This spring, members of the Dana Hall and Belmont Hill Theater departments put together Sister Act: A Divine Musical by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner and composed by Alan Menken. The show starred Dana senior Ellease Creer as Deloris Van Cartier, a sassy, vivacious, up-and-coming Philadelphia club singer turned impromptu sister of the Holy Order of the Little Sisters of Our Mother of Perpetual Faith. After witnessing a murder committed by her criminal boyfriend, Curtiss (played by our own Peter Knowlton ‘17), Deloris seeks help from the police, specifically Officer Eddie Souther (Owen Pickette ‘18). Being a witness to the crime, Deloris is hidden away at the “safest place in Philly”, the sister’s convent. Unfortunately, Deloris is faced with only more challenges as the head of the convent, Mother Superior (Meaghan Robichaud), does not condone of her rowdy antics and extravagant music. Nevertheless, Deloris would inspire the sisters of the convent to strive for spiritual freedom and stand strong in the face of adversity.
The musical featured numerous showstoppers from the Belmont Hill boys, including “When I Find My Baby”, a number contrasting hilariously dark lyrics with an upbeat tune and tempo starring Peter Knowlton, “I Could be That Guy”, a ballad of hope and lost opportunity sung by Owen Pickette, and “Lady in the Long Black Dress”, a ridiculous romantic R&B duet performed by comic-relief henchmen, Joey and TJ played (respectively) by Donavan Payne ‘18 and Theo Why ‘18.
However, the show shone brightest when focusing on the bonds of sisterhood, a subject that strongly resonated with both the Dana cast and audience. Crowd favorites included “Fabulous Baby,” “Take Me to Heaven,” “Sunday Morning Fever,” and, of course, the bittersweet melody of “Sister Act” that effectively left numerous Dana students across all grades in tears as they reminisced over their years together as both a community of students and sisters.
Sister Act: A Divine Musical was performed at Bardwell Theater on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th.
