Theater Review: 'Sister Act' at Center Stage Company

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis

The Youth CONNection at Center Stage Theatre in Shelton has put together a perfectly divine production of “Sister Act.” Co-director Rob Esposito worked with co-director/choreographer Katie Sedlock and music director John Morrow bring this musical based on the classic film to vibrant life.

The co-directors continue with the long and legendary history of Center Stage’s Summer intensive program that includes performers ages 14 - 23. The duo notes that “this is a show about family, about JOY, and about being your true self and sharing your light with the world.” “Espo” is what the theater students at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School in New Haven call Esposito and Sedlock serves as the director/choreographer of the Shelton High School Drama Club.

Every member of this “dream” cast shares their light with the world during this polished performance.

“Theater is a team sport.” – Carla Supersano Sullivan, Managing Director

The “Fabulous Baby” Deloris Van Cartier is brought to glorious life by Milki Ejara, a rising senior at Amity Regional High School, where she last played Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid.” This young woman has the perfect singing voice for her solos and an abundance of stage presence. Mia Bekech is perfectly cast in the role of Mother Superior in her first Center Stage production, displaying a maturity required of the role. Bekech is a rising senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Kate McPadden plays beautifully the young postulate, Sister Mary Robert, who finds her voice during the show. Isabella Mercado, a rising junior at UConn, is a delight in the role of the ever-bubbly Sister Mary Patrick in her Center Stage debut.

What a treat to see the talented Amity High grad Grace Kennedy in the role of nun/rap singer Sister Mary Lazarus. Kennedy played Janis in “Mean Girls” and Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast” while at Amity and teaches two and three year olds at Trinity Community Preschool. Sacred Heart University senior Nolan Young (Roger in “A New Brain”) tackles the role of Deloris’ married lover Curtis, who gives her his wife’s blue fur jacket as a Christmas gift.

WestConn BFA Acting major Larry Williams plays the police officer in charge of hiding his former classmate “Doris,” (“Sweaty”) Eddie. Williams recently performed in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” at the university. Ian Rosenay charms the audience in the role of Monsignor O’Hara and his brother Harry plays one of Curtis’ “goons,” Joey. The brothers are Amity graduates and rising juniors at Quinnipiac. It was an effective choice to have the guys give chase in the aisles of the theater.

Marquis Evan plays Curtis’ nephew TJ and Jose (JR) Resto often speaks in Spanish to round out the trio of goons in the role of Pablo. Luke Wikstrom, who will study music composition and computer science at St. Michael’s College in the fall, plays the victim Ernie and others.

Melissa Blanco, a Trumbull Youth Association alum who recently earned her Masters in Music Education from SHU, is Sr. Mary Martin-of-Tours and Wheaton College sophomore Maddie Gugliotti is Sr. Mary Theresa. Megan Loiacano, a junior at SHU where she played Alysha in “American Idiot,” and Nancy D in “A New Brain,” doubles as backup singer Michelle and Sr. Mary Michelle and Ayira Daley,in her Center Stage debut, plays both Tina and Sr. Mary Tina.

A long list of dedicated young performers appear, some making their theatrical debut, as named nuns and ensemble nuns and others. Named nuns include Zoe Benton, Hofstra rising sophomore Sophia Perrone, Caitlin Curtin, WCSU sophomore Daisy Kusnitz, Shelton HS senior Kennedy Renz, dancer Juliana Assis, and St. Joseph HS rising senior Emily Campbell.

The ensemble features St. Joseph HS sophomore Aria Chiaramonte, Fairchild Wheeler Magnet HS graduate Lucia Fede, Oxford HS freshman Guiliana Battaglia, Pria Cerrone, Caylie Ruotolo, Elin Hallgren, Sarah Badgasarin, Oxford HS graduate Issac Motes, Xavier Chapman and Michael Pimorac.

Sedlock gathered the habits for a convent-full of nuns as well as the sparkly ensembles for Deloris before she enters the convent to hide out. I would guess that the special thanks to Seven Angels refers to some of the costumes for the nuns. Melanie Byron designed the wonderful raised bridge at the rear of the stage that allowed the scene-setting projections to shine through. Scott Sheldon was the master carpenter. Justin Zenchuk supplied the always lovely lighting design.

The generous Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation supports this program and gave a shout out to eight members of their “foundation family” in their program ad.

Performances continue through July 27 - purchase your tickets at

https://ci.ovationtix.com/29405/production/1226835