), Pump Boys, Trailer Park (MSW), Stand By Your Man, Pump Boys (Mtn. Playhouse), Trailer Park (Willows), Urinetown (Carousel), No, No, Nanette (Goodspeed). Saint Michael's Playhouse credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Ring of Fire, Shout!, Rumors, Nunsense, Unnecessary Farce, Marvelous Wonderettes, Boeing Boeing, Perfect/Change, Brighton Beach.

Bill Carmichael (Monsignor O'Hara) appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Cats, and Peter Pan. Off-Broadway Bill was in the original production of Forbidden Broadway and can be heard on the original cast recording. In Los Angeles he was in the original US premiere of Ragtime, Forever Plaid, Sweeney Todd with Kelsey Grammer. Saint Michael's Playhouse credits include Pirates of Penzance, Barnum, Blithe Spirit, Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot.

The design team includes John Paul Devlin (scenic design), Tracey Sullivan (costume design), Anthony Pellecchia (lighting design), Zachary Williamson (sound design), Jennifer Higgins (property design).

The four mainstage plays of the 2016 season are available as part of the subscription series - Sister Act, Baskerville, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and Pete 'n' Keely. Season subscriptions range in price from $122 to $141. Single ticket prices range from $35 to $45. The Playhouse is located at McCarthy Arts Center, on Route 15, in Colchester, Vermont, a ten minute drive from downtown Burlington, Vermont. Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased online at saintmichaelsplayouse.org or by calling 802-654-2281 or visiting the walk-up window in the lobby of McCarthy Arts Center. For a complete show schedule and more information contact the theater box office directly at 802-654-2281 or visit us at saintmichaelsplayhouse.org.

Photo Credit: Brian MacDonald

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