'Sister Act' Runs This Weekend at St. Joseph's High School

Review and rehearsal photos by Nancy Sasso Janis

The St. Joseph High School Drama Club at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull is preparing to present a heavenly production of “Sister Act.” I was invited to attend one of the dress rehearsals for the school’s spring musical in order to see all of the hard work that the high school performers have put into this production.

“Sister Act” features a book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, with some great music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Of course, the musical is based upon the Touchstone Pictures “Sister Act” that was written by Joseph Howard.

The students are directed by Kathleen Cardillo, marking her 14th year as director of the SJHS Drama Club. She holds an M.A. and B.A. from Fairfield University in Theater and English Literature and expresses her gratitude to the staff and teachers at the high school, the parents of the drama club and “the students who make every day worthwhile.”

The director remembers the first time she saw the original Whoopi Goldberg film in the early 1990s. She felt as if she had received a warm hug from the most unlikely of stories. “How does a mobster’s girlfriend who witnesses a murder and then goes to live in a Catholic nunnery to hide from the mob, while teaching funk music to nuns, make any sense as a plot?”

Cardillo believes the beauty of the story lies in the fact that Deloris is changed by the humility, generosity, and selflessness of the sisters; they too are changed by her passion, vivacity, and energy.” She notes that the Catholic Church is a warm and caring place that embraces and protects. “Enjoy this warm hug and remember that God’s love and the love of your fellow man are all that you really need in this life.”

Dan Satter is the musical director and directs the orchestra that is a mixture of adult musicians and current and former St. Joseph’s students. Satter is a Trumbull-based singer, voice teacher, music director, actor and arranger who studied at WestConn. He plays piano 1 and St. Joe’s senior Ryan Davis plays percussion. Faculty member musicians include David Lasecki (drums/percussion) and Tim Weiss (guitar.)

Erin Loucks designed the choreography for the many dance numbers. Loucks, who is the co-owner of Newtown Stage Company, made sure that the nuns moved as one when they finally gelled as a choir under Deloris’ direction.

The technical director is multi-credited Dr. Dan Lambert, while Lori Conetta serves as assistant director, producer, and costume designer. Conetta is a graduate at SCSU and the University of St. Joseph, and this show marks her 27th time co-directing a high school show. Samantha Gaydos, Claire Vertiz and Sophia Allegro are in charge of costumes, hair and makeup.

The story is set in Philadelphia when Pope Paul VI led the church in the seventies

St. Joseph’s senior MJ Paige embodies the role of Deloris Van Cartier, who becomes Sister Mary Clarence while she is in hiding. Paige sings very well, especially on the title song for which she is “Fabulous Baby.” Sara Barrett, the president of the Drama Club, takes on the role of Mother Superior and sings very well. My favorite was her rendition of “I Haven’t Got a Prayer.” In the fall, she will be attending Fairfield University to study nursing.

Senior Allen Ramirez gets to play the role of Monsignor O’Hara, who gets some great lines. Joe Liquigli, a sophomore who is also a multi-sport athlete, plays Ernie Wiliams and an altar boy.

As the named nuns, there is senior Toni Manna-Scaturchio (Elle Woods in SJ’s “Legally Blonde”) as Sr. Mary Patrick, and junior Ava Pellegrino as Sr. Mary Robert, who sings beautifully her number “The Life I Never Led.”

Sophomore Emily Campbell appears as the rapping Sr. Mary Lazarus, and senior Jillian Guilfoyle as Sr. Mary Theresa. Sophomore Anna Campolettano, whose theater experience began in the sixth grade when she played Glinda in “The Wizard of Oz,” plays Sr. Mary Martin of Tours and dances in the 70 ensemble. Sophomore Ava Bauco is Sr. Mary Stephen, a back up dancer and 70s ensemble member.

Dance Captain Sophia Manzella, a junior, can be seen as a waitress, a back up dancer, a nun in the choir, and a 70s dancer. Freshman Mary Sather is a pool player, and a nun choir and 70s ensemble member in her first musical with SJ. Freshman Donalee Charles does well as a newscaster, and sings in the nun choir and 70 ensemble. Sophomore Meghan Debes plays a cab driver, and is in the nun choir and 70s ensemble. Also in the nun choir and 70 ensemble are junior Gabrielle Cola, sophomore McKenna Statton, sophomore Aryn Kearse, junior Josnely Garcia and freshman Vivienne Maksymiuk, who was part of “Catch Me If You Can” with Center Stage Theater in Shelton.

All of the nun choir numbers are rousing, with my favorite being “Raise Your Voice.”

Dance Captain Cathlyn Pinto, a senior, covers the roles of Tina (Deloris’ backup singer,) a member of the nun choir and a 70s ensemble dancer. Sophomore Madelyn Paterna plays backup singer Michelle, a nun and a 70 dancer.

Junior Chris Formato joins this female-heavy cast in the role of the mob boss Curtis Jackson who is Deloris’ boyfriend. Andrew Alves, a freshman, does well as TJ, Curtis’ nephew. Sophomore Charlotte Record covers the roles of the mobster Joey, as well as a nun, a backup dancer and 70s ensemble member. Junior Sebastian Valencia is the Spanish-speaking Pablo, a mobster in his first production as a member of the cast. The guys do well with “When I Find My Baby” and “Lady in the Long Black Dress.”

Connor Bowron sings well in the role of the cop Eddie Souther, the officer who does his best to hide Deloris the witness. Abigail Venech plays another cop, as well as singing in the nun choir and the 70 ensemble in her fourth production with the Drama Club.

Ms. Guilfoyle is credited with the fine set design and construction that fills the stage and both of its sides. There is a police officer on stage left and a clerical office stage right.

In the printed program, the President of the high school David J. Klein commends the cast and crew for “their sincere interest in and love for the performing arts [which] is a magical thing to witness and provides an authentic high school experience that cultivates special personal relationships and lifetime memories.” I concur.

Come out to see St. Joseph’s production of “Sister Act” on Apr. 25, 26, 27 at 7p.m. in the large gym on their Trumbull campus. Tickets are $10 for students/children/senior citizens and $15 for general admission. Visit sjcadets.org/drama to purchase your tickets.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

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