Preview: Sister Act at Alnwick Playhouse

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The Sisters Are Back In The Habit

Sister Act

Alnwick Playhouse

Wednesday 16^th - Sunday 20^th March 2016

A popular Northumberland amateur dramatics society is preparing for one of its most challenging productions yet as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Alnwick Stage Musical Society is kicking off its celebrations with a heavenly production of Sister Act: The Musical. They are one of the last societies in the North East to put on the show as the licence is no longer available for amateur societies because of the forthcoming UK Tour.

The group was formed in October 1986 by solicitor Norman Luke and civil servant Paul Toward. The pair went on to perform in the group’s first production, The Sound of Music

in March 1987. Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength and performed musicals including Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!; The Pirates of Penzance; Kiss Me, Kate; Fiddler on the Roof; and many more.

As well as the group’s main show in March at Alnwick Playhouse, the group sometimes put on a summer show in July, such as the mini-musical Nunsense, was performed in

1999 and 2000.

The cast of

Alnwick Stage Musical Society’s Sister Act 

More nuns can be seen this March in Sister Act: The Musical, a 2006 show based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg. The show – written by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, Douglas Carter Beane, Glenn Slater and Alan Menken – is set to be one of the biggest musicals the society has ever

produced.

The cast of

Alnwick Stage Musical Society’s Sister Act 

Group members have been rehearsing since September, and there are lots of new faces behind the scenes. Local journalist Michael Pearson will be making his directorial debut

with Miss Georgia Robinson, of Alnwick’s GL Dance school taking on the hard task of choreographing the fast-paced show.

Michael Pearson said: “We’ve been working so hard to stitch this production together, and I’m so privileged to have such a fantastic cast and crew to work with. We have a cast of just under 50 and a production team of more than 10 people, and there’s a lot of work to do, but there’s so much passion from everyone.

Cast of Sister Act praying for a heavenly performance!

“When you sit through a rehearsal and see Miss Georgia’s choreography come together with the fantastic music, led by Northumberland composer and music teacher Peter

Brown, it’s a real pleasure to watch. We have around 30 nuns, and each one of them brings something new to the

production. I’m quietly confident that this will be one of the greatest productions we’ve ever put on.”

Leading the cast is beautician Leonie Dial, owner of The Powder Room Spa & Beauty in Alnwick’s Market Place. She will take the role of Deloris Van Cartier.

Leonie Dial as Deloris Van Cartier

The budding thespian faced tough competition for the role as more than 20 people auditioned for the main parts.

Leonie only joined the society last year, going on to take the role of Nancy in the 1960 Lionel Bart musical Oliver!

Mariana Bennett (Mother Superior) and

Leonie Dial (Deloris) in rehearsal

Leonie, originally from Kent, said: “When I was 17 years old, I travelled abroad living my dream of being a singer and dancer on the cruise ships. When I came home, I missed the stage so much I had to continue my passion with an amateur group.

“After playing my dream role as Nancy in Oliver! back in March, I made so many friends, so I am now so excited to challenge myself doing the role of Deloris in such an amazing

show with a fab cast.”

Tickets:

The show is on at the Alnwick Playhouse venue from Wednesday 16^th until Sunday 20^th March 2016. Tickets will be available at www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk  or contact 01665

510 785 - book ahead to avoid disappointment.

You can follow their progress online at www.facebook.com/AlnwickStageMusicalSociety