Tony-nominated Musical ‘Sister Act’ Brings Laughs to Eisenhower Feb. 10

The touring Broadway musical comedy “Sister Act” makes its Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State debut at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

“Sister Act” begins when disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and is put into protective custody in the one place police assume she won’t be found — a convent.

Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior. Using her fabulous “disco-ness” and killer voice to inspire the choir, she breaths new life into the church. In doing so, though, she blows her cover. It’s soon nun-on-the-run time, but she finds salvation in the heavenly power of her new sisterhood.

“Sister Act” garnered five Tony Award nominations, including best musical, in 2011. The show also earned Tony nominations for best original score, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (“Little Shop of Horrors,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Enchanted”) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (“The Little Mermaid”), plus best book of a musical by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (“Cheers”) and Douglas Carter Beane (“Xanadu” and “The Little Dog Laughed”).

Based on the popular film “Sister Act,” the show is produced by Whoopi Goldberg, Troika Entertainment and Sister Act on Tour LLC. The production features music styles ranging from Motown, soul and funk to disco anthems and Barry White-inspired musical comedy.

“To hear people laugh and cheer the way they do at ‘Sister Act’ — a show people think they know but are pleasantly surprised to discover is not what they are expecting — is a magical experience for a producer,” Goldberg says. “Happily, audiences across the country are able to get in on the fun as Deloris and her fabulous sisters spread the love nationwide.”

Elisabeth Vincentelli, of The New York Post, called the show “one of the season’s happiest surprises. Off the chart and packed with goodies, to which we say: Amen!”

Directed on Broadway by four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks (“Guys and Dolls,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Smokey Joe’s Café), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier awards nominee Anthony Van Laast (“Mamma Mia” and “Bombay Dreams”).

Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra charge to ticket holders.

Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist, is offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity, so seating is available on a first-arrival basis.

You can buy tickets online at www.cpa.psu.edu or by phone at (814) 863-0255 or (800) ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (weekdays ,8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays ,10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (weekdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Bryce Jordan Center (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).