The cast of American ‘Sister Act.’
Sister Act, a world-acclaimed Broadway musical, will berth in Nigeria later this year and will star an all-Nigerian cast.
Regarded as one the most successful musical theatre productions of all time, the Nigerian production of the world-acclaimed musical, is the brainchild of Nigerian manufacturer and serial entrepreneur, Dr Soji Akinkugbe in collaboration with top executives of the prestigious Waterfront Theatre Company, Cape Town,South Africa.
Based on the 1992 film of the same name, ‘Sister Act’ tells the story of aspiring disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, who having witnessed her gangster (and married) boyfriend commit a murder, ends up in hiding in a convent whose parish has fallen on hard times. Though the sequin-free lifestyle doesn’t agree with her, Deloris finds her calling working with the choir, and breathes new life into the dusty convent while discovering a sisterhood she’s never had before.
Speaking on the Broadway musical project, Akinkugbe said he has long nursed a vision to produce international musical hits with Nigerian casts.
According to the creative genius, who grew up in the 1970s/1980s campuses of the University of Lagos and the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) when a robust theatre performance tradition ruled, he also desires to use the productions to create a training platform that would transform raw local talents and skills into best standards available around the world.
Through his association with one of the doyennes of South African Theatre, Delia Sainsbury, and her business partner Paul Griffiths, (both own the prestigious Waterfront Theatre Company, Cape Town, South Africa), Akinkugbe’s vision is one step closer to being realised in the production of ‘Sister Act’.
To set the realisations of ‘Sister Act’ in motion, a three-day audition/workshop would hold in Lagos from February 25 to 27.
Asides Delia and Paul, the creative team for Sister Act will also include the award-winning musical director Garth Tavares and international musical theatre artist, Genna Galloway.
Elvina Ibru
Akinkugbe’s organization, Colours in Africa Productions, is spearheading the project with support from 2wice As Nice, a firm headed by, Elvina Ibru, one of the daughters of multi-billionaire, Oloorogun Michael Ibru.
by hotdropz
