With a ’70s spin, this ‘Sister Act’ makes a disco impression at the Colorado Springs FAC.

A shaky start quickly rebounds with funky vocals and far-out dance moves to the grooviest of musicals at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Running through May 25, Sister Act opened to a full house with roaring laughter as thugs and nuns spar in 1970s Philadelphia.

This musical version of the story bears some resemblance to the popular 1992 film with Whoopi Goldberg. But instead of a pithy Deloris Van Cartier, we delight in a colorfully affable Deloris played with bawdy irreverence by Cheerish Martin. Plus, the timeline is backed up from the ’90s to the ’70s — enabling a funky disco score to pepper the storyline.

Recently seen in RENT, In the Heights and Little Shop of Horrors, Martin is the brick house that rocks the clubs and then the pews as the Disco Diva eventually disguised as Sister Mary Clarence. While the ensemble’s nuns traverse the stage in their prudish penguin suits, Martin excites with her flash, flamboyance and larger-than-life persona in voice and movement.

Cheerish Martin is the nun on the run in ‘Sister Act.’ | Photo: Isaiah Downing

With a few variations, the musical’s storyline remains true to the screenplay: Deloris witnesses her gangster boyfriend kill another thug. The police put her in witness protection at The Holy Order of the Little Sisters of Our Mother of Perpetual Faith, where every nun goes by Mary something.

From the get-go, the spirited Sister Mary Clarence gets sideways with the formidable Mother Superior. No smoking, drinking or immodest clothing is a tall order for the salty Deloris with a penance for making mischief. Here is where the message resonates to the heart, soul and mass appeal of Sister Act: the magic of music can bring people together. One wonders how this movie could ever not be a musical!

Deloris revamps the boring convent choir into a powerhouse of voices, saving the struggling parish from certain demise. But its success also blows her cover and puts the convent at risk.

The mouthy Deloris and the shrill Mother Superior — played with pious perfection by the versatile Megan Van De Hey — drive a lot of laughs with their sparring. A veteran on Front Range stages from the FAC to the Arvada Center and the Aurora Fox, Van De Hey is a four-time Henry award winner, with pipes that rival her stage presence. Resistant to change, she speaks to God with credibility in “I Haven’t Got a Prayer” to her stern warnings to Deloris in “Here Within These Walls.” While Deloris’ antics eventually win over her newfound sisterhood, Mother Superior does not soften.

The final musical number in ‘Sister Act.’ | Photo: Isaiah Downing

Bad boys and a romantic subplot

The bad boys of the story are exceedingly good. Deloris falls for the nefarious Curtis (Randy Chalmers, another well-known talent on regional and even national stages) strutting the stage in his white platform shoes. An amusing trio of low-lifes flank him and, to the audience’s amusement, they clearly failed Crime 101. Like The Three Stooges, TJ (Andre Jones, Jr.), Joey (Nathan Wright) and Pablo (Roberto Lopez, Jr.) bungle their tasks with amazing physicality and pinpoint comic timing.

From vocals to comic bits, several nuns are standouts in their ensemble roles. Sister Mary Robert (Tracy Nicole Taylor) questions her vows as she sings “The Life I Never Had” with credible conviction. Another FAC veteran, she was recently seen in FAC musicals The Little Mermaid, Rent and Elf highlighting her vocal talents and comic charm.

The musical version of Sister Act infuses the screenplay with a new element: a romantic subplot. Alejandro Roldan plays “Sweaty Eddy,” a laughingstock in high school who always had a crush on Deloris. Now a cop, he seems hapless until it matters and he becomes Deloris’ guardian angel. He even gets his own moment taking center stage with glitzy dance moves a la John Travolta while crooning “I Could Be That Guy.”

Sister Act is a long show but moves its storyline without drag. Deeper characters emerge in short scenes that reflect a relevant and meaningful backstory. Praise be to director Marisa D. Hébert and her creative team, particularly lighting guru Alex Vásquez Dheming, who helps the audience pivot from the disco to the pew with ease.

The eight-member band of horns, keyboard and guitar create raw energy from the orchestra pit under the direction of Christy Vest. A large company on a modest stage displays the choreography expertise of Norrell Moore.

Sister Act is just enough story to highlight its fabulous original score of Disco era tunes. “Sunday Morning Fever” opens Act 2, playing off the sensation of the film Saturday Night Fever which hit theatres in 1977. Step back in time and enjoy Sister Act for an evening of sheer cool.