The original American Sister Act cast

Funsho Arogundade

Sister Act, one of the most successful musical theatre productions of all time, is set to berth in Nigeria later this year.

The Nigerian production of the world-acclaimed musical scheduled to hold at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, is the brainchild of Dr. Soji Akinkugbe, managing director, Colours in Africa Productions in collaboration with 2wice As Nice Productions, a firm headed by Elvina Ibru, actress and entrepreneurial daughter of business mogul, Oloorogun Michael Ibru.

It will parade an all-Nigerian cast.

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.

Elvina Ibru

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

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 Ife 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 owned 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 25 to 27 February.

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.