Sister Act, the Musical is loosely based on the 1992 film staring Whoopi Goldberg, and while the storyline is pretty similar and many of the characters are the same a whole new score was written for the stage version. The West End and Broadway versions are slightly different. I will be using the latter for the lesson as it is the version that amateur productions use and so is the one I know the best.
Synopsis
On Christmas Eve, 1977, Deloris Van Cartier is singing in a club for her boyfriend, notorious gangster Curtis. As a Christmas present he gives her a hideous blue fur (which looks like someone shot a smurf) which is the last straw - Deloris decides to leave him but unfortunately walks in on him killing a police informant. Realising that he's probably going to kill her too for being a witness, Deloris goes on the run, easily escaping from Pablo, TJ and Joey, and ends up in the police station. She recognises Officer Eddie from school and in exchange for information he promises to keep her in a safe place.
In the convent, Monsignor O'Hara is explaining the money problems the church and convent are having to the Mother Superior. She is not happy to have Deloris stay with them, but once reminded of her vow of charity she reluctantly agrees, making Deloris promise to stay in her room apart from at meal times, and to wear a habit like the other nuns. At Christmas dinner the next day Deloris is introduced to the rest of the nuns as Sister Mary Clarence. After making a mess of the Lord's Prayer ("In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy smokes!") and insulting the food Mother Superior announces that they should all fast and leaves them to their quiet contemplation. While Deloris is not happy about this, Sister Mary Patrick is overjoyed ("Who else but a nun gets to fast?") and she can't resist asking the newest member what her favourite thing about being a nun is. This is the first time the nuns get to show off their personalities and is a wonderful number (Good to be a nun - link in the extra credit section!).
Meanwhile Curtis is still looking for Deloris and sings a catchy number about what he's going to do when he catches up with her (When I find my baby), though Deloris isn't taking things seriously and creeps out to a bar where she comes face to face with the thugs. Sisters Mary Patrick and Robert follow her into the bar and, though they (just) manage to escape without any harm coming to them, Mother Superior is not happy. As punishment she assigns Deloris to the choir (who are horrible) which is the beginning of Deloris' transformation. Under her direction the choir is actually good and the crowds start to flood into the church, their catchy pop tunes sang to God and their slick dance moves really help to spread the message of the Lord. Mother Superior is aghast at the direction her nuns are going in as their habits get more and more sparkly and the dance moves get more outrageous, though Monsignor O'Hara fully embraces the new sound and the money it's bringing in. Even the Pope hears about the choir and plans to come to visit the church.
Unfortunately for Deloris, the choir's new found fame leads to a TV interview which Curtis sees. He sends his trio of thugs to the convent to go and get her. Eddie hears about the plan and tells the Mother Superior he's going to come and get Deloris, which naturally she is thrilled about, though the rest of the nuns are less happy. They're shocked when they learn of her real name and identity with Sister Mary Robert taking the news the worst. She sings a beautiful song (Life I never Led) expressing the confusion she feels for her future, before saying goodbye to her new friend as Deloris leaves the convent. Eddie manages to get the court date moved forward and takes her back to his place where he confesses his love and tells her how fabulous she is (cue fantasy sequence!). Though pretty quickly (literally minutes later) Deloris realises that fame and fortune are no longer her dreams and she misses the nuns and feels guilty for leaving them ("no one on the earth can change the fact, I'm part of one terrific Sister Act") so she decides to return to the convent for their performance for the Pope.
At that exact moment, Curtis and his thugs arrive at the convent and try to break in. Deloris arrives back and is told immediately to leave by Mother Superior, though Mary Robert stands up for her new friend. Just as she's reaching the dramatic climactic note the bad guys manage to get in, breaking a window and a ridiculous chase/hide and seek scene ensues. Of course when Curtis finally catches up with Deloris it is the nuns that come to her defence, even Mother Superior, standing in front of her for protection, though ultimately it is Eddie that stops Curtis by killing him. They kiss (of course) and the nuns all rush off to get ready to sing for the Pope with Deloris by their side.
In the convent, Monsignor O'Hara is explaining the money problems the church and convent are having to the Mother Superior. She is not happy to have Deloris stay with them, but once reminded of her vow of charity she reluctantly agrees, making Deloris promise to stay in her room apart from at meal times, and to wear a habit like the other nuns. At Christmas dinner the next day Deloris is introduced to the rest of the nuns as Sister Mary Clarence. After making a mess of the Lord's Prayer ("In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy smokes!") and insulting the food Mother Superior announces that they should all fast and leaves them to their quiet contemplation. While Deloris is not happy about this, Sister Mary Patrick is overjoyed ("Who else but a nun gets to fast?") and she can't resist asking the newest member what her favourite thing about being a nun is. This is the first time the nuns get to show off their personalities and is a wonderful number (Good to be a nun - link in the extra credit section!).
Meanwhile Curtis is still looking for Deloris and sings a catchy number about what he's going to do when he catches up with her (When I find my baby), though Deloris isn't taking things seriously and creeps out to a bar where she comes face to face with the thugs. Sisters Mary Patrick and Robert follow her into the bar and, though they (just) manage to escape without any harm coming to them, Mother Superior is not happy. As punishment she assigns Deloris to the choir (who are horrible) which is the beginning of Deloris' transformation. Under her direction the choir is actually good and the crowds start to flood into the church, their catchy pop tunes sang to God and their slick dance moves really help to spread the message of the Lord. Mother Superior is aghast at the direction her nuns are going in as their habits get more and more sparkly and the dance moves get more outrageous, though Monsignor O'Hara fully embraces the new sound and the money it's bringing in. Even the Pope hears about the choir and plans to come to visit the church.
Unfortunately for Deloris, the choir's new found fame leads to a TV interview which Curtis sees. He sends his trio of thugs to the convent to go and get her. Eddie hears about the plan and tells the Mother Superior he's going to come and get Deloris, which naturally she is thrilled about, though the rest of the nuns are less happy. They're shocked when they learn of her real name and identity with Sister Mary Robert taking the news the worst. She sings a beautiful song (Life I never Led) expressing the confusion she feels for her future, before saying goodbye to her new friend as Deloris leaves the convent. Eddie manages to get the court date moved forward and takes her back to his place where he confesses his love and tells her how fabulous she is (cue fantasy sequence!). Though pretty quickly (literally minutes later) Deloris realises that fame and fortune are no longer her dreams and she misses the nuns and feels guilty for leaving them ("no one on the earth can change the fact, I'm part of one terrific Sister Act") so she decides to return to the convent for their performance for the Pope.
At that exact moment, Curtis and his thugs arrive at the convent and try to break in. Deloris arrives back and is told immediately to leave by Mother Superior, though Mary Robert stands up for her new friend. Just as she's reaching the dramatic climactic note the bad guys manage to get in, breaking a window and a ridiculous chase/hide and seek scene ensues. Of course when Curtis finally catches up with Deloris it is the nuns that come to her defence, even Mother Superior, standing in front of her for protection, though ultimately it is Eddie that stops Curtis by killing him. They kiss (of course) and the nuns all rush off to get ready to sing for the Pope with Deloris by their side.
Characters
- Deloris Van Cartier - wants to be famous and thinks that her boyfriend will get her there! Loud-mouthed and sassy, she initially wants nothing to do with convent life. Goes through quite a journey during the show and ends up a better person thanks to the time she spends with the nuns.
- Curtis Jackson - Deloris' no good, gangster boyfriend. Controlling and an all round bad guy.
- Pablo, TJ and Joey - Curtis' thugs each with their own distinct personalities. TJ is Curtis' nephew, Joey thinks he's a ladies man and Pablo mostly speaks in Spanish.
- Eddie Souther - a policeman who is assigned to protect Deloris. He's secretly had a crush on her since they were children but sweats a lot when he gets nervous.
- Monsignor O'Hara - one of the heads of the convent. Worried about he money troubles the church is having, he fully gets on board with Deloris' changes and enjoys the bums on seats effect it has for their services.
THE NUNS:
- Mother Superior - the leader of the convent. Stuck in her ways and a little stiff but very sarcastic with it.
- Sister Mary Robert - a postulant (not quite a nun yet) who is quiet and sweet and is brought out of her shell by Deloris.
- Sister Mary Patrick - the perkiest nun you'll ever meet. A belting voice, she's enthusiastic about the world and loves being a nun.
- Sister Mary Lazarus - the leader of the choir. Very deadpan and initially resists Deloris' changes but we soon learn that she enjoys rapping!
- Sister Mary Theresa - the oldest nun of the bunch.
- Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours - not the smartest tool in the box. Away with the faries but very sweet.
Popular Songs
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Bit of a dodgy recording but stick with it, this is the best one I've found with the whole, wonderful song and all the acting inbetween!
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Creators
Music by Alan Menken
Alan Irwin Menken is an American muscial theatre and film score composer. He was born in New York in 1949 to a Jewish family. He was interested in music from an early age, which is hardly suprising since his father played the piano and his mother was an actress, dancer and playwright. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Musicology in 1971 and planned to become a rock star, though his interest in writing won through his desire for stardom. He is best known for his work on classic Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and more recently for Enchanted and Tangled. He has colaborated with many lyricists including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. His success has led to 8 Oscar wins, 11 Grammy awards, a Tony and many other honours.
Alan Irwin Menken is an American muscial theatre and film score composer. He was born in New York in 1949 to a Jewish family. He was interested in music from an early age, which is hardly suprising since his father played the piano and his mother was an actress, dancer and playwright. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Musicology in 1971 and planned to become a rock star, though his interest in writing won through his desire for stardom. He is best known for his work on classic Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and more recently for Enchanted and Tangled. He has colaborated with many lyricists including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. His success has led to 8 Oscar wins, 11 Grammy awards, a Tony and many other honours.
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Glenn Slater was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New Jersey. He became interested in drama while at high school and attended Harvard University. His first collaboration with Alan Menken was for the 2004 film Home on the Range, two years before they worked together on Sister Act. He also composed the lyrics and co-wrote the book for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies and worked with him again on School of Rock. He won a Grammy Award in 2012 for "Best Song Written for Visual Media" for "I See the Light" in Disney's Tangled.
Glenn Slater was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New Jersey. He became interested in drama while at high school and attended Harvard University. His first collaboration with Alan Menken was for the 2004 film Home on the Range, two years before they worked together on Sister Act. He also composed the lyrics and co-wrote the book for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies and worked with him again on School of Rock. He won a Grammy Award in 2012 for "Best Song Written for Visual Media" for "I See the Light" in Disney's Tangled.
Book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner
This husband and wife writing team met at The Groundlings, an improvisational comdedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles. They married in 1982 and Cheri, who was an actress, started to help her husband with writing scripts. Initially it was simply a convenience thing as she was a quicker typer than him, but she started making changes and it didn't take long before they were a writing team. They rose to prominence working on Cheers (for seven years) but are also known for their work on The Jeffersons, Benson, The Facts of Life and Who's the Boss.
This husband and wife writing team met at The Groundlings, an improvisational comdedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles. They married in 1982 and Cheri, who was an actress, started to help her husband with writing scripts. Initially it was simply a convenience thing as she was a quicker typer than him, but she started making changes and it didn't take long before they were a writing team. They rose to prominence working on Cheers (for seven years) but are also known for their work on The Jeffersons, Benson, The Facts of Life and Who's the Boss.
Notable Productions
Interesting Facts
- Although both the West End and Broadway original productions were nominated for many awards, it failed to win a single one.
- Bette Midler was originally down to play the role of Deloris in the film and when she pulled out Whoopi Goldberg was approached. She agreed to take on the role on the condition that no changes were made to the script to reflect that she was a black. So while there were many dialogue changes done before filming, the script focused on the cultural differences of the nightclub singer and the nuns rather than the fact that they were different races . As a result, there is nothing in the casting that says that the lead needs to be played by a black woman, although there are some references in the musical to Deloris' origins and all professional and most amateur productions will cast Deloris as black.
Am Dram Corner
I was lucky enough to perform in this show as one of the ensemble nuns in November 2015, though it seems like only yesterday. It was such a delight to be part of a show that is really all about the women performers, with the vast majority of the roles being female. The harmonies were tight and some of the most complicated I've ever seen - the finale had about 11 parts going at once towards the end. I'll try and get some clips when I find my DVD but until then here are a few photos of me as a nun and the finale of the West End production for you to enjoy (I still know all those harmonies!)
The grand finale!
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