New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse has revealed full casting for the upcoming production of Sister Act, set to run June 1-26. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2011, features a score with music by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, a book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.
Nicole Vanessa Ortiz (Smokey Joe's Cafe) will lead the production as Deloris Van Cartier, along with Jennifer Allen (The Bridges of Madison County) as Mother Superior, Akron Watson (The Color Purple) as Curtis, Belinda Allyn (Allegiance) as Mary Robert, Diane J. Findlay (Fish in the Dark) as Mary Lazarus, Kara Mikula (The Cradle Will Rock) as Mary Patrick, Jarran Muse (Ain't Too Proud) as Eddie Souther, John Treacy Egan (My Fair Lady) as Monsignor O'Hara, Anthony Alfaro (On Your Feet!) as Pablo, Ryan Gregory Thurman (Elf) as TJ, and Jacob Keith Watson (Carousel) as Joey.
Rounding out the cast are Rachelle Rose Clark, Steve Czarnecki, Madeleine Doherty, Denzel Edmondson, Dion Simmons Grier, Kolby Kindle, Ashley Masula, Stephanie Miller, Alaina Mills, Heather Parcells, Chandler Reeves, Michael Schimmele, Alyson Snyder, Anne Fraser Thomas, Ariana Valdes, and Zuri Washington.
Paper Mill's production will use Jerry Zaks' Broadway staging, restaged by Steven Beckler with Janet Rothermel restaging Anthony Van Laast's Broadway choreography. Christopher Babbage will music direct.
The creative team also includes scenic designer Klara Zieglerova, costume designer Lez Brotherston, additional costume designer and costume coordinator Leon Dobkowski, lighting designer Charlie Morrison, sound designer Matt kraus, hair and wig designer Kaitlyn Adams, and production stage manager Daniel Everett. The production is cast by Binder Casting.
Paper Mill will also host a cast Q&A following the matinee performance June 25.
Based on the 1992 film, Sister Act follows disco diva Deloris Van Cartier, who goes into hiding as a nun after witnessing a murder, turning the convent choir into a soulful sensation in the process. The Playhouse was originally set to present the musical in 2020 with much of the same cast, but the production was postponed due to the pandemic.
Sister Act closes Paper Mill's 2021-2022 season. The Wanderer, telling the story of Dion DiMucci, is currently on the Paper Mill stage through April 28. The Millburn, New Jersey theatre won the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award.
