SISTER ACT

Additional Book Material

DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE

Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture “Sister Act” written by Joseph Howard

Music By

ALAN MENKEN

Lyrics By

ALAN MENKEN

Book By

CHERRI STEINKELLNER

& BILL STEINKELLNER

ALBANY HIGH THEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS

MARCH 9 – MARCH 12 | 2023

DIRECTED BY BRIAN AVERY

NOTE

FROM THE

DIRECTOR

Welcome to our production of Sister Act!

We are excited to present this as the rst

musical in our brand-new auditorium!

I want to thank everyone involved for their

hard work and commitment in helping

to re-establish this wonderful program.

Before coming here, I heard many stories

of the legacy of the Theatre Department

and I wish to continue that tradition of

excellence.

This show is the rst step in that direction,

and I hope you come along on this journey

with us for many years.

Brian Avery

Theatre Director

Albany High School

SISTER ACT

Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater

International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also

supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

Orchestrations By: Doug Besterman

Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements by Michael Kosarin

Dance Music Arrangements by: Mark Hummel

Produced on Broadway by Whoopi Goldberg & Stage Entertainment

in association with The Shubert Organization and Disney Theatrical

Productions

Originally Production Developed in Association with Peter Schneider &

Michael Reno and Produced by Stage Entertainment

MUSICAL

NUMBERS

Act 1

1. Take Me To Heaven (Nightclub)

2. Fabulous, Baby!

3. Here Within These Walls

4. It’s Good To Be A Nun

5. When I Find My Baby

6. I Could Be That Guy

7. Here Within These Walls- (Reprise)

8. Raise Your Voice

9. Take Me To Heaven

Act 2

1. Entr’acte

2. Sunday Morning Fever

3. Lady In The Long Black Dress

4. I Haven’t Got A Prayer

5. Bless Our Show

6. The Life I Never Led

7. Fabulous, Baby! (Reprise)

8. Sister Act

9. When I Find My Baby- (Reprise)

10. The Life I Never Led- (Reprise)

11. Sister Act- (Reprise)

12. Spread The Love Around

13. Bows

STAFF &

CREW

Director | Brian Avery

Producer | Amanda Weklar

Musical Director | Brendan Hoffman

Choreography | Omonike Akinyemi/Brian Avery

Technical Director | Jahmere Holland

Orchestra Director | John Halvorsen

Rehearsal/Pit Piano | William DeSantis

Stage Manager | Katherine Myers

Light Designer | Jahmere Holland

Sound Designer | Kyle Albano

Costume Design | Kim DeHart/Brian Avery

Set Design | Brian Avery

Hair/Make-Up | LaQuita Love

House Manager | Cheyene Adams

STUDENT

CREW

Millie Casanova

Amy Sepulveda

Nick Caesar

Isabella Waldman

Meskerem Kelle

Karly Grant

Sonja De Piro

Taliyah Miller

Kaddisha Findley

Abigail Fowler

Rebecca Pender

Kaylan Watts

Kierra Okine

Sebastian McHenry

ORCHESTRA

Anya Miller | Violin

Tessa Weklar | Flute

Hannah Goldstein | Flute

Rachel Andrews | Flute

Myles Bearden | Oboe

Simon Carey | Clarinet

Owen Sears | Saxophone

Conor Costello | Trumpet

Andrew Eck | Trumpet

Masami Surisawa | Trombone

Julio Davis | Tuba

Kaleighanne Athens | Percussion

Isabelle Scandurra | Percussion

Giles “Grant” Hershey | Drums

Macaylah Irving | Viola

Kathleen Gazda | Flute

Renee Geraghty | Flute

Juliana Blake | Flute

Zane Sears | Clarinet

Imre Zak | Clarinet

Nora Gordon | Saxophone

Gabriel Cruz | Trumpet

Luyanda Pieterse | Trombone

Anna Baldes | Trombone

Andre Speller | Tuba

Isaac Allen | Keyboard

Benjamin Quist | Guitar

Trent Minarich | Bass

CAST

Deloris Van Cartier………………....…………..Cionna Carmon

Mother Superior…………….………………...Ciara Wierschem

Sister Mary Robert……………..............……………...Iris Whalen

Sister Mary Patrick….....………………..Annabelle Clemens

Sister Mary Lazarus…………………........……....Camden Allen

Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours………….....……..Maia Ballato

Sister Mary Theresa……………….....………....Victoria Suarez

Monsignor O’Hara……………......……………...William O’Neill

Curtis……………….........…………………………..Shaquin Robinson

Eddie…………………….…......................…………………...Ray Blanken

TJ……………………………......................…………….Julian Shepersky

Joey…………………………….……...........................………....Timo Berry

Pablo………………………….….....……………...Reyanna Rodriguez

Michelle……………………...............………….………..Lucy Edvalson

Tina……………………………………..................……….Donovan Jones

Ernie………………………………....................…………...Declan Chirlin

Nuns……………………………................……………...Autumn Citrine

Sienna Stewart

Opal Morales

Nina Scandurra

Cop………………………......................…………………….Rowan Hoehn

Waitress……………………........…………………Mel’Lani Campbell

Ensemble………………………………...........……Christina Pringle

Ian Roach

Jayden Lozada

Paloma Ahmed

Preeya Ahmed

Nikkya Hylton

Josey Hunt

Desiree Watkins

John Willis

CAST &

CREW BIOS

Paloma Ahmed (Ensemble) is grateful

to be part of Sister Act.

Preeya Ahmed (Ensemble) is grateful to work

with the rest of the cast of Sister Act and be a

part of this theater family. Thank you to everyone

involved in the making of Sister Act.

Kyle Albano (Sound Design) is a musician and audio

engineer in Albany, NY. Albano has been a music

teacher in the Albany City School District since

2017. He started the Music Technology Pathway at

Albany High School where he teaches the recording

arts and audio engineering. Albano owns his own

professional audio company where he sound

engineer’s local musicals. This company, Underoor

MUSIC, also offers himself as an event DJ.

Camden Allen (Sister Mary Lazarus) is very excited

to be a part of the AHS musical production! Her

previous productions include Musicville, Honk Jr, and

Boxes. She would like to welcome everyone to the

show and hopes you enjoy it as much as she does!

Omonike Akinyemi (Choreography) MFA (University

of Southern California) is artistic director of Image

Quilt Cinema & Dance Theater and teaches dance

and photography at Albany High School. A dancer/

choreographer/lmmaker of Nigerian origin, born and

raised in New York, Omonike cut her teeth dancing

with Ballet Hispanico of New York in the 80’s and 90’s.

A two-time fellow in Film and Screenwriting with

the New York Foundation for the Arts, Omonike has

created original works for both lm and stage. Her

theatrical choreography includes the Yale Dramat

Children’s Theater, “Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali”,

the 2007 Off-Broadway musical, “How to Stay Sane

in Paris”, The Glove Theater’s “Sadako and the 1000

Paper Cranes” and Glimmer Globe Theater’s “The

Crucible”. Omonike is now in early development for

choreography for the lm, “L’Amant Anonyme”. She

is excited to be working with the cast of “Sister Act.”

Brian Avery (Director) is excited to be making his debut

with AHS Theatre Ensemble. Brian has been a theater

practitioner for over 20 years. He graduated with Honors

from Stonybrook University (B.A. Theater) and St. Rose

(M.S.Education.). He has worked on over 100 shows

both locally and professionally and received numerous

TANYS awards. Some of his favorite directing credits

include All Shook Up (CLT), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

(Class Act), Trestle at Pope Lick Creek (ACT) Little

Women (NSCP), Company (Class Act), Love Letters

(Spotlight). He is also a dialect coach having worked on

the Off-Broadway musical The Wrong Box. He would

like to thank the cast and crew for all their support!!

Maia Ballato (Sister Mary Martin-Of-Tours) is

ecstatic to be working with AHS again this year. Her

previous performance being The Day Tomorrow

Stopped. She is especially excited for her role in

Sister Act, as this will be her last year with AHS.

She would also like to thank her cast mates and

friends for working on and supporting the show.

Timo Berry (Joey) is very honored to be working with

the AHS Theatre Ensemble in Sister Act! This is his

rst and last show at AHS, he is graduating with the

class of 2023. He would like to thank everyone who

contributed to this year’s production of Sister Act!

Ray Blanken (Eddie) If I had a nickel for every

time I played an eccentric, slightly sweaty law

enforcement ofcer I would have two nickels…

Which isn’t a lot, but funny it happened twice right?

Anyways, thank you for coming to the show!

Mel’lani Campbell (Waitress) is excited to be part of

the show and would like to thank everyone involved!

Cionna Carmon (Deloris) is honored to be working

with the AHS Theatre Ensemble for the rst time.

Her previous credits include Mulan, Aladdin, Into

the Woods, and more. She thanks everyone who

contributed to this production of Sister Act!

Declan Chirlin (Ernie) is debuting with the AHS Theatre

Ensemble and wants to thank his parents and Mr. Avery

for being encouraging throughout the process of this

play and his crew mates for being so nice and supportive.

Autumn Citrine (Nun/Dance Captain) is in 9th

grade and recently moved from New York City

to Albany. She loves the performing arts, and

has been in numerous shows including Brooke

Wynham, Legally Blonde and Ensemble, Newsies.

She is grateful to be a part of the production!

Annabelle Clemens (Sister Mary Patrick) is thrilled to

be making her debut with AHS Theatre! Previously, she

has performed in shows with Park Playhouse, The Cue

Theater, Steamer 10 Theater, and more. She would like

to thank her family for their endless love and support.

Kim DeHart (Costume Design) is a Family & Consumer

Science Educator at AHS, while working on Theater

productions since 2011. She usually works with

the Costume Designer (a big shout out to Fiona

Thompson who has been my role model and mentor)

as a seamstress to create garments for the show’s

productions. Creative costume credits in: Scapino,

Cabaret (2011, 2020), Two Rooms, My Fair Lady, West

Side Story, Oliver, Annie, Once on this Island, Promising

Playwrights (2014, 2016), Black Boys, Hers, The Identity

Project, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Sweet Charity and Hairspray.

Kim will be retiring after 31 years from the district at

the end of this year but will continue to work on next

year’s theatrical productions. It has been a pleasure

to work with the cast and crew over the years.

William DeSantis (Rehearsal/Pit Piano) has played

piano for eight Albany High musicals and has

been a music teacher in the district for fteen

years. He has also worked extensively with other

local theater groups including Schenectady Light

Opera Company (SLOC),Young Actors Guild, Glens

Falls Community Theater, and Park Playhouse.

Lucy Edvalson (Michelle/Ensemble) is pleased to be

making her debut with the AHS Theatre Ensemble.

Credits include Ursula, The Little Mermaid and The

Baker, Into the Woods. I would like to thank everyone

who helped make this show possible! I had so

much fun being in this show and I can’t wait to see

what AHS Theatre Ensemble does in the future!

John Halvorsen (Orchestra Director) is in his 17th

year in Albany City Schools and is still blessed and

privileged to work with your children every day.

Rowan Hoehn (Cop) is very excited to be performing in

Albany High’s Sister Act. Her previous credits include,

The Day Tomorrow Stopped. She would like to thank

everyone for their support and participation in the show!

Brendan Hoffman (Musical Director) is the choral

director at Albany High School, a position he has

proudly held since 2004. In addition to conducting

ve vocal ensembles, he teaches vocal lessons, music

theory and serves as music director for the Theater

Ensemble. He is thrilled for the ensemble to be

returning to the brand-new stage at AHS for our rst

show post-pandemic. To the talented and dedicated

cast and crew of Sister Act - I am proud of you!

Jahmere Holland (Tech Director/Light Design) is excited

to be returning to the AHS Theatre Ensemble. He is a

graduate of Albany High and is the Varsity Cheerleading

Coach and Technical Director. He is also the proud owner

of Triple Threat Cheerleading. He would like to thank

everyone involved for their hard work and dedication!

Josey Hunt (Ensemble) wishes to shout out

Ian Roach for reminding her to turn this

in. Mr. Avery is a pretty cool director.

Nikkya Hylton (Ensemble) is very excited to participate

and be a part of the AHS Theatre Ensemble. She

was a Lioness in The Lion King at Myers Middle

School. She is forever thankful and proud of everyone

who helped bring this musical all together!

Donovan Jones (Tina) is excited to be part of the

show and would like to thank everyone involved!

LaQuita Love (Hair/Make-Up) is a proud product of

the City School District of Albany, class of 1994. She is

the proud owner of Safari NY Hair Studio since 2001

and Albany High School Cosmetology Teacher and

Coordinator since 2006. LaQuita holds a B.A in Human

Services & Community from SUNY Empire, and is

currently a graduate student at SUNY Empire, studying

Curriculum and Instruction. In the past years, she has

won numerous awards including; NYS Educator and

Entrepreneur Award, the Women of Distinction Award

by the Black Women’s Association, the prestigious

Golden Apple Award by the City School District of Albany,

the Kazi Work Award by Ujima Journey INC. and the

TOP Teacher award, presented by Elaine Houston.

Jayden Lozada (Ensemble) is excited to be part of the

show and would like to thank everyone involved!

Opal Morales (Nun) is excited to be part of the

show and would like to thank everyone involved!

Katherine Myers (Stage Manager) is happy to be

making her debut with the AHS Theatre Ensemble. Her

previous credits include, Ensemble/Stagehand in Into

The Woods Jr, Queen Glis in Musicville. She would like

to thank her cousins for inspiring her love of theater.

William O’Neill (Monsignor O’Hara) will be taking his

3rd role ever. His previous roles include King Julien,

Madagascar and The Day Time Stopped at AHS. He

would like to thank his parents for being supportive and,

thank you to Mr. Avery for being a phenomenal director!

Christina Pringle (Ensemble) is pleased to be making

her debut with the AHS Theatre Ensemble. Her

previous credits include Ensemble, Honk Jr., and

performances in many talent shows. She would like to

thank everyone who helped bring this show to life!

Ian Roach (Ensemble) is excited for his rst show

at Albany High School! Previous roles include

Chief Tui, Moana Jr. and Maurice, Madagascar Jr.

He has a YouTube channel called Ian Talks Film.

He is thankful for his family, and his 2 cats.

Shaquin Robinson (Curtis) loves performing arts

and wishes to become a professional actor in the

future. He is a senior at Albany High School, and this

is his rst time being a part of an actual school play.

With his love for performing arts he wants to take

it to the next level; he wants to inspire others.

Rey Rodriguez (Pablo) is pleased to be making their

debut with the AHS Theatre Ensemble. They would like

to thank everyone who helped bring this show to life!

Nina Scandurra (Nun) is excited to be making her Albany

High School Theatre Debut with the musical Sister Act.

Her experiences include ten years of dance and seven

years of choral singing. She hopes you enjoy the show

and would like to thank everyone that made it possible.

Julian Shepersky (TJ) is eager to take part in

his debut with Albany High School! Prior roles

include but are not limited to; Narrator, Into the

Woods. He hopes that you will enjoy the show!

Victoria Suarez (Sister Mary Theresa) is happy to debut

in Sister Act, this will be her very last year in an Albany

High Drama Club production. She will be going to

college and pursuing fashion, lm, music, animation,

etc. She hopes that as the performers sing and dance

that you enjoy the show. And thank you for coming!

Sienna Stewart (Nun) is thrilled to be doing

her rst show with the AHS Theatre ensemble

in Sister Act! She has enjoyed the arts from a

young age, doing traditional drawing, painting,

and being in performances at local theaters.

Desiree Watkins (Ensemble) is excited to be part of

the show and would like to thank everyone involved!

Iris Whalen (Sister Mary Robert) is thrilled to be

returning to the stage at AHS. Her previous credits

include Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr. and Daughter

in The Day Tomorrow Stopped. She would like to

thank everyone for their hard work and dedication!

Amanda Weklar (Producer) has worked in Albany

City Schools for 19 years - most of them as a Social

Studies teacher focused on Civics Engagement. She

began her career at Harriet Gibbons Alternative High

School where she participated in the Empire State

Partnerships for the Arts with Capital Repertory Theatre,

and regularly attended the annual summer conference

for arts integration where she developed a passion and

appreciation for Arts in Education. She joined the AHS

staff in 2010 and then stepped out of the classroom to

become the Discovery Academy Theme Coordinator

where she worked on several Arts Integration programs

including a Digital Projection Program and student

matinee previews for the Theatre Ensemble. Amanda

has worked with the Theatre Ensemble for the last 10

years as Producer and digital art projection designer

and runs the High School Yearbook in addition to

her classroom duties. In her free time, she raises

two amazing boys, and a few pets; loves to bake;

sings in a church choir; rides horses; and crochets.

Ciara Wierschem (Mother Superior) is delighted to be

making her debut with the AHS Theatre Ensemble. Her

previous credits include several years in Drama Kids

International and annual participation in her church’s

children’s summer musicals. She previously danced

competitively and now holds a black belt in taekwondo.

John Willis (Ensemble) is excited to be part of the

show and would like to thank everyone involved!

Congratulations and Best of Luck to

all the student performers, musicians,

stagehands, teachers, and everyone

who helped create and organize this

wonderful event!

Albany Booster Club is a charitable not-

for-prot organization established in 2000

by Albany City School District parents

for the purpose of providing nancial

assistance and support to extracurricular

activities offered by the District.

Albany Booster Club

Supporting Albany High School Students

Since 2000

Congratulations on

all your hard work!

— Ms. Chermack

Congratulations

Sister Act cast & crew!

Great job Katie!

Keeping things

organized since 2005!

We love you,

Mom, Dad & Alex!

Congratulations to the

Theatre Ensemble Director

Brian Avery and the

talented members of the

cast, crew and orchestra for

Albany High School’s 2023

production of “Sister Act.”

We are so excited for the

return of our annual musical,

and for the opportunity to

see our amazing students

shine!

Congratulations!

Best wishes from Interim

Superintendent John Yagielski and

the members of the City School

District of Albany leadership team

and our Board of Education!

APSTA wishes our students

great success with the

show, and congratulates you

on your outstanding talents!

Let your light shine for

the whole world to see!