Sister AThe cast of Jubilee Theatre’s production of ‘Sister Act’ which is staged for one weekend at Bass Performance Hall. (Photo by Tia Kirby)ct
Actors find a little bit of Pride in their work on Sister Act by Jubilee Theater
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
rich@dallasvoice.com
Jubilee Theater will close its season with a big show in a big house next week. The company presents its annual musical production of Sister Act on the Bass Hall stage from Aug. 15-18.
Based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, the story of Sister Act follows Deloris Van Cartier from her lounge singing days to hiding out in a convent after she witnesses a murder and goes into witness protection.
Directed by Khira Haley, the show doesn’t run deep with any bigger message. For the most part, it’s pure entertainment. But a couple of cast members have found some added layers to their experience.
Actor Johnny Brown makes his Jubilee debut in ‘Sister Act.’ (Courtesy photo)
This is all a first for opera singer Johnny Brown who plays Eddie, a police detective and potential love interest to Deloris.
“It’s been a really exciting and challenging experience,” said Brown. “This is my first musical. I’m making my debut with Jubilee at Bass Hall!
“It’s been a lot of fun to transition from the classical world that I’ve been in for the last couple of years into something that has just about everything. I mean, you have disco, pop music, a little bit of hip-hop – and dancing nuns.”
Kris Black Jasper plays the key role of Mother Superior, who has to fit the lively Deloris (played by Ayanna Edwards) into the quite muted convent as Sister Mary Clarence.
“This has been challenging, but in all good ways,” Jasper said. “I think we just want our A-game on this show. The role fits well too, because she’s very protective of the sisters, and I’m that way myself. I’m often Mama Kris to my casts.
“But also, she does a lot of self-reflection, something I think I do more of now, thanks to her.”
As both work on the play, they both have found a resonating message — especially as it may relate to the LGBTQ community.
Brown, who identifies as a cisgender gay male, noted that he’s a Black man playing a cop, which has prompted him to ponder what his own lived experiences mean now with some of his takeaways.
“You take a show written by a Jewish-American person about Black people set in a traditional white church, and there’s magic in those nuances. What does it look like for people of color to occupy that space on this stage? What does it look like for queer people like me to be in those spaces too?” he questioned.
Kris Black Jasper plays Mother Superior in Jubilee Theater’s ‘Sister Act.’ (Courtesy photo)
“That’s what I love about this company making this magic happen and these diverse faces and backgrounds coming together.”
People are responding, too. Brown mentioned that ticket sales have been strong well before the show’s opening. For him, art is the great equalizer.
“Having people of color, different gender identities and orientations, positions of power — art is that space where we can all exist together,” Brown said. “Then, this is a script where we can do something different in what our worlds look like. What a great way to do that.”
Of course, with Sister Act, faith easily enters the conversation. Jasper says that her own spirituality has kept her both sane and grounded, but also embracing as well.
She said there was a time she wasn’t sure how to function around her queer theater friends: “I was always afraid, because I didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing that might hurt anyone’s feelings or come off the wrong way,” she said.
“But my faith really showed me that we’re all human, and I don’t have to be careful about stepping on toes, because there’s just a natural and mutual respect for people. And I can have my friends genuinely, and we’re both equals and loving and that’s what I walk away with from here,” she said,
“Deloris is an outsider,” Jasper continued, “and as Mother Superior, I take her in, and we both learn from each other and respect what the other has to offer. We’re all human first, and I love that.”
Sister Mary Clarence apparently works her magic on and off the stage.
For tickets, visit BassHall.com.