Oklahoma City University opens its 66th season of opera and music theater with a 33-member cast presenting the Tony Award-nominated musical comedy “Sister Act” in three performances, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the hit film starring Whoopi Goldberg, “Sister Act” features music by Alan Menken (“Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (“Tangled,” “School of Rock”).
Performances will be held 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee, in Kirkpatrick Auditorium, NW 25th Street and Blackwelder Avenue. Tickets ($14-28) from 405-208-5227 or okcu.edu/tickets.
A free curtain talk with David Herendeen, now in his 21st year as director of OCU’s Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company, will be held 45 minutes before each performance.
“Our students are astounding in this,” said Herendeen, who earlier this year was awarded a record-setting three production awards from the National Opera Association. “We visit a variety of musical genres from disco to rap to pop. There are references to musical theater styles from Stephen Sondheim to Burt Bacharach, and our staging and choreography is inspired by classic dance moves ranging from Smokey Robinson and The Miracles to “Saturday Night Fever.” It’s an immersion into pop culture and a real treat for anybody who adores those classic sounds and classic moves.”
Matthew Mailman directs the show’s 13-piece rock band; choreography is by Shari Hayden. For more information on Oklahoma City University’s Bass School of Music, visit okcu.edu/music.
