Audition holds for Nigerian version of ‘Sister Act’

Sister Act, a world-acclaimed Broadway musical, will berth in Nigeria later this year and will parade an all-Nigerian cast.

To set the realisation of Sister Act in motion, a three-day audition/workshop will hold in Lagos from Thursday to Saturday.

One of the most successful musical theatre productions of all time, its Nigerian production is the brainchild of Nigerian manufacturer and ‘serial entrepreneur,’ Soji Akinkugbe, in collaboration with top executives of the 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.

Akinkugbe, managing director of Colours in Africa, who grew up in the 70s/80s campuses of the University of Lagos, and Ife when a robust theatre performance tradition ruled, has long nursed a vision to produce international musical hits with Nigerian casts.

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. He has been a regular patron of many theatrical productions at home and abroad, especially in southern parts of Africa.

Through his association with one of the doyennes of South African Theatre, Delia Sainsbury, and her business partner Paul Griffiths, Akinkugbe’s vision is one step closer to being realised in the production of Sister Act scheduled for the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, later in the year.

He says he believes strongly in the talents of Nigerians to realise a world-class production of the play.

Colours in Africa Productions is spearheading the project with support from 2Wice As Nice, a firm headed by the actress and businesswoman, Elvina-Ibru.

Delia and Paul round off the creative team for Sister Act, with award-winning Musical Director Garth Tavares and international Musical Theatre Artist, Genna Galloway.