After last weeks rather excited blog entry, I’m sure you’ve all figured out that I adore Sister Act. I love it so much that after writing the blog I spent the rest of the day stealthily enjoying youtube clips of the film and its glorious sequel in the office (shhhhhhh).

My only real gripe with the planned West End adaptation was that nobody could match the brilliance of my beloved Whoopi Goldberg in the role of ‘Delores’. After all, the Whoopster is a tough act to follow. She’s an amazing actress, a spirited singer and she looks better than most folk in those teeny tiny sunglasses she wears all the time. I tried on a pair once, I looked like a porky John Lennon, not a good look.

As excited as I was, and remain, about Sister Act: The Musical, the lack of Whoopi’s involvement saddened me. I accepted she would probably not want to reprise a role from the mid-90s but still, Sister Act needs Whoopi, that’s a fact. As if the theatre gods heard my prayers, something glorious happened this morning, something so wonderful I had to re-evaluate my feelings on divine providence.

Just a few hours ago, on this decidedly miserable Monday morning, I stared into my coffee listlessly for a bit and checked my E-mails. There, laying like a shining beacon of hope between work stuff and adverts for various things I don’t want, was a golden nugget of wonderful news. Whoopi Goldberg is to produce Sister Act: The musical!

Oh joy! Oh rapture! Oh Whoopi! This is the best outcome I could have hoped for, this is the best theatre-based news I have ever received. Some may think I am over-reacting but really, now Whoopi is on board this musical could mend the world. Everything is going to be okay ladies and gents, the recession will end sooner or later, Obama will fix America and Whoopi will bring joy to the hearts of theatregoers.

The show is due to open in June, 2009 at the London Palladium and is currently scheduled to run until February, 2010. That’s almost a year of musical nunny goodness. I personally intend to go see the show enough times to warrant an extension, so fingers crossed it will follow in the footsteps of other successful screen to stage transfers, Rain Man, Dirty Dancing and Billy Elliot.

Casting is not confirmed yet (for those of you after audition information, David Grindrod is your man, though I suspect auditions may be done and dusted) but as soon as I know I shall be sure to post another over-exicted blog all about it. Keep checking in!

Oh and one last thing, Whoopi Goldberg, if you have perhaps googled your own name in a moment of boredom and are reading this, please let me interview you. I have so many questions. Get in touch Ms. Goldberg, you will make a young man very happy indeed.