Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta High School Theatre Arts presents the musical comedy 'Sister Act' with four performances this week.

VALDOSTA — Outside of a convent, there are few places one could imagine conversations about wimples.

But Valdosta High School Performing Arts Center is one such place.

At least this week while VHS Theatre Arts rehearses for the musical comedy “Sister Act,” scheduled to open Thursday evening.

“Based on the Whoopi Goldberg ‘Sister Act’ movie, the musical follows the same plot as the movie but the stage version has different songs,” said Ricardo Ipina, show director. “All the songs have a funky fusion of late ’70s pop, rock, disco sound. It has witty dialogue and lyrics which drive the plot to a joyful end.”

As for a wimple, it is the cloth headdress still worn by some nuns. It covers the head, neck and sides of the face.

On Monday, most of the students playing nuns were wearing wimples as part of their costumes. Other wimples still needed to be readied for the remaining students.

Ipina instructed the students how each should wear the headdress over the wimple. The headdress should flow back over and behind their shoulders, he said.

Students awaiting wimples had a difficult time keeping their headdresses in place.

But everything else seemed in place and ready to go as the student cast rehearsed the songs and dances. All on the first school day after a week-plus out of class for spring break.

Several of the student cast members rehearsed during the spring break recess, Ipina said.

But spring break or not, the show goes on for four performances this week.

 

THE CAST: Raven Ford, Kaycee Goodwin, Justice Smith, Marvens Cherelus, Alijah Patterson, Kameron Anderson, David Bass, Ja’len Smith, Kseniya Malyshenko, Andrew Deaver, Samantha Kassum, Brooke Meindl, Anna Consolin, Nyanda Walker-Potts, Makalee Cooper, Kathryn Plumb, Jade Conway, Kaielle Sermons, Lenka Skokankova, Kaycee Goodwin, Justice Smith, Lakembria Collins, Jaden Livingston, Taren Bethea, Adrian Dean, Rocio De La Cruz Ramos, Taylor Tolliver, Michael Wardle, Tyshawn Moore.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Ricardo Ipina, director; Michael Thomas, conductor; Shala Belmer, stage manager; Kaylee McCutchen, lighting tech; Caitlin Herring, Terry Rountree, sound techs; Matthew Puckett, Jaden Livingston, Rocio De La Cruz Ramos, Taren Bethea, Adrian Dean, Tyshawn Moore, stage crew.

ORCHESTRA: Johnny Brown, reed 1; Ravyn Marlin, reed 2; Jaylen Cannon, reed 2; Cali Belflower, reed 2; Dylan Peters trumpet 1; Brandace Jones and Isabel Campa, trumpet 2; Andrew Hill, trombone; Drew Parker, bass; Niejel Nelson, drum set; James Nelson, percussion.

SHOWTIME

Valdosta High School Theatre Arts presents “Sister Act.”

When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 12, 13; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14.

Where: VHS Performing Arts Center, 3101 N. Forrest St.

Tickets: $10, general admission.