Sister Act is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film, featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted) and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Filled with dazzling dance routines and a comedic book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, Sister Act uses a blend of gospel, soul, and disco-inspired tunes that add top-notch energy, humor, and heart to explore themes of sisterhood, self-discovery, and redemption.
Directed for the Morgan-Wixson Theatre by Rubén Gabriel Hernández who makes the entire production sparkle, with music direction for Jenny Chaney and choreography by Meghan Ripchik, the cast features Kyrsten V. Williams who shines like a super star every moment she is onstage with her glorious voice raising the roof during each of her numbers, especially “Raise Your Voice” and “Take Me to Heaven.” After opening the show and rocking the stage as the leader of a trio reminiscent of the Supremes (with Olivia Leyva as Michelle and Minque Taylor as Tina), Deloris happens to cross the path of her very personal manager Curtis (Steven Flowers) just as he guns down Ernie (Andrew Chorbi) in front of his other gang members (Deonte Allen as Joey, Terrance Robinson as TJ, and Aydin Washington as Spanish-speaking Pablo) who light up the stage with their humorous seduction scenes during “Lady in the Long Black Dress” in Act Two.
After going on the run, Deloris is put under protective custody by top cop Eddie (Javon Willis), one of her former high school classmates everyone knows as “Sweaty Eddie,” and is hidden in the one place he knows she won’t be found – a Convent! Disguised as Sister Mary Clarence under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior (Kim Peterson who delivers her lines with excellent dry wit to garner much laughter), Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own while leading the church choir to spectacular new heights.
It’s very apparent the entire cast performs each role with pure joy that makes every scene such fun to watch. Standouts among the nuns are Bethany Haspel who shines as novice Sister Mary Robert singing “The Life I Never Led,” Eve Keller as rapping Sister Mary Lazarus, along with Sarah Maher (Sister Mary Patrick), Emily Blustajn (Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours), and Ann Villella (Sister Mary Theresa). Michael Heimos humorously transforms Monsignor O’Hara into a thoroughly hip host of the church choir fundraiser once their fame starts filling the pews, the threat of two men “into antiques” buying the facility subsides, and the Holy Father schedules a visit!
The Morgan-Wixson production is produced by Lauren Josephs, with 1977 Philadelphia-inspired costume design by Samantha Jo Jaffray, colorful lighting design by Alyssa Armas, and church-inspired set design by Krystina Colocho features movable set pieces which cast members reorganize between scenes. Performances continue through July 27 on Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. For more information and tickets priced from $29-$36, visit https://www.morgan-wixson.org/ or email the box office at boxoffice@morgan-wixson.org. The Morgan-Wixson Theatre is located at 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405
The first production of the 22nd year of Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival by Independent Shakespeare Co. is Shakespeare’s bittersweet romantic comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost, directed by David Melville, continuing with Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus beginning August 6. With outdoor season scenic design by Maya Channer, Lighting Design by Bosco Flanagan, and Costume Design by Garry Lennon, the cast of Love’s Labour’s Lost features Pierre Adeli, Patrick Batiste, Melissa Chalsma, Brent Charles, Bernardo De Paula, Daniel DeYoung, Natalia Echeverria, William Elsman, Victor M. Frausto, Asha Noel Iyer, Carene Rose Mekertichyan, Jacqueline Misaye, Diana Reyes, Erick Valenzuela de Campos and Isaac Ybarra.
This summer, Shakespeare’s intoxicating wit meets Bridgerton’s spicy society drama in Indie Shakes’ lush, bawdy, and bittersweet romantic comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost which focuses on four gentlemen who vow to renounce all worldly delights, trading their grand balls for study halls and courtship for a celibate life. But their scholarly seclusion is swiftly upended by a quartet of aristocratic ladies waltzing into the royal garden to sweep them off their feet. Faced with temptation, the lords swiftly discover that repressing desire isn’t as easy as it seems.
Under Melville’s tight direction, performed with original music performed live, Shakespeare’s characters retreat from the rules of court and discover something messier and funnier while learning why it’s more important to be honest about their true feelings. But there’s good reason why this comedy isn’t performed often given it’s one of Shakespeare’s most verbally complex, criticized for having too much fluff and not enough plot. Characters meet and immediately fall in love, but there’s no real connection between any of them, making it easy for mistaken identities to be believable. which makes the story boring at best. There’s also a strange Russian subplot which apparently reflects Russian/English relations at the time but now seems thrown in for no reason other than an entertaining dance number.
Love’s Labour’s Lost performs through July 27 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 p.m. The location for this summer is the dell at the top of The Old Zoo area in Griffith Park. All Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival performances and events are free to the public. Seating is General Admission on an open grassy area, first come, first served. Bring low-slung beach chairs, blankets, picnics, drinks, but no glass containers. For more information, please call 818-710-6306 or visit www.indieshakes to submit your free RSVP to help ensure there’s space for everyone to enjoy the evening. Check the website calendar for special-themed performances.
Kentwood Players presents She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen from Friday, July 18 through Saturday, August 9 at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles 90045 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm with Saturday matinees at 2:00pm added on July 26 and continuing through the rest of the run.
Directed by Shawn Summerer and produced by Alison Boole and Elizabeth Bouton Summerer, the production is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.
Featured in the cast are Elora Becker, Caitlin Callahan, Ilona Concetta, Marcus Escobar, Finley Gaedke, Lucy Gilbert, Asher Hagler, Jackson Landreau, Adelynn Paik, Harrison James Steckler, Syd Sukalski, Benjamin Paul Wheeler, and Myesha Williams.
She Kills Monsters is a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90’s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. The story centers around Agnes, whose family has been killed in a car crash. After the initial shock of losing them, Agnes discovers who her sister was and learns some new things about herself while playing an original Dungeons and Dragons adventure written by her sister.
Reserved seats are $25 with a $4 discount for seniors, children, students and military, available online at www.kentwoodplayers.org, by emailing boxoffice@kentwoodplayers.org, or by calling (310) 645-5156. Group rates for 10 or more can be arranged with the box office.
For more information about Kentwood Players including parking, public transit options, special events and upcoming shows and open auditions for Real Women Have Curveson July 19-21, please visit www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.