‘Sister Act: The Musical’

Lyricist Glenn Slater, left, and composer Alan Menken (head on table) air a composition during a read-through in December.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken also did the music for “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little mermaid.”  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Cheri Steinkellner, who with her husband Bill, wrote the book for the musical, looks at resumes with director Peter Schneider.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Casting director Michael Donovan calls out names while holding auditions at Screenland Studio in North Hollywood.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Camille Saviola auditions for the voice of Sister Mary Lazarus before (from left) Casting director Michael Donovan, director Peter Schneider, and co-writer Cheri Steinkellner.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Peter Schneider and Cheri Steinkellner view an audition submission on DVD.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Courtney Covey audition for the part of Sister Mary Robert.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Actresses audition as a group.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Linda Kerns auditions for the part of Sister Mary Lazarus.  (Mel Melcon / LAT)

Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) performs at the Funkadelica Disco in a scene from “Sister Act ; The Musical.”  (Spencer Weiner / LAT)

Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) meets Mother Superior (Elizabeth Ward Land.)  (Spencer Weiner / LAT)

Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) dons a nun’s habit as she hides at a convent.  (Spencer Weiner / LAT)

Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) helps liven up the convent’s tuneless choir.  (Spencer Weiner / LAT)

Sister Mary Robert (Beth Malone) with Mother Superior (Elizabeth Ward Land.)  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Elizabeth Ward Land as Mother Superior.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Deloris (Dawnn Lewis) is snatched away by Dinero, Doo-Rag (Dan Domenech, right.)  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

“Sister Act: the Musical” has its World premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Dress rehearsal at the Pasadena Playhouse.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)