★★★★★ ‘The most feel-good show of the year’ – The Sun, UK
Tickets for the eagerly anticipated Australian premiere of Sister Act go on sale to the general public this Thursday 29 February at 9:00am for the Sydney and Melbourne seasons of this joyous musical.
The eagerly anticipated production of the Broadway and UK hit musical comedy sensation direct from London will open at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in August 2024 and the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from November 2024.
The creative team behind this most heavenly of musicals has also been unveiled and includes Alan Menken (Music), Glenn Slater (Lyrics), Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner (Book), Douglas Carter Beane (Additional Book Material), Bill Buckhurst (Director), Alistair David (Choreographer), Morgan Large (Set & Costume Designer), Tim Mitchell (Lighting Designer), Tom Marshall (Sound Designer), Stephen Brooker (Musical Supervisor), Michael Josarian (Vocal And Incidental Music Arrangements), Doug Besterman & Mark Cumberland (Orchestrations), and Sam Cox For Samuel James Wigs (Wigs, Hair And Make Up Design).
Composer Alan Menken’s music, songs and scores have become an integral part of the fabric of our lives since his first works were produced nearly 40 years ago. His chart-topping songs have included Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World, Colours of the Wind and Go the Distance. His stage musicals include God Bless You, Mr Rosewater, Atina: Evil Queen of the Galaxy, Real Life Funnies, Little Shop of Horrors, Kicks, The Dream on Royal Street, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap of Faith, Newsies, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, A Bronx Tale and Hercules.
Song and score credits for film musicals include: The Little Mermaid (animated), Beauty and the Beast (animated), Newsies, Aladdin (animated), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, The Shaggy Dog, Home on the Range, Enchanted, Tangled, Mirror Mirror, Beauty and the Beast (live action), Howard, Aladdin (live action), Disenchanted (live action), The Little Mermaid (live action).
He is the winner of eight Oscars, with four for Best Score and four for Best Song and holds the distinction of having won more Academy Awards than any other living individual. Other notable awards include 11 Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globes, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Tony for Best Original Musical Score (Newsies), an Olivier Award, three Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama Desk Awards. His 2021 Emmy win elevated him to EGOT status, as the 16th person ever to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.
Sister Act lyricist Glenn Slater is one of his generation’s most celebrated lyricists, and an omnipresent fixture in theatre, film and television for over two decades. With his frequent collaborator, legendary composer Alan Menken, Slater has written the songs for four Broadway shows — Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Grammy winner, Tony nominee), Sister Act (Tony nominee), Leap of Faith and A Bronx Tale. With equally legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Slater penned the lyrics for the international juggernaut School of Rock (Tony and Olivier nominee), and both book and lyrics for Love Never Dies, the long-awaited sequel to Phantom of the Opera.
For the big screen, Glenn co-created Disney’s instant-classic Tangled (Grammy winner, Oscar and Golden Globe nominee), as well as films as varied as Disney’s animated Western Home On The Range, the R-rated global smash Sausage Party, and the pop-driven Uglydolls.
Slater’s songs have been recorded by an array of artists–from Broadway luminaries like Donna Murphy, Raul Esparza and Sierra Boggess, to Nashville giants Tim McGraw, kd Lang, and Bonnie Raitt and contemporary pop stars including Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae and Nick Jonas.
Sister Act director Bill Buckhurst’s theatre directing credits for Tooting Arts Club include: Sweeney Todd (West End, Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop & Off-Broadway; Best Musical Off-West End Awards, Outstanding Revival of a Musical Lucille Lortel Awards, Best Musical Revival Off-Broadway Alliance, Best Off-Broadway Musical Theater Fans’ Choice Awards, Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Director of a Musical), Barbarians, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Tinderbox.
His directing credits for Shakespeare’s Globe include: Omeros, Hamlet (& International Tour), King Lear (& International Tour), Twelfth Night, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth (Playing Shakespeare).
Sister Act choreographer Alistair David’s theatre credits include The Addams Family (Theatre Royal, Nottingham, UK tour); Malory Towers (Wise Children); Rough Crossing (Theatre Royal Windsor and UK tour); Ghost the Musical (UK tour, Dubai, Moscow and Paris); Curtains (UK tour); The Producers (Manchester Royal Exchange); Me and My Girl, Fiddler on the Roof (Chichester); Beauty and the Beast, Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse); Oklahoma!, Kiss Me, Kate (BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall); Dance of the Vampires, The Book of Mormon (Det Ny Teater, Denmark); The Two Noble Kinsmen (RSC); Some Like It Hotter (UK tour); Show Boat (New London Theatre/Sheffield Crucible); My Fair Lady, Anything Goes (and UK tour), The Way of the World, Annie Get Your Gun, Bull (and Brits Off Broadway), Oliver! (Sheffield Crucible); Only the Brave (Wales Millennium Centre); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); My Fair Lady (Aarhus Teater, Denmark); Tipping the Velvet (Lyric Hammersmith); A Man of No Importance (Salisbury Playhouse); Paper Dolls (Tricycle) and 42nd Street Gala (London Palladium). Alistair also directed and choreographed Robbie Williams’ worldwide concert tour Swings Both Ways.
Based on the iconic film starring Whoopi Goldberg and featuring original music and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, Sister Act is a heavenly musical that is joyous and uplifting in equal measures.
Disco diva Deloris’ life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent! Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she helps her fellow sisters find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
A musical sent from above, Sister Act is the brilliant, must-see show which raises the spirits and warms the soul time after time. Nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as a total of six Olivier Award nominations across the original West End season and the London revival season. Sister Act will be returning to London’s West End from March 2024.
Casting announcements will be made in the coming months.