I cannot believe that, after 30 weeks of rehearsals, the curtain finally came down on our last performance of Sister Act the Musical, but what an amazing week it was.
Show week started at 8am on the Saturday morning, when the biggest truck we had ever seen arrived from UK Productions. Just under 12 hours later, our team of 12 ‘willing volunteers’, ably assisted by Tom from UK Productions, had the Queen of Angels church built in the Performing Arts Centre. In the meantime, Melissa, Angela and the wardrobe team were making sure that all the cast had a final fitting for all their costumes. On Sunday, Graham, Simon and Kevin Taylor designed the lighting plot. Will set up the sound and the 11-piece orchestra attended a band call with the Principals. On Monday morning, the ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ was added. Our 4.5-metre illuminated Sister Act sign, which was lovingly made by Paul and Will over many weeks, was hung in the foyer. This would not have been out of place in any West End Theatre.
This year, we had two dress rehearsals due to the complexity of the scenery and costumes, which, on reflection, was a great decision. This also allowed Mark Heath and his daughters, Bethany and Rebecca, who are our official group photographers, the opportunity to take some brilliant photographs and video. You can view high-resolution photos, and some video excepts from the show, by clicking on the following link:
Photos and videos from Sister Act the Musical
View Abi Mann performing “Sister Act” at our dress rehearsal by clicking on the play button icon below.
As the show had sold out approximately one month before, excitement levels were high for opening night, and what an opening night it was! The cast, crew and orchestra all combined to deliver a truly West End experience, above and beyond expectations. This performance level was maintained all week and I have been overwhelmed with texts, phone calls and emails from audience members who were ‘blown away’ by the show.
It would be unfair to single out any individual performances, as every member of the cast performed at an incredibly high level. This made us feel both emotional and proud.
The four performances went so quickly and the final curtain call on Saturday evening came far too soon. With a tinge of sadness, the scenery came down, to be packed back into the truck, ready for its delivery to Southampton. The Performing Arts Centre was returned to its original state and it was as if we had never been there when we left at 2.15am on Sunday morning.
As the curtain falls on one show, work starts on the next, and already we are starting to plan ahead for our 15th Anniversary show – Grease the Musical – which will be on stage from the 10th to the 13th April 2019.
I hope that we can attract a cast of 70+ and information about the pre-show workshops, which take place on the 19th and 26th June 2018, will be found on this website shortly.
Other pages you may be interested in:
“This is my first year in a while without Spotlight and I can honestly say that it feels like a piece of me is missing without it! I took part in six Spotlight shows , starting in 2012 with We Will Rock You, and finishing in 2017 with Legally Blonde.
“I began dancing at the age of three, starting with ballet like most young girls, but then my interest spread to all styles of dance. At the age of seven, I joined a local theatre group performing musical shows once a year. Unfortunately, they closed when I was about 12. Luckily, a friend introduced me to Spotlight!
“Like many other Spotlight members, I went to my first rehearsal in 2012 with a friend. By the end of the evening, I was a member of the Spotlight family and, as the saying goes, “the rest is history”. We Will Rock You, Some Like It Hot, Les Misérables, Singin’ In The Rain and Disco Inferno soon followed and I loved every show.
“I started Spotlight when I was 13 and had the great pleasure of being part of A Whitechapel Tale, Bugsy Malone, Disco Inferno and 42nd Street. I have particularly fond memories of playing Jack in Disco Inferno, alongside some of my best friends, and I especially enjoyed wearing some amazing costumes, including a great of pair silver platform shoes!
“I was in the cast of Bugsy Malone in 2006 and Disco Inferno in 2007. Spotlight was a really fantastic experience. Outside the odd school play, Spotlight was the first amateur theatre I ever took part in. It was great fun to get out of my comfort zone and do something completely different. The biggest things I got from my time with Spotlight were great friends, loads of laughs and the unparalleled rush you get from performing on stage.
“During my time in Spotlight, I was in the chorus of two shows, We Will Rock You in 2011 and Les Misérables in 2013, as well as taking part in a few other Spotlight concerts. I really enjoyed my time at Spotlight. I made really good friends and had loads of fun every week. Performing in the shows themselves was especially exciting. Being so young and having the opportunity to be part of something so professional looking was incredible!