The stage musical adaptation of Sister Act has confirmed it will close at the London Palladium on 30 October to make way for the new production of The Wizard Of Oz, which will open there in spring 2011.
But the nuns may sing again in London; Sister Act’s producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have expressed their intention to find a new London home for the musical, in addition to a UK touring version and new productions planned for Broadway, Germany and, further ahead, across the world.
Bill Taylor, CEO of Stage Entertainment, commented: “Forgive the pun but we’ve had a truly heavenly time at the Palladium! It was always the deal with the Really Useful Group that we would leave to make way for The Wizard Of Oz and I want to thank every single person who has been involved in making Sister Act such a success there. It has given us the perfect springboard for launching this uplifting show around the world, establishing Sister Act as a wonderful new musical title with global potential. We’re all very excited about the next few years and the prospect of the show running in different cities, from our new London home, to Broadway and Hamburg and beyond. It’s going to be a busy few years for Deloris Van Cartier and her sisters!”
Based on the 1992 film, Sister Act tells the story of flamboyant cabaret singer Deloris Van Cartier, who witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in a convent, where she makes more of an impact on the nuns than the austere Mother Superior would like.
The current cast includes Patina Miller as Deloris, Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior, with Simon Webbe joining the cast from 31 May as gangster Curtis Shank.
However Hancock is currently out of her habit on Saturday evenings in order to be a judge on the BBC’s latest TV casting show, Over The Rainbow. The Graham Norton-hosted programme is searching for a young girl to play Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, which replaces Sister Act at the London Palladium and is now booking from 29 March 2011.
CB