top of page

Sister Act

시스터 액트

Official English Title

View Source.png

​

​Posters included in this archive are embedded solely for documentary and educational purposes.

🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.

SOURCE

film

SETTING

Foreign

BOOK

adaptation

Based on the 1992 film Sister Act

Korean Premiere

2023

Korean Premiere Theatre

Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall, Busan

Further Korean run reference:
https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%8B%9C%EC%8A%A4%ED%84%B0%20%EC%95%A1%ED%8A%B8(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
The Musical search cue — “시스터 액트 뮤지컬”

Summary

An English-language international musical production led by Korea’s EMK Musical Company, representing a producer-driven export model rather than a Korean-created work.

Origin & Development

Sister Act premiered as a stage musical in 2006 at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, with music by Alan Menken and a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg. The musical subsequently spread internationally through licensed productions in multiple countries.

In 2023, EMK Musical Company acquired performance rights and developed an English-language international production through auditions held in New York and Seoul, involving both Korean and international performers and collaborative production input from U.S. and Korean creative teams. Korean media noted that EMK held auditions in both Seoul and New York and deliberately cast Korean performers alongside international artists. 2023–2024 – International production led by EMK Musical Company.

The international production premiered in Busan at Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall in November 2023 before transferring to D-Cube Link Art Center in Seoul from November 21, 2023 to February 11, 2024. Auditions were conducted in New York and Seoul, resulting in a mixed cast that included international performers and Korean actors, including Kim Sohyang and Park Siin, and the production was performed entirely in English. Korean press described the collaboration between U.S. and Korean creative teams to upgrade staging, lighting, and costumes for this international version. Although EMK announced plans for a nationwide Korean tour and subsequent Asian tour, only the Busan and Seoul engagements were realized.

Partial Synopsis

Set in the late 1970s, Sister Act follows Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who is placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a crime. Disguised as a nun, she revitalizes the convent choir with contemporary music, transforming both the choir and the community around it. The story balances comedy and warmth while emphasizing themes of friendship, self-discovery, and solidarity. The score blends disco, gospel, soul, and musical theater styles characteristic of Alan Menken’s work.

天使にラブ・ソングを… ~シスター・アクト~

2024

2024-07-03

to

2024-07-21

Country:

Japan

City:

Tokyo

Production Type:

Full Production

Language:

English

Venue:

Tokyu Theatre Orb

Not a Korean musical; included because EMK, which held the Asian performance rights, contributed creative input. Based on EMK's Korean staging, the touring company performed in English with Japanese subtitles and a live band, retaining Korean cast members such as Sophie Kim (김소향) as Sister Mary Robert. The production was marketed in Japan as a Broadway musical, and Japan was the only overseas stop realized for this EMK-led international version.

favicon_new.png

© 2026 Musicals of Korea

All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used with full credit and a clear link to the original content.

Last update: October 10, 2026

bottom of page