Sister Act (franchise)
Sister Act is an American media franchise which consists of two films: Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), and a Broadway musical.
| Sister Act | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Paul Rudnick |
| Original work | Theatrical film |
| Owned by | Walt Disney Studios |
| Films and television | |
| Film(s) | Sister Act (1992) Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) |
| Theatrical presentations | |
| Musical(s) | Sister Act |
| Audio | |
| Soundtrack(s) | Sister Act Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit |
Films
Sister Act (1992)
When a lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, Deloris proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters. In an effort to keep her out of trouble, they assign Deloris to the convent's choir, an ensemble that she soon turns into a vibrant and soulful act that gains widespread attention.
The film was one of the most financially successful comedies of the early 1990s, grossing $231 million worldwide.
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
In the sequel, Las Vegas performer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is surprised by a visit from her nun friends, including Sister Mary Patrick (Kathy Najimy) and Sister Mary Lazarus (Mary Wickes). She soon finds out that she is needed in her nun guise as Sister Mary Clarence to help teach music to teens at a troubled school in hopes of keeping the facility from closing at the hands of Mr. Crisp (James Coburn), a callous administrator.
Despite being a moderate commercial success, grossing over $57 million in the United States, the film was a critical failure.
Future
Possible remake (TBA)
On June 3, 2015, a remake was confirmed to be in the works with Legally Blonde screenwriters Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah writing.[1]
Sister Act 3 (TBA)
When asked in a 2013 appearance on Watch What Happens Live about acting in a sequel, Whoopi Goldberg initially refused,[2] citing the passing of so many of her nun co-stars, stating "it's not Sister Act without them."[2] But during a 2015 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she changed her stance to a maybe,[3] stating:
I generally say no to that, because so many of the nuns have passed and it just wouldn't feel right for me. I'm kind of old for it now. That's not to say I wouldn't do it, but it feels like there's a new generation for Sister Act and so maybe I can be a nun now.[3][4]
After a Broad City cameo in 2016, Whoopi expressed doubts about a sequel based on missing cast members, but said she thought it would be fun and likable.[5] In May 2017, she affirmed her desire for the third film to happen,[6] adding in July that she would like to direct it and had confidence it would be made.[7]
On December 7, 2018, it was confirmed that Regina Y. Hicks and Karin Gist were hired to write the script to Sister Act 3 with it being planned for a release on Disney+.[8]
Reworked musical
A reworked version of the musical is expected to debut at the Curve, Leicester starring Brenda Edwards and produced by Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Wilson.[9]
Other media
Musical
The musical Sister Act, directed by Peter Schneider and choreographed by Marguerite Derricks, premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California on October 24, 2006 and closed on December 23, 2006.[10] It broke records, grossing $1,085,929 to become the highest grossing show ever at that venue.[11] The production then moved to the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, where it ran from January 17 to February 25, 2007.[12]
The musical then opened at the West End at the London Palladium on June 2, 2009, following previews from May 7. The production was directed by Peter Schneider produced by Whoopi Goldberg together with the Dutch company Stage Entertainment, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, with set design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Lez Brotherston, and lighting design by Natasha Katz.[13][14] Following a year-long search, 24-year-old actress Patina Miller was cast as Deloris, alongside Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior, Ian Lavender as Monsignor Howard, Chris Jarman as Shank, Ako Mitchell as Eddie, Katie Rowley Jones as Sister Mary Robert, Claire Greenway as Sister Mary Patrick, and Julia Sutton as Sister Mary Lazarus.[15] The musical received four Laurence Olivier Awards nominations including Best Musical.[16] On October 30, 2010, the show played its final performance at the London Palladium and transferred to Broadway.[17]
The musical opened at the Broadway Theater on April 20, 2011, with previews beginning March 24, 2011.[18] Jerry Zaks directed the Broadway production[19] with Douglas Carter Bean rewriting the book.[20] Patina Miller, who originated the role of Deloris in the West End production, reprised her role, making her Broadway debut. She was later replaced by Raven Symone, also making her Broadway debut. The original Broadway cast featured Victoria Clark (Mother Superior), Fred Applegate (Monsignor), Sarah Bolt, (Sister Mary Patrick), Chester Gregory (Eddie), Kingsley Leggs (Curtis), Marla Mindelle (Sister Mary Robert), and Audrie Neenan (Sister Mary Lazarus).[21] The musical received five Tony Award nominations including Best Musical.[22]
The musical closed in August 2012 after playing 561 performances.
Cast and characters
List indicator(s)
- A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the media
| Characters | Films | Musical (2006–present) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sister Act (1992) | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) |
West End |
Broadway |
UK Tour |
US Tour | |
| Deloris Wilson/Delores Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence | Whoopi Goldberg Isis Carmen Jones (young) |
Whoopi Goldberg | Patina Miller | Patina Miller Raven Symone (replacement)[23] |
Cynthia Erivo | Ta'Rea Campbell |
| Reverend Mother Superior | Maggie Smith | Sheila Hancock Whoopi Goldberg (replacement) Sally Dexter (replacement) |
Victoria Clark Carolee Carmello (replacement) |
Denise Black | Hollis Resnik Lynne Winterstellar (replacement) | |
| Sister Mary Patrick | Kathy Najimy | Claire Greenway | Sarah Bolt | Laurie Scarth | Florie Bagel | |
| Sister Mary Robert | Wendy Makkena Andrea Robinson (singing voice) |
Katie Rowley Jones | Marla Mindelle | Julie Atherton | Lael Van Keuren | |
| Sister Mary Lazarus | Mary Wickes | Julia Sutton Jacqueline Clark (replacement) |
Audrie J. Neenan | Jacqueline Clark | Diane J. Findlay | |
| Lt. Eddie Souther | Bill Nunn | Ako Mitchell | Chester Gregory | Edward Baruwa | E. Clayton Cornelious Chester Gregory (replacement) | |
| Vince LaRocca | Harvey Keitel | |||||
| Joey/Bones | Robert Miranda | Nicolas Colicos | John Treacy Egan | Daniel Stockton | Todd A. Horman | |
| Willy | Richard Portnow | |||||
| Sister Alma | Rose Parenti | |||||
| Monsignor Bishop O'Hara/Howard | Joseph Maher | Ian Lavender | Fred Applegate | Michael Starke | Richard Pruitt | |
| Clarkson | Jim Beaver | |||||
| Michelle | Jenifer Lewis | |||||
| Tina | Charlotte Crossley | |||||
| Lewanda | A.J. Johnson | |||||
| Immaculata | Lois de Banzie | |||||
| Ernie | Max Grodenchik | |||||
| Henry Parker | Joseph G. Medalis | |||||
| Larry Merrick | Michael Durrell | |||||
| Connie LaRocca | Toni Kalem | |||||
| Pope John Paul II | Eugene Greytak | |||||
| Detective Tate | Guy Boyd | |||||
| Father Maurice | Barnard Hughes | |||||
| Mr. Crisp | James Coburn | |||||
| Father Ignatius | Michael Jeter | |||||
| Florence Watson | Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Joey Bustamente | Robert Pastorelli | |||||
| Father Wolfgang | Thomas Gottschalk | |||||
| Rita Louise Watson | Lauryn Hill | |||||
| Father Thomas | Brad Sullivan | |||||
| Maria | Alanna Ubach | |||||
| Ahmal | Ryan Toby | |||||
| Sketch | Ron Johnson | |||||
| Margaret | Jennifer Love Hewitt | |||||
| Frankie | Devin Kamin | |||||
| Tyler Chase | Christian Fitzharris | |||||
| Tanya | Tanya Blount | |||||
| Marcos | Mehran Marcos Sedghi | |||||
| Curtis Jackson/Shank | Ako Mitchell Simon Webbe (replacement) |
Kingsley Leggs | Cavin Cornwall | Kingsley Leggs | ||
| TJ | Thomas Goodridge | Demond Green | Tyrone Huntley | Charles Thomas | ||
| Pablo/Dinero | Ivan De Freitas | Caesar Samayoa | Gavin Alex | Ernie Pruneda | ||
Crew
| Crew/Detail | Sister Act (1992) | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Emile Ardolino | Bill Duke |
| Producer(s) | Scott Rudin Teri Schwartz |
Scott Rudin Dawn Steel |
| Writer(s) | Joseph Howard | James Orr Jim Cruickshank Judi Ann Mason |
| Cinematographer(s) | Adam Greenberg | Oliver Wood |
| Composer | Marc Shaiman | Marc Shaiman Miles Goodman |
| Running time | 100 minutes | 107 minutes |
References
- Pulver, Andrew (June 3, 2015). "Back in the habit: Sister Act to be remade by Disney" – via The Guardian.
- "After Show: Is 'Sister Act 3' Happening?". BravoTV.com.
- "Oh Happy Day: Whoopi Goldberg Says She Wouldn't Say No To "Sister Act 3"". NewNowNext.com. 17 December 2015.
That's not to say I wouldn't do it, but it feels like there's a new generation for Sister Act and maybe I can be a nun now.
- "14 Faithful Facts About Sister Act". MentalFloss.com. May 29, 2017.
- "Whoopi Goldberg on Weed, Being an Ally, & Sister Act 3". out.com. 20 September 2016.
On Sister Act 3: So many of my nuns are gone. I would love to do it, but we sort of send it out on stage-world domination, it's in all these different countries. But should they ever make a three it would be lots of fun, I think people would like it.
- "Whoopi Goldberg wants Sister Act 3 to happen". Attitude.co.uk. 30 May 2017.
- "Whoopi Goldberg wants to direct Sister Act 3 and is confident the movie WILL happen". 19 July 2017.
- Kroll, Justin (December 7, 2018). "'Sister Act 3': 'Insecure' Executive Producer, 'Star' Showrunner to Write Sequel". Variety.
- Gans, Andrew (Jul 10, 2019). "Brenda Edwards Will Star in Reworked Version of Sister Act Musical". Playbill. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- Hernandez, Hernio."Sister Act - Musical Based on Film - Opens World-Premiere Run November 3"Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, November 2006
- "Sister Act Sets Pasadena Playhouse Record". broadwayworld.com.
- "SISTER ACT the musical listing", alliancetheater.org, accessed August 2, 2018
- Gans, Andrew. "Habbit Forming: Whoopi Goldberg to Produce London Premiere of Sister Act"Archived January 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, November 13, 2008
- Official Website Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine sisteractthemusical.com
- Sister Act, A Divine Musical Comedy. "Sister Act Cast is announced" Archived July 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, sisteractthemusical.com, 29 January 2009
- "Spring Awakening, Enron and Red Score Big in Olivier Nominations". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010.
- "West End's Sister Act to Vacate London Palladium Oct. 30; Future Plans Announced". Playbill.
- "Sister Act The Musical Will Open at the Broadway Theatre in April 2011". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
- BWW News Desk (8 July 2010). "SISTER ACT Confirms Broadway for Spring 2011; Zaks to Direct". Broadwayworld.com.
- "It's Official: Douglas Carter Beane Joins 'Sister Act' Team". Broadwayworld.com. February 28, 2011.
- Hetrick, Adam. "Victoria Clark, Fred Applegate, Chester Gregory Will Be Part of Broadway's 'Sister Act'" Archived February 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, February 1, 2011
- "2011 Tony Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Earns 14 Nominations". Playbill.
- "It's Official: She's Fabulous! Raven-Symone Joins SISTER ACT Mar. 27; Patina Miller Departs Mar. 18". broadwayworld.com. March 7, 2012.
External links
- Sister Act on IMDb
- Sister Act at the TCM Movie Database
- Sister Act at AllMovie
- Sister Act at Box Office Mojo
- Sister Act at Rotten Tomatoes
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit on IMDb
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit at the TCM Movie Database
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit at AllMovie
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit at Rotten Tomatoes
- Internet Broadway Database
- Sister Act Nun Run
- New York Times, November 13, 2008