Sister Act

‘Sister Act’ is a musical comedy that follows the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who witnesses a murder and is placed in protective custody in a convent. Disguised as a nun, Deloris struggles to adapt to the disciplined life of the convent but eventually finds her place by revitalising the choir and bringing joy to the community through music.

The musical features a lively score with original music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, as well as some reimagined Motown and disco hits. The story explores themes of friendship, redemption, and the power of music to bring people together.

With energetic dance numbers, catchy tunes, and plenty of humour, ‘Sister Act’ offers an uplifting and entertaining theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

Synopsis Setting

Sister Act is primarily set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The story unfolds in various locations within the city, including a nightclub where Deloris Van Cartier performs, a convent where she seeks refuge, and the streets where she and her friends navigate the challenges posed by her mobster ex-boyfriend and his associates. The contrast between the vibrant urban environment and the serene atmosphere of the convent forms a backdrop for the comedic and heartwarming events of the musical.

Summary

Act 1

Act 1 of ‘Sister Act’ the Musical introduces us to Deloris Van Cartier, a spirited lounge singer dreaming of stardom. After witnessing her mobster boyfriend Curtis commit a murder, Deloris seeks refuge in a convent under witness protection, disguised as Sister Mary Clarence. There, she clashes with the strict Mother Superior but finds her place teaching the choir of nuns, injecting new life into their performances. As her bond with the sisters deepens, Deloris’s cover is jeopardised when Curtis discovers her whereabouts, leading to a dramatic confrontation that leaves Deloris and the nuns in peril.

Act 2

In Act 2, the stakes escalate as Curtis and his cronies close in on the convent. Despite their differences, Deloris and the nuns unite to protect their sanctuary, with the choir’s newfound harmony becoming a symbol of strength. As tensions rise, Deloris confronts her fears and embraces her true identity, while the nuns learn to stand up for themselves and their beliefs. With the help of the community, including a surprising ally in the form of a streetwise cop, Deloris and the sisters thwart Curtis’s plans and bring him to justice, celebrating their victory with a joyous and triumphant finale that reaffirms the power of friendship, music, and sisterhood.

Character Blurbs

Jess (Mother Superior)

It’s amazing working with like-minded people. It’s impressive to see all the effort and passion people are putting into creating this production. It’s such a good opportunity for me as an aspiring actor.

Playing Mother Superior: At first, I didn’t see myself in this role. I am more out there and very dramatic, and Mother Superior is a very closed-off, stern character, which is not usually what I’m like. I didn’t like her in the beginning because she is the antagonist in a way as she is the complete opposite of Deloris, but when I started reading it and listening to the songs, I really found that she has a good heart.

Zoey (Deloris Van Cartier)

I loved this experience because it gives me an opportunity to make a lot of new friends and it is an opportunity to gain some confidence and improve my stage presence. In terms of my vocals, Motown is a style that I am not used to singing and I really started to explore it and now it’s among my favourite genres.

Deloris is a very outgoing, extroverted, dramatic character. In some ways, I really resonate with that aspect, so it was kind of easy for me to embody that. But in other ways, she is a diva, which is definitely not me, so I really loved playing that part too. I also think she’s a kind person and she’s really trusting, especially when she’s singing the ‘Sister Act Reprise’ you can really see how much she trusts her sisters and how close she is to them.

Sofia (Mary Robert)

I enjoy the atmosphere and the joy that everyone shares when they’re singing, dancing and acting. I think the environment is very supportive and fun. My character, Mary Robert, takes me a step out of my comfort zone because she stands up for what she believes in towards the end and I feel like that’s not normally something I would do.

I also think she’s very strong. Although she’s shy in the beginning, Delores helps her find her true self. So, I can relate to her and I enjoy playing her character.

Arinola (Mary Patrick)

I really enjoy being in a community and being able to act as part of a group. Mary Patrick is a very excited character who likes to jump around so for my role I have to be very enthusiastic all the time, which isn’t hard for me.

Sormeh (Eddie Souther)

I enjoy being in the musical because it means meeting new people and making friends. Playing Eddie is interesting because he is very quiet and shy. At the start, he’s very insecure but towards the end he becomes more confident and it’s fascinating to see how that happens.

Franz (Curtis Jackson)

This project was a great opportunity for me as I want to be an actor when I grow up. Playing Curtis was a great experience as he and I are nothing like each other, so this really gave me a chance to be in someone else’s shoes. Curtis is very manipulative and mean, but he and the thugs also add some great comic relief, so we had a lot of fun rehearsing those scenes and playing those characters.

All Cast & Crew

Performers

Year 7: Mia , Iris, Izabella, Emilia, Ingrid, Derin, Elizabeth, Eva, Deliah, Kaya, Heidi

Year 8: Fraser, Jemma, Sormeh, Arinola, Sofia, Lucy, Franz, Zeynep

Year 10: Sofia, Jessica, Petra, Eva, Zoey

Year 12: Elena

Band

Year 8: Monty (Keys)

Year 10: Ben (Flute)

Year 11: Hemin (Drums), Ala (Vocals), Ben (Bass), Ana (Drums)

Year 13: Harriet (Piano)

Staff: Scot t Allsop (Guitar), Ben Roach (Alto Sax), Sarah Porter (Clarinet), Celia Wrighton (Vocals), Lucy Harrison (Vocals)

Costume: Liana Stanusi, Catherine Sinclair, Eva Cliffe

Backstage: Sofia (Year 7), Elise (Year 7), Abigail (Year 10), Theodora (Year 10), Emma (Year 12)

Director: Catherine Sinclair, Liana Stanusi

Music Director: Lynne Sharp

Choreography Lead: Eva Cliffe

Choreography Assistant: Lucy Harrison

Stage Management: Eva Cliffe

Set Design: David Burke