Pop Star Simon Webbe Tapped for London's Sister Act

British pop star Simon Webbe (member of the boy band Blue) will make his West End debut as “bad-boy lover” Curtis Shank in the musical Sister Act, beginning May 31. The show continues its run at the London Palladium, directed by Peter Schneider.

Sister Act stars Sheila Hancock (Over the Rainbow), who has re-signed for three extra months as Mother Superior; American actress Patina Miller (Hair) as heroine Deloris Van Cartier; and Ian Lavender as the Monsignor. Joining the show alongside Webbe on May 31 will be Jacqueline Clarke as Sister Mary Lazarus and ensemble members Lauren Appleby, Kiara Jay, Rachel John, Aaron Lambert, Ellie Leah, Amanda Minihan, Grant Murphy, Nathaniel Morrison, Ashley Russell and Carrie Sutton.

Sister Act features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner. The show received four Olivier Award nominations, and its original cast recording recently reached #1 on the iTunes Soundtrack chart. Original Sister Act film star Whoopi Goldberg is among the producers of the London production, which began performances on May 7, 2009.