Gather ’round, sisters and brothers. We feel a miracle brewing as the Arkansas Repertory Theatre prepares to bring “Sister Act” to the regional stage.
The team that wrote “Little Mermaid” and “Little Shop of Horrors” created a fresh take on the 1990s classic movie, and we got to go behind the scenes in this world of church pews, habits and pizazz. The story follows lounge singer Deloris who suddenly finds herself in a local convent as part of a witness protection program.
Here’s our conversation with director Cliff Baker; Soara-Joye Ross, who plays Deloris Van Cartier; Patrick Clanton, who plays Eddie Souther; Cornelius Davis, who plays TJ, and who you might recognize as Sebastian from The Rep’s “Little Mermaid” in 2015; and Tracy Bidleman, who plays Mother Superior.
Opening night for “Sister Act” is Friday, Jan. 27. For tickets and more information, click here.
The character bios in this show have some great descriptors. Deloris is “loud-mouthed and sassy,” Eddie “sweats profusely,” “TJ is “constantly in a state of ignorant bliss” and Mother Superior is “sarcastic and a bit stiff.” So what are your favorite traits of your own characters?
Soara-Joye Ross: I just love Deloris. I think everyday I’m sort of falling in love with who she is, which in turn is falling in love with me because we put so much of ourselves into these people. She’s so audacious. She speaks what she feels, and sometimes she shouldn’t say everything she does, but I love her passion and her drive and her aspiration of becoming better. She knows she has this joie de vivre when she’s working with people, and it’s great to know your own positive traits, and she does. She’s not afraid of standing up or showing love or being judged, and I just love that about her.
Patrick Clanton: Eddie has such a big heart and he really tries to see the best in everyone, even though a lot of people don’t necessarily respect him in the way that he hopes. His whole life, he’s been the person who’s picked on, awkward, nerdy, and now it’s manifested itself in just being nervous all the time, and he sweats when he gets nervous. He’s just trying so hard, and you see it during the show where he tries to impress Deloris and it doesn’t work until he later gets the courage that he’s been looking for. It’s just been fun to play a character that goes through — like all of these characters — a transformation by the end of the show, leaving their past lives behind and filling that space with more love and the person they’ve always wanted to be — sometimes the person they didn’t know they wanted to be.
Tracy Bidleman: I love that Mother Superior’s sarcastic because I grew up with nuns. I went to parochial school for eight years, so I prayed, I did confession, I have a personal relationship with understanding nun. Sometimes people want to play her stiff and hard all the time, but I’m finding balance in the fact that she’s a human being. She has a position of administration, but she’s a human being with feelings and struggles. What I’m excited for in my own personal journey is to find those moments of humanity where she either loses it or is scared, is real … And I love the sarcasm, that she’s dry and funny, but I do love getting to be part of Mother Superior’s move toward trust. She struggles with her faith the entire show. She says, “God’s got me,” but bologna. That human is struggling. I’m excited to find those pieces.
Cornelius Davis: She touched on something really important that Cliff is doing with this show, and that’s bringing a touch of humanity to all of the characters. With musical comedy, it’s easy to go for schtick, but here there’s really a sense of grounding for all the characters. That’s important with TJ because there’s this kid who’s so happy and joyful, which is so great to play. But what’s interesting is finding that way to ground him, to make that “ignorant bliss” come from a real place. I’m trying to find what’s behind that veneer, behind that choice. Playing with Deloris and Curtis, I see maybe this is that kid who wants to be a tough thug, but doesn’t know how. I think he sees Deloris being herself no matter what and finds encouragement in that. People leave this show feeling great about themselves, and if my character can bring a touch of that, I think I’m doing my job well.
Cliff, as director, what elements of this show make you most excited to bring it to The Rep stage?
Cliff Baker: Number one for me is that you look around the world and at the political climate we’ve moved through and the one we’re moving into — the disfunction, the hatred, the darkness that surrounded all of that — this comes at the perfect time. This show is about how goodness wins. Loving and caring for other people will take you somewhere else, and in this day and age, we really need that joy, an injection of joy…
I saw this show years ago when it was just in previews in London, and I walked out a different person. That’s exactly what theater is for. Whether it’s exploring the dark side or exploring the joy, theater takes you into a place that is very, very hard to get to by yourself. I entered with that mindset, but what excited me even more was the people we’ve brought to it and the happiness they bring with them.
On the topic of resonating themes, particularly in our current cultural climate, what do you think are the things that will really stick with audiences when they leave the theater?
PC: One thing is that you’re seeing this relationship grow between two women who couldn’t be more different. It’s very powerful in that it teaches that you can see good in those who are different than you if you just try. Nothing is black or white, no person is just one thing or the other. It’s wonderful to see these two characters work it out.
The other interesting thing is that Deloris’s transformation isn’t necessarily a religious one … but there’s a realization that maybe she can find God in church, but maybe it’s just through the goodness of humanity instead.
SJR: The message is that God equals love. Even though she’s not praying to God, she definitely believes in the power of love and sharing its joy, which is ultimately God.
PC: The ending song says it all. It’s called “Spread the Love.” We sing these lines calling people to join hands, find common ground, love each other and spread it around. That’s the message, and I love it.
CD: Another important thing that got me both when I was reading it and researching it was the theme of being stronger together than we could ever be apart. Deloris comes from a completely different background into a nunnery, and they find common interests, a common bond, so that when adversity comes, they realize they’re not alone, they’re strong. Finding that strength is so amazing. I think we need that in this world. There’s so much division, and I hope this show can inspire, can portray that when we come together, there’s so many greater things we can achieve.
SJR: It’s about accepting differences and not trying to make somebody into anything other than what they are. Sharing those differences together is absolutely so, so powerful.
CB: I also love the element from the very beginning that the writers have given the power to the women. You don’t see that very often.
So when it comes to the backbone of the show, what can we expect in terms of how it measures up to the movie?
CB: Well, if you’re a fan of the movie, you’re going to be ecstatic because it is one of the best musical adaptations of an existing film script that I have ever seen. Fans will adore the musical, but people who have never seen it will have a night they’ll be talking about for weeks. It’ll make you feel good, and that’s something you want to share with people. There’s a joyous resolution, and my God, I think the world is begging for one of those right about now.
PC: I was on the second national tour for about a year, and the one thing I heard most often is that a lot of people actually enjoyed the show more than the movie. I think it’s a lot funnier and smarter. The movie is brilliant, but Whoopi makes it. Here, the writers set it in the 1970s instead of the ’90s and wrote an entirely original score. You won’t hear “I Will Follow Him,” but from the first song, it is so good. It is such a crowd-pleasing show.
SJR: Another difference is that Deloris is much more aspiring. In the beginning of the movie, she’s super complacent. In this show, she’s trying to get that next part. She starts off with a deep want.
TB: And Mother Superior definitely has a more crucial role in the play. There’s still a bit of a journey in the movie, but it’s much more developed in the show. And I’ll also add that I love that this show says that God is love, not division. There are a few moments where she discovers Deloris is reading a Bible and is invested, and Mother Superior struggles with her faith and what her role is there. It makes the ending more impactful by making that statement.
SJR: Deloris doesn’t set out disrespecting God, necessarily, but she’s just never given it a second thought until she finds this respect for the sisters, and in turn a respect for a higher power. It’s a beautiful transformation for everybody.
CB: It’s crazy to think that I saw this over a decade ago, and that this Disney team included one of the nuns talking about how a person who follows Allah celebrates God after one of their services. These disparate people are brought together not to say “I believe in God,” but to celebrate the joy in that whoever your God is is in the business of hope and charity and all the things that are similar in every religion I know.
Moment of truth: What’s your favorite song?
PC: “Spread the Love” is probably my favorite song to sing, but I think “Raise Your Voice” is just the showstopping song in the play. On tour, if I ever had a bad day, I would just stand in the wings and watch this number and instantly feel better. It’s such a thrilling number.
SJR: I agree. After I learned the score, I think “Raise Your Voice” is definitely my overall favorite to sing, to be a part of, to relay the message, all those things.
CD: I would have to say my favorite is “Fabulous Baby” because it’s the ultimate empowering number. It’s that “I want” moment of the show and they really nail it with this song. Deloris is saying all the things she is, that she’s not scared to be what she is, that she knows what she wants and she’s going after it. That character is something anyone in the audience can look up to: a really strong, empowering female who is determined to make her dreams come true. Who doesn’t need more of that?
SJR: For her, this song is when she’s been in this long-term, abusive relationship and she starts to lose her light. This is the moment where she realizes she’s worth more than what she’s been accepting.
CB: It’s hard for me to choose, but the one that haunts me is Mother Superior’s song “Here Within These Walls.” Usually most songs speaks to one of two themes: surviving or thriving. This song speaks to both, and that’s a rare find. It’s a complete opening of the heart, and yet you see the bars built around her own life.
TB: Mine’s “Sister Act.” I’m a ballad person anyway, but this song wraps up how far she’s come. She thought she wanted this, but this is where she’s found her heart. She discovers what matters and what drives all of that, and that moment is incredible.
CD: All I can think is that I’m so lucky to be back here. After doing “Mermaid” and loving every second of it because you don’t get tired of that music, I’m in these rehearsals now and I already know I’m going to love hearing and singing this music every night. And I’m so excited for the audience to see that, too. It’s great music, a great story, lots of laughs and lots of love.