Sister Act (franchise)

Last updated

Sister Act
Created by Paul Rudnick
Original workTheatrical film
Owner Walt Disney Studios
(The Walt Disney Company)
Films and television
Film(s) Sister Act (1992)
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit (TBA)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s) Sister Act
Audio
Soundtrack(s) Sister Act
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Sister Act is an American media franchise created by Paul Rudnick and currently consisting of two films: Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), and a Broadway musical.

Contents

Films

Sister Act (1992)

When a lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she is relocated for her protection. Set up in the guise of a nun in a California convent, Deloris proceeds to upend the quiet lives of the resident sisters. In an effort to keep her out of trouble, they assign Deloris to the convent's choir, an ensemble that she soon turns into a vibrant and soulful act that gains widespread attention.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

In the sequel, Las Vegas performer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is surprised by a visit from her nun friends, including Sister Mary Patrick (Kathy Najimy) and Sister Mary Lazarus (Mary Wickes). She soon finds out that she is needed in her nun guise as Sister Mary Clarence to help teach music to teens at a troubled school in hopes of keeping the facility from closing at the hands of Mr. Crisp (James Coburn), a callous administrator.

Future

Possible remake (TBA)

On June 3, 2015, a remake was confirmed to be in the works with Legally Blonde screenwriters Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah writing. [1]

Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit (TBA)

When asked in a 2013 appearance on Watch What Happens Live about acting in a sequel, Whoopi Goldberg initially refused, [2] citing the passing of so many of her nun co-stars, stating "it's not Sister Act without them." [2] But during a 2015 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, she changed her stance to a maybe, [3] stating:

I generally say no to that, because so many of the nuns have passed and it just wouldn't feel right for me. I'm kind of old for it now. That's not to say I wouldn't do it, but it feels like there's a new generation for Sister Act and so maybe I can be a nun now. [3] [4]

After a Broad City cameo in 2016, Goldberg expressed doubts about a sequel based on missing cast members, but said she thought it would be fun and likable. [5] In May 2017, she affirmed her desire for the third film to happen, [6] adding in July that she would like to direct it and had confidence it would be made. [7] On December 7, 2018, it was confirmed that Regina Y. Hicks and Karin Gist were hired to write the script to Sister Act 3 with it being planned for a release on Disney+. [8] Goldberg confirmed again on October 7, 2020, during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden that she is working on the sequel and wants to bring as many of the original cast back for it as possible. [9]

In December 2020, it was revealed that Goldberg had officially signed on to return as Delores and that Tyler Perry would be producing and directing the film. [10] [11] [12]

Reworked musical

A reworked version of the musical is expected to debut at the Curve, Leicester starring Brenda Edwards and produced by Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Wilson. [13]

Other media

Musical

A play based on the film plays at The Broadway Theatre in Times Square, Manhattan, beginning in 2011 4.28.11BroadwayTheatreByLuigiNovi.jpg
A play based on the film plays at The Broadway Theatre in Times Square, Manhattan, beginning in 2011

The musical Sister Act , directed by Peter Schneider and choreographed by Marguerite Derricks, premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California on October 24, 2006 and closed on December 23, 2006. [14] It broke records, grossing $1,085,929 to become the highest grossing show ever at that venue. [15] The production then moved to the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, where it ran from January 17 to February 25, 2007. [16]

The musical then opened at the West End at the London Palladium on June 2, 2009, following previews from May 7. The production was directed by Peter Schneider produced by Whoopi Goldberg together with the Dutch company Stage Entertainment, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, with set design by Klara Zieglerova, costume design by Lez Brotherston, and lighting design by Natasha Katz. [17] [18] Following a year-long search, 24-year-old actress Patina Miller was cast as Deloris, alongside Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior, Ian Lavender as Monsignor Howard, Chris Jarman as Shank, Ako Mitchell as Eddie, Katie Rowley Jones as Sister Mary Robert, Claire Greenway as Sister Mary Patrick, and Julia Sutton as Sister Mary Lazarus. [19] The musical received four Laurence Olivier Awards nominations including Best Musical. [20] On October 30, 2010, the show played its final performance at the London Palladium and transferred to Broadway. [21]

The musical opened at the Broadway Theater on April 20, 2011, with previews beginning March 24, 2011. [22] Jerry Zaks directed the Broadway production [23] with Douglas Carter Bean rewriting the book. [24] Patina Miller, who originated the role of Deloris in the West End production, reprised her role, making her Broadway debut. She was later replaced by Raven Symone, also making her Broadway debut. The original Broadway cast featured Victoria Clark (Mother Superior), Fred Applegate (Monsignor), Sarah Bolt, (Sister Mary Patrick), Chester Gregory (Eddie), Kingsley Leggs (Curtis), Marla Mindelle (Sister Mary Robert), and Audrie Neenan (Sister Mary Lazarus). [25] The musical received five Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. [26]

The musical closed in August 2012 after playing 561 performances.

Cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

CharactersFilmsMusical (2006–present)
Sister Act (1992) Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

West End (2009)

Broadway (2011)

1st UK Tour (2011)

1st US Tour (2012)

2nd US tour (2014)2nd UK tour (2016)Manchester (2022)London (2022)3rd UK tour (2022)
Deloris Wilson/Delores Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence Whoopi Goldberg
Isis Carmen Jones Y
Whoopi Goldberg Patina Miller Patina Miller
Raven Symone (replacement) [27]
Cynthia Erivo Ta'Rea CampbellKerissa Arrington Alexandra Burke Sandra Marvin Beverley Knight Sandra Marvin
Reverend Mother Superior Maggie Smith Sheila Hancock
Whoopi Goldberg (replacement)
Sally Dexter (replacement)
Victoria Clark
Carolee Carmello (replacement)
Denise Black Hollis Resnik
Lynne Wintersteller (replacement)
Maggie Clennon RebergKaren Mann Jennifer Saunders Lesley Joseph
Sister Mary Patrick Kathy Najimy Claire GreenwaySarah BoltLaurie ScarthFlorie BagelSarah Michelle CucSusannah Van Den Berg Keala Settle Catherine Millson
Sister Mary Robert Wendy Makkena
Andrea Robinson S
Katie Rowley Jones Marla Mindelle Julie Atherton Lael Van KeurenEmily Kay SchraderSarah GogginLizzie Bea
Sister Mary Lazarus Mary Wickes Julia Sutton Audrie J. Neenan Jacqueline ClarkDiane J. FindlayNancy Evans Rosemary Ashe Lesley JosephAnne Smith
Lt. Eddie Souther Bill Nunn Ako Mitchell Chester Gregory Edward BaruwaE. Clayton Cornelious
Chester Gregory (replacement)
Lamont O'Neal Jon Robyns Clive Rowe
Vince LaRocca Harvey Keitel
Joey/Bones Robert Miranda Nicolas Colicos John Treacy Egan Daniel StocktonTodd A. HormanF. Tyler BurnetSamuel Morgan-GrahameTom Hopcroft
Willy Richard Portnow
Sister AlmaRose Parenti
Monsignor Bishop O'Hara/Howard Joseph Maher Ian Lavender Fred Applegate Michael Starke Richard PruittGordon GrayTim Maxwell-ClarkeGraham Mcduff
Clarkson Jim Beaver
Michelle Jenifer Lewis
Tina Charlotte Crossley
Lewanda A.J. Johnson
Immaculata Lois de Banzie
Ernie Max Grodenchik
Henry ParkerJoseph G. Medalis
Larry Merrick Michael Durrell
Connie LaRocca Toni Kalem
Pope John Paul II Eugene Greytak
Detective Tate Guy Boyd
Father Maurice Barnard Hughes
Mr. Crisp James Coburn
Father Ignatius Michael Jeter
Florence Watson Sheryl Lee Ralph
Joey Bustamente Robert Pastorelli
Father Wolfgang Thomas Gottschalk
Rita Louise Watson Lauryn Hill
Father Thomas Brad Sullivan
Maria Alanna Ubach
Ahmal Ryan Toby
SketchRon Johnson
Margaret Jennifer Love Hewitt
FrankieDevin Kamin
Tyler ChaseChristian Fitzharris
Tanya Tanya Blount
MarcosMehran Marcos Sedghi
Curtis Jackson/Shank Chris Jarman
Simon Webbe (replacement)
Kingsley LeggsCavin CornwallKingsley LeggsKolby KindleAaron Lee LambertJeremy Secomb
TJThomas GoodridgeDemond Green Tyrone Huntley Charles ThomasLawrence DandridgeSandy GrigelisBradley Judge
Pablo/DineroIvan De FreitasCaesar SamayoaGavin AlexErnie PrunedaNicholas Alexander RodriguezRicky RojasDamian Buhagiar

Crew

Crew/Detail Sister Act (1992) Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
Director Emile Ardolino Bill Duke
Producer(s) Scott Rudin
Teri Schwartz
Scott Rudin
Dawn Steel
Writer(s) Joseph Howard James Orr
Jim Cruickshank
Judi Ann Mason
Cinematographer(s) Adam Greenberg Oliver Wood
Composer Marc Shaiman Marc Shaiman
Miles Goodman
Running time100 minutes [28] 107 minutes [29]

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRelease dateBox office grossBox office rankingBudgetRef(s)
United States
opening weekend
North AmericaOther
territories
WorldwideAll time
North America
All time
worldwide
Sister Act May 29, 1992$11,894,587$139,605,150$92,000,000$231,605,150#454$31 million [30] [31]
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit December 10, 1993$7,569,219$57,319,029$67,300,000$125,619,029#1,552$38 million [32] [33]
Totals$196,924,179$159,300,000$357,224,179$69 million

Critical and public response

FilmCriticalPublic
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Sister Act 75% (28 reviews) [34] 51 (23 reviews) [35] A [36]
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit 18% (38 reviews) [37] 38 (23 reviews) [38] A− [36]

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References

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