News

After a few days of rumours, it has been officially announced that Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg will play the Mother Superior in the musical Sister Act. The 3 week engagement from the 10 – 31 August 2010 will be Goldberg’s West End debut, in a show which she has co-produced. Goldberg takes over from Wizard of Oz judge Sheila Hancock. 

The show is based on the 1992 film which Goldberg starred in as the disobedient Deloris van Cartier, played in the show by newcomer Patina Miller. The show tells the story of a club singer who finds herself on the wrong side of the mob and takes on the guise of a nun, Sister Mary Clarence, so she can find safety in a convent.

Goldberg is best known for her films such as ‘The Color Purple’, ‘Ghost’, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ and ‘Soapdish’. Her stagestage credits include ‘A Funny Thing Happened' on the Way to the Forum’, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ and ‘Xanadu’ on Broadway. 

The actress will join current cast members Simon Webbe as Curtis Shanks and Ian Lavender as the Monsignor. The screen-to-stage adaptation has a score by Alan Menken and a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner.

The show is only booking until 30 October when it will make way for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of The Wizard of Oz next March. Sister Act is reportedly looking to find a new West End home, as well as a UK tour next year and a Broadway transfer spring 2011.