RIALTO CHATTER: Beyonce Seeks To Star In 'SISTER ACT: The Musical' Big Screen Transfer

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that pop music superstar and film actress Beyonce KnowLes Wants to star in a movie version of the current West End stage hit, SISTER ACT: The Musical.

Beyonce caught the show at the London Palladium several days ago, during a break from her UK I Am Sasha Fierce tour, and pulled up a "pew" to watch Patina Miller and Sheila Hancock sing to "high heaven" in SISTER  ACT.

According to Bamigboye, "Beyonce was taken by Alan Menken's gospel-to-R&B score and enjoyed Glenn Slater's clever lyrics (Glenn has also written the lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies), and has asked her representatives to persuade Disney to develop the show into a film vehicle for her. She would take on, if her wishes come true, the part Whoopi Goldberg created in the 1992 Sister Act film. Beyonce, 27, would play sexy lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier, on the run from gangsters and forced to disguise herself as a nun."

Beyonce is also considering recording one of the show's hit numbers, Take Me To Heaven reveals Baz. If Beyonce's "musical theatre prayers" are answered, it won't shoot until at least 2011, after SISTER ACT: The Musical opens on Broadway in October 2010. The read the full article click here.

Beyonce Knowles has enjoyed major crossover success with her big screen roles as Etta James in 2008 biopic Cadillac Records and 2006 motion picture adaptation of Dreamgirls. She was recently confirmed to play Eartha Kitt in her upcoming motion picture biography.

After a year-long global search, 24 year old US actress Patina Miller was cast to make her West End debut playing the lead role of 'Deloris Van Cartier' in the divine new musical comedy SISTER ACT. Born and raised in South Carolina, Patina's previous credits include the critically acclaimed 2008 production of Hair in New York. The role of Deloris in SISTER ACT was made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie of the same name, and Goldberg is a co-producer of the stage version.

Starring alongside Patina is Sheila Hancock as 'Mother Superior'. To many, a national treasure and a multi-BAFTA nominee, Sheila's career spans theatre, television, radio and film and she won a 2007 Olivier Award for her performance in Cabaret. Dad's Army and EastEnders actor Ian Lavender also stars as 'Monsignor Howard'.

Also starring in SISTER ACT is Chris Jarman as 'Shank', Ako Mitchell as 'Eddie',Katie Rowley Jones as 'Sister Mary Robert', Claire Greenway as 'Sister Mary Patrick' and Julia Sutton as 'Sister Mary Lazarus', Thomas Goodridge as 'TJ',Nicolas Colicos as 'Bones' and Ivan De Freitas as 'Dinero'. The cast also includes Vanessa Barmby, Amy Booth-Steel, Julian Cannonier, Ben Clare, Helen Colby, Kate Coyston, Jennie Dale, Jaymz Denning, Nia Fisher, Alison Harding, Paul Kemble,Debbie Kurup, George Long, Hugh Maynard, Jo Napthine, Aysa O'Flaherty, Landi Oshinowo, Verity Quade, Helen Walsh and Emma Woods.

SISTER ACT features a score by Alan Menken, eight-time Oscar winner and composer of many of the world famous songs from Disney's movies, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, Aladdin and Enchanted, with lyrics from his long- time collaborator Glenn Slater. The book is by the award-winning team Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, whose writing credits include the classic television comedy Cheers, and the production is directed by Peter Schneider.

SISTER ACT has musical supervision by Michael Kosarin, choreography by Anthony Van Laast, set design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Lez Brotherston, sound design by Mick Potter, lighting design by Natasha Katz and musical direction by Nicholas Skilbeck.

SISTER ACT is produced in London by Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment, producers of Hairspray, Strictly Come Dancing The Live Tour!, High School Musicaland Saturday Night Fever.

Performance times for SISTER ACT at the London Palladium are 7.30pm Mondays to Saturdays, with 3.00pm matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets, priced from £17.50-£60.00 (£17.50-£50.00 during previews), will be available from the London Palladium Box Office on 0844 412 2704 SISTER ACT is currently booking in London until 13 February 2010. www.sisteractthemusical.com

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.

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