Sister Act at The Pantages Theater – July 9, 2013

This show is all about redemption, and the power of sisterhood. You will laugh, you will cry, and be truly astounded by the talented cast that comes with this amazing experience. The show starts off slow, but builds to a feverish pitch by finale time. It will warm your heart and make you believe in the power of faith, in all its earthly forms.

The New York Post calls it “Ridiculously Fun.” I totally agree, it made me jump out of my chair, reveling in the glory of it all.

Quick summary of Sister Act: The shows star, Ta’Rea Campbell, Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look, a convent! Her Mother Superior can’t deal with her and her street ways, but soon she succumbs to Deloris’s charms. Deloris takes over the convents failing choir, and soon her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. This show is a tribute to the universal power of friendship, and Sister Act is a reason to smile!

Based on the Touchstone Pictures Movie, written by Joseph Howard, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and music by Alan Menken. Alan Menken’s Broadway music credits include: Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin, Tangle, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, just to name a few. Having won 8 Oscars, I think you can pretty much count on the music being beyond words. But truly the best thing beside the music and lyrics is the otherworldly voice of Ta’Rea Campbell. She really doesn’t need a microphone, her voice is so strong, and she blasted me right out of the balcony.

The other good news is that so many musicals are adaptations from movies, so you know the storyline before you go see it, Sister Act stays true to the original story. Whoopi Goldberg was in the movie, and in Sister Act The Musical she is very hand’s on as one of four producers.

The cast is very well chosen, and does a fine job: TA’REA CAMPBELL – Deloris, HOLLIS RESNIK – Mother Superior, FLORRIE BAGEL – Mary Patrick, CHARLES BARKSDALE – T, E. CLAYTON CORNELIOUS – Eddie Souther DIANE J. FINDLAY – Sister Mary Lazarus, TODD A. HORMAN – Joey, KINGSLEY LEGGS – Curtis Jackson, RICHARD PRUITT – Monsignor O’Hara, ERNIE PRUNEDA – Pablo, LAEL VAN KEUREN – Mary Robert. Ensemble: MELVIN ABSTON, GISELA ADISABRIAN CALÌ – Joey Finnochio, KAREN ELLIOTT, JACQUI GRAZIANO, ERIN HENRY, TRISHA JEFFREY, MARY JO McCONNELL, MICHAEL MILLAN, MICHELLE ROMBOLA, DAWN ROTHER, JASON SIMON, ANGIE MARIE SMITH, TRICIA TANGUY, KELLY E. WATERS, ERIN WILSON, DASHAUN YOUNG. Of course Ta’Rea Campbell is the best, she really steals the show, but Hollis Resnik and Florrie Bagel have their fair share of great songs and give an excellent performance.

The costumes, wonderfully done by Lez Brotherston, really depict the depth of the story. In the beginning they were bleak and typical, and by the end of the show they were in sequins and sparkles. The use of different fabrics adds to the already complex emotions, but in the end, each and every character is in star-studded garb.

The sets were kind of the same as the costumes, they started out very basic and then by the end of the show the main stage was built out to be a very grand church, with lots of glitz and glamour. You really have to stick with the whole concept of this show developing and the more it goes on the more you fall in love.

What else can I say, I know when I am going to see something at The Pantages Theater in Hollywood it will be one heck of a show, and Sister Act delivers in spades. Too bad they all have such a limited run, it ends July 28th, so run and see it.

Sister Act
Pantages Theater
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90028
http://hollywoodpantages.com/sister-act
323-468-1770

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