Sister Act - casting announced
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
NEWCOMER Patina Miller and Olivier Award-winner Sheila Hancock will star as Deloris Van Cartier and the Mother Superior in the new musical stage adaptation of the hit 1992 film Sister Act, which opens at the London Palladium on June 2, 2009 (previews from May 7).
The story centres around disco diva Deloris who, after witnessing a mob-related murder, is put in protective custody – in a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an up tight Mother Superior.
Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir Deloris breaths new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon the gang is giving chase only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her new found Sister Hood.
Twenty four-year-old Miller from South Carolina, was cast after a year-long search for an actress/singer suitable for the role played in the film by Whoopi Goldberg, who is co-producing the Palladium production. Although Miller will be making her West End debut in Sister Act, she appeared in a revival of Hair in New York only last year.
Hancock’s recent theatre credits include The Anniversary, The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, Vassa, Cabaret, for which she won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical, and last year’s 50th anniversary revival of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party at the Lyric Hammersmith.
Speaking about the casting, Goldberg said: “We’ve finally found you an amazing girl to play Deloris. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. And boy, can she sing (unlike some people we know – me!). And in order to match her, we went for the best and we got the brilliant Sheila Hancock as our Mother Superior, a legend and not just in my mind. I think together they will reinvent Sister Act and bring it to a whole new level… can you tell I’m excited?”
Miller and Hancock will be joined in the cast by Ian Lavender (as Monsignor Howard), Chris Jarman (Shank), Ako Mitchell (Eddie), Katie Rowley Jones (Sister Mary Robert), Claire Greenway (Sister Mary Patrick), Julia Sutton (Sister Mary Lazarus), Thomas Goodridge (TJ), Nicolas Colicos (Bones) and Ivan De Freitas (Dinero).
The cast will 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.