Former X Factor finalist turned musical theatre favourite Brenda Edwards will take centre stage in a tailor-made new production of smash hit musical Sister Act next year.
With the central role of Deloris Van Carter specially re-written for Edwards (We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre and UK tour, Chicago, West End and 10th Anniversary Gala), the new look Sister Act will be produced by Jamie Wilson and the big screen, original Deloris, Whoopi Goldberg. The head of Goldberg’s own production company, Tom Leonardis, will also be on the producing team for the new production.
Announcing the production, Hollywood superstar Goldberg said: “Deloris is a big fun character with lots of personality. Brenda auditioned for this show when it first happened in the UK and didn’t get the part because she was too old, so we’ve rectified that.
“Previous versions have had Deloris as a 23 year old – but there are different stakes when you’re older. You can be much more irreverent when you’re older than you can be when you’re in your twenties and thirties. Time makes you funnier. I really am so thrilled Sister Act is coming back to the UK in 2020 with this new version.”
The production will open at Curve Leicester on 21 April 2020 where it will play until 2 May 2020. Following the Leicester launch season, the production will play dates in Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester before playing a London season.
Releasing details of the production, producer Wilson said: “I am thrilled to be collaborating again with Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Douglas Carter Beane and Whoopi Goldberg to create a new version of Sister Act, in particular reworking the part of Deloris for an older actor and I’m so pleased that the hugely talented Brenda Edwards will launch this production for us.
“I’m also delighted to be continuing our relationship with Curve in Leicester by developing this new production with them, and I’m equally pleased that this production will be visiting other regional theatres ahead of a London run next summer. We will be announcing our full creative team, further casting and some more surprises this autumn.”
Based on the hit 1990s film featuring Goldberg, Maggie Smith and Harvey Keitel, Sister Act features original music by multi award-winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The book is by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.
After premiering in California in 2006, the musical opened at the London Palladium in 2009 with American newcomer Patina Miller starring as Deloris alongside veteran British actors, Sheila Hancock and Ian Lavender. During the show’s West End run, Goldberg briefly joined the cast to play Mother Superior before a family emergency forced her to leave the show. Current Emmerdale star Sally Dexter stepped in until Goldberg returned for five performances towards the end of the run.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.