Blessed News: 'Sister Act' Is the Next Smash-Hit Broadway Musical That's Coming to Brisbane

The year was 1992. Aladdin, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Batman Returns, Lethal Weapon 3 and A Few Good Men ruled the international box office. Slipping into a habit and sliding in next on the list, becoming the sixth-biggest hit of the year: Sister Act. The film about singing nuns spawned a sequel, with word of a third movie floating around for years since — and, as everything from Mean Girls and Muriel's Wedding to Groundhog Day and Beetlejuice has also done, it inspired a stage musical as well.

The theatre take on the Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)-led film franchise debuted in California in 2006, then hit West End in 2009 and Broadway in 2011. Now, it's finally Australia's turn — including in Brisbane. Sister Act will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney's Capitol Theatre to see out winter, then make a date with the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from November, and has then locked in a stint at QPAC in the River City after that from February 2025.

Sister Act UK & Ireland Touring Production 2023-24, Mark Senior.

The first movie was filled with songs like 'Rescue Me', 'My Guy' and 'I Will Follow Him', ensuring that its soundtrack was a smash, too, so the film was always primed to tread the boards. The Sister Act musical features original tunes, with Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid) doing the honours. Among the show's rewards so far: five Tony Award nominations and six Olivier Award nominations.

"It is a joyous thing to produce a musical that has never been seen in Australia before and I feel very blessed to be bringing Sister Act to our shores," said producer John Frost when he initially announced the Sydney and Melbourne seasons.

"It's a brilliant, must-see show that will lift audiences up and I know Australians will get into the habit of seeing again and again."

Benny Capp

Story-wise, the production follows Deloris, who witnesses a murder and has to go into protective custody. Her hideout: a convent. It's there that the nightclub singer finds a struggling choir, which she begins to help.

For the Australian run, Casey Donovan (& Juliet) is leading the cast, while Genevieve Lemon (Billy Elliot) co-stars as Mother Superior.

The Brisbane season doesn't yet have exact dates, but you can sign up for the ticket waitlist online.

Sister Act Australian Tour 2024:

From Tuesday, August 3, 2024 — Capitol Theatre, Sydney
From Sunday, November 3, 2024 — Regent Theatre, Melbourne
From February 2025 — QPAC, Brisbane

Sister Act will hit the stage in Brisbane from February 2025. For further information and tickets, head to the show's website.

Top image: Sister Act UK & Ireland Touring Production 2023-24, Mark Senior.