Playwright Douglas Carter Beane Lends a Hand to Broadway-Bound Sister Act

Confirming earlier rumors, playwright Douglas Carter Beane is officially joining the creative team of the Broadway production of Sister Act. His additions to the book of the original London production, written by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, will “make this a show that a New York audience is going to go for,” Beane told The New York Times. Sister Act will begin previews at the Broadway Theatre on March 24 and open April 20, directed by Jerry Zaks.

Beane has previously written the book for musical Xanadu, and is the author of such plays as The Little Dog Laughed, As Bees in Honey Drown and Mr. and Mrs. Fitch.

Based on the hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Patina Miller stars as disco diva Deloris Van Cartier, who witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in the one place cops are sure she won't be found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior (Victoria Clark). Using her fabulous disco-ness and killer voice to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover. Soon it’s nun-on-the-run time but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her newly found sisterhood.

The Broadway company of Sister Act will feature Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller as Deloris Van Cartier, Tony Award winner Victoria Clark as Mother Superior, Fred Applegate as Monsignor, Sarah Bolt as Sister Mary Patrick, John Treacy Egan as Joey, Demond Green as TJ, Chester Gregory as Eddie, Kingsley Leggs as Curtis, Marla Mindelle as Sister Mary Robert, Audrie Neenan as Sister Mary Lazarus and Caesar Samayoa as Pablo.