Starting October 25 and concluding October 26, North Central’s Theater Department presented the musical “Sister Act.”
The show, based on the 1992 film of the same name, tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, who was a bold nightclub singer who witnessed a murder committed by her boyfriend Curtis and goes into hiding in a covenant surrounded by nuns.
Senior Seraphim Holmes portrayed Deloris Van Cartier and brought her passion to the stage.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” Holmes said. “Theater is so fun to me, and the process of being with different directors for these last four years has helped me understand that different people have different ways of doing things.”
The “Sister Act” production brought together students from various theater classes and grade levels. The cast and crew dedicated themselves to months of hard work and rehearsals, creating a performance filled with beautiful songs and dancing.
“The pride I feel after a good show is something that few get to experience,” Holmes said, reflecting on the show’s successful run.
For many in the cast, “Sister Act” was one of the most challenging productions.
“Sister Act was the hardest show I’ve ever done,” senior Elijah Britt said, who played Curtis. “Not only because we were scrambling to put the show together but also because everyone saw the seniors as role models and people to look up to.”
The pressure was high for the senior cast members, who felt the weight of expectations from younger students and the audience. After putting on the only Indiana high school performance of “Frozen” last year, they were well aware of the audience’s expectations.
“It was stressful being put into the shoes that seniors filled before us, but we overcame it,” Britt said, “The show turned out amazing! With a cast as huge as Sister Act, getting everyone to the level they needed to be difficult, but we pulled it off like always!”
The production was led by a new artistic and musical director, Edric Mitchell. Mitchell had similar shows to fill after Mike Raunick, who had been with NC Theater since 2013, left.
The new edition made it a little more challenging, but everyone involved helped make it a success.
“Honestly, getting ready for this musical was very hectic, only because we had a new artistic director and musical director,” senior Bruce Lismon said.
Lismon played Eddie Souther, a police officer who clashed with Curtis over the law and Deloris, whom he had a crush on since high school.
“It felt like we were all kind of thrown into this whole experience, and the rehearsal process showed that,” Lismon said.
Despite their challenges, the cast and crew were determined to make the production a show to remember.
“Fortunately, we had an amazing group of seniors and leads, and we were able to do our part by memorizing all of our material, which took a load off the directors’ shoulders,” Lismon said.
The dedication of every member of the cast, production crew, Pit Orchestra member and director was shown in the performance and the growth of everyone involved.
“North Central Theater will always hold a special place in my heart,” Britt said. “Ever since freshman year, I’ve been getting better and better.”
The audience commended the show’s success with standing ovations at each performance.
“I enjoyed the final product of the shows despite the little mistakes made,” Lismon added.
North Central’s Theater Department once again showcased the talents and teamwork of its students. With its blend of humor, music, and bright displays, “Sister Act” was a highlight of the theater season that the cast and crew will never forget.
