Class Act "Sister Act" Closes TBTS 2016 Season

MATUNUCK -- Theatre By the Sea saved the best for last this year, making the production of Sister Act the final show for the season. Filled with laughs, fun songs, memorable characters, and dancing, this show is sure to make audiences smile.

Based on the 1992 movie starring EGOTer Whoopi Goldberg, the musical is about Deloris Van Cartier, a singer who wants to make it big, but instead witnesses her boyfriend Curtis commit a murder. To protect her from the murderer, the police hide her in the last place anyone would look for the bigger-than-life witness -- a convent. Naturally, wackiness ensues.

Director, choreographer, and producing artistic director Kevin P. Hill makes excellent use of the characters, the sets, the costumes, and the theater itself to bring this production to this stage. In past years he directed Theatre by the Sea's Young Frankenstein, Grease, and Mary Poppins.

David Costa-Cabral is back at Theatre By the Sea, and better than ever. The costume designer put a lot of care and thought into these designs, and the results are stunning. Cabral also designed the costumes for Theatre By the Sea's past productions of West Side Story, Grease, and Annie.

Jeannette Bayardelle is wonderful as Deloris -- charming, hysterically funny, and a fantastic voice to boot. Her performances during "Take Me to Heaven" and "It's Good to be a Nun" are sure to impress.

Bayardelle (center) as Deloris

Ellen Harvey is phenomenal as Mother Superior, bringing grace and laughs to the role. Her performance of "I Haven't Got a Prayer" showcases not only her wonderful voice but her comedic abilities.

Harvey as Mother Superior

Productions would be hard pressed to find a more charismatic bad-guy than Philip Michael Baskerville's Curtis Jackson. Baskerville reminds us that even bad guys can have a sense of humor with his song "When I Find My Baby." His crew Joey (Brent Bateman), Pablo (Juan Caballer), and T.J. (Avionce Hoyles) are also fantastically fun to watch, and their song "Lady in the Long Black Dress" is sure to have audiences laughing. Moreover, instead of being typical bad-guys, each actor has fleshed out his own unique characterization, making them memorable rather than the typical cookie-cutter crooks.

Caballer, Bateman, Baskerville, and Hoyles sing "When I Find My Baby"

Audiences are also sure to root for Jared Dixon's shy, sweet Officer Eddie "Sweaty Eddie" Souther. His number "I Could Be That Guy" is especially impressive.

Dixon as Eddie Souther

The convent, too, is full of talent: Tom Gleadow's Monsignor O'Hara, Jennie Boone's Sister Mary Patrick, Lael Van Keuren's Sister Mary Robert, Tina Johnson's Sister Mary Lazarus, Ellen Peterson's Sister Mary Martin of Tours, and Maria Day's Sister Mary Theresa are all memorable, unique, and fun-filled characters.

The absolutely fabulous nuns

Audiences are sure to enjoy "When I Find My Baby," "Lady in the Long Black Dress," "I Haven't Got a Prayer," "I Could Be That Guy," and all renditions of "Take Me to Heaven."

Theatre By the Sea's owner and producer Bill Hanney announced the 2017 summer lineup. Beehive, The 60s Musical will be playing from May 31st through June 18th; The Music Man will be playing from June 21st through July 15th; Disney's Beauty and the Beast will be playing July 19th through August 12th; and The Producers, a Mel Brooks Musical will be playing August 16th through September 3rd.

Sister Act will be playing at Theatre By the Sea on Tuesdays through Sundays until September 4th; check online for showtimes. Tickets are $47 to $67 dollars. The Late Night Cabaret will be performed after Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night performances at the adjacent Bistro by the Sea (except for opening weekends). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website (www.theatrebythesea.com), the box office, or call 401-782-8587.


Photography by Steven Richard Photography