Simon Webbe joins cast of Sister Act from 31 May

Simon Webbe, from boyband Blue, joins cast of Sister Act from 31 May 2010 at the London Palladium.

Simon Webbe, who will play the role of Curtis Shank, the bad-boy lover of the story's heroine Deloris Van Cartier, says "I knew from the minute the curtain went up and the band kicked in that this was a show I wanted to be in. The audition process was nerve wracking of course, but it just made me more determined to get the part. I've perfromed to thousands and thousands of people with Blue, but to be playing this role, on stage at the London Palladium is going to be something else completely, and I'm honoured to be doing it opposite Patina, Sheila and this brilliant company. I literally can't wait!"

Other new cast opening on Monday 31 May are Jacqueline Clarke as Sister Mary Lazarus and ensemble members Lauren Appleby, Kiara Jay, Rachel John, Aaron Lee Lambert, Ellie Leah, Amanda Minihan, Grant Murphy, Nathaniel Morrison, Ashley Russell, Carrie Sutton..

The show continues to feature Sheila Hancock(Mother Superior, to the end of August 2010); Patina Miller (Deloris), Ian Lavender ( Monsignor Howard), Ako Mitchell (Eddie), Katie Rowley Jones (Sister Mary Robert), Claire Greenway (Sister Mary Patrick), Thomas Goodridge (TJ), Nicolas Colicos (Bones), Ivan De Freitas (Dinero).

The show opened at the London Palladium on 2 June 2009, following previews from 7 May, to generally good notices from the popular press: THE EVENING STANDARD says, "It's a wimple-wibbling, habit-forming triumph." THE DAILY MAIL says, "I hated its artistic laziness, its predictability, its incuriosity, its idea that disco is divine..." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Sister Act proves more enjoyable on stage than it did on film." THE STAGE says, "Highly recommended."

Based on the 1992 film, the stage musical has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner.

It is directed by Peter Schneider, designed by Klara Zieglerova, choreography by Anthony Van Laast, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Mick Potter, Musical Director Nick Skilbeck.

It is produced by Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment.

When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be found - a convent! Disguised as a nun she quickly finds fans amongst her fellow 'sisters' but makes the wrong impression on the convent's strict Mother Superior. When she turns her attention to the convent's off-key choir, helping the nuns to find their true voices and breathing new life into the rundown neighbourhood, her cover could be blown for good. With the gang giving chase, is time running out for Deloris? Or have they underestimated the power of her new found Sisterhood?

Sister Act is currently taking bookings to 1 Jan 2011.