Hickory – Sister Act, a musical based on the hit film starring Whoopi Goldberg, which opens September 1st at the Hickory Community Theatre, is a “fish out of water” comedy where a lounge singer who witnessed a murder is placed under protective custody in a convent of good-hearted, but naïve nuns. Sparks fly when the lounge singer, Deloris Van Cartier, takes charge of the convent choir, which infuriates the Mother Superior when Deloris infuses soul and rock and roll into the arrangement.
Like the characters they play, the actors cast in these major roles also come from very different backgrounds, one is a Presbyterian minister and the other is an U.S. Army veteran.
Cornelia “CC” Cooper, who plays Deloris, is a Statesville native and a student at Catawba Valley Community College who served three years in the Army before starting her education. She is currently working as a sales clerk for Sheetz until she finishes school. Sister Act is her second time on stage, her first ever role was Joanne in Rent this past spring. When asked why she chose to audition for another role so soon she replied, “the people [at HCT] are welcoming and amazing and I wanted to try something else after Rent.” The role also suits her because she loves music, helping others and making people smile.
Edyth Potter Pruitt, who plays Mother Superior, is the minister at Fairview Presbyterian Church in Lenoir. A native of Camden, SC, she relocated to North Carolina 21 years ago, by way of Richmond, VA, to become the minister of Waldensian Presbyterian in Valdese. She resides in Drexel with her husband Mike and daughter Cassidy. She has had numerous roles at theatres throughout the area, including HCT where she’s played two iconic parts, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast in 2005 and Madame Thenardier in Les Miserablés in 2014. She said she chose to come out for this role because, “I love the message that God is so much bigger than our preconceived notions.”
Performances of Sister Act, The Musical are September 1st through 18th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Thursdays (Sept 7 & 14) at 7:30pm, and Sundays (Sept 10 & 17) at 2:30pm. Tickets are $20. There is a $2 senior discount for Fri/Sat/Sun performances. Tickets for students and youth 18 & under are $10. On Thursday night all adults are $16 and youth/students are $10. Tickets go on sale on August 10th.
The Hickory Community Theatre is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. The 2017-2018 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World.
Photo: Cornelia “CC Cooper (left,) is Deloris Van Cartier and Edyth Pruitt is Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical, on stage September 1st through the 17th at the Hickory Community Theatre. Call 828-327-3855 for more information. Photo by Lauren Albers.
Sister Act The Musical opens September 1st
