Getting In On The Act

From Australian Idol to the convent, Casey Donovan is taking the leap into a lead role. Nicole Smith speaks to the entertainer and co-star Rhonda Burchmore, both celebrating decades in the limelight. 

Casey Donovan has made a habit of capturing the nation's heart. As a teenager she rose to fame as the winner of the second season of Australian Idol in 2004. Twenty years later she will do it again, as one of the ‘90s beloved movie characters in a show where Sisterhood meets show business, the heart-warming and uplifting musical Sister Act.

Nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and gaining six Olivier nominations, Sister Act premieres in August at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney ahead of an expected national tour. 

Donovan is at the helm, stepping into the famous habit as Deloris Van Cartier - the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg - the spirited nightclub singer with a penchant for trouble. When Deloris witnesses a crime and seeks refuge in a convent, hilarity ensues as she transforms the lacklustre choir of nuns into a powerhouse of heavenly voices. 

It's twenty years on since we met the 16-year-old Donovan during her Australian Idol journey, where she was crowned Queen for the first time, taking out the coveted first. 

“Someone put a picture up yesterday saying it was 20 years to the day we all auditioned, and I went, oh my goodness!” Casey Donovan says with a rich, full laugh.  “As Guy Sebastian says, it has been a long and winding journey! Looking back, I never thought I would be playing Deloris. I’m excited and can’t wait to get it on the floor and see how she feels.” 

Her powerful voice and infectious personality endeared her to audiences, paving the way for a successful career in the entertainment industry. Over the last two decades, she has showcased her versatility as a performer, from singing pop hits to musical theatre productions. 

Donovan has worn a few crowns since 2004 including Queen of the Jungle (I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here). Now, she will be the queen of the stage in her first leading role as she takes the leap of faith and dons the habit. “I’m excited for what this show will bring. I get to step into the leading lady light and embrace it. This is what I have been working towards in this musical theatre career that I have stumbled into but loved every minute of.” 

When I spoke to Donovan, she was playing her final performances as Nurse in & Juliet. “There is a line in & Juliet where Nurse says, ‘being a nun is a lot of fun’; I started giggling at that line before I could officially announce it,” she says referring to her upcoming role. 

With a two-week break to rest between her final shows as Nurse and the start of Sister Act rehearsals, Donovan planned to switch off the phone as she gets ready to get into the habit. “I am excited to make a switch from nurse to nun. I have started to listen to the soundtrack on Spotify, get the music in my body, listen to the melodies, the rhythms, the pitch, and how I put my spin on it,” she said. 

Behind the music for the show is composer Alan Menken, whose songs and scores have become an integral part of our lives since his first works were produced nearly 40 years ago. With stage musicals Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act is in good company. 

“We are all familiar with the storyline, but with new music by Alan Menken, who has written songs I grew up with and loved, he has encapsulated Motown, disco, and this show's soul and essence, and I can’t wait.”

Deloris van Cartier requires a performer who can command the stage with charisma and charm. Donovan plans to bring her unique blend of wit and vulnerability to the iconic role. “I am jumping into those shoes delicately, but also very heavy-footed, which Deloris very much is.” But she is still working on some parts of the character. “I think one of the things I took away from the audition process is to be a little sassier. They said ‘Casey, you’re too kind. You need to be a little more sass.’ So I’ve been working on that.

“I love the rehearsal period, where you start to build and create the character. After hearing and watching the actors on Broadway and in the West End, I’m very much looking forward to trying a few new things”.

Growing up, the movie Sister Act was one of her favourites.

“It’s one of those movies that you put on, and you know it word for word, and you still sit there smiling and enjoying yourself like no time has passed. Keeping that essence of the truth and honesty of a character is very important when replicating and recreating a role that is so famous. We all love Whoopi Goldberg and know that she created Deloris. I am hoping to bring those memories to the audience as well”. 

The sense of community in Sister Act is portrayed through a diverse cast of characters who come together through their shared love of music and commitment to supporting one another. It is also an opportunity to spotlight diversity and representation in the Australian entertainment industry. 

“It's amazing that in the last few shows I have been able to do, powerful female protagonists have led the cast. To be in another show with strong, talented women is such a joy, and it embraces women of all ages, sizes, and sexualities. It is going to be beautiful.” 

The ensemble nature of the show underscores the idea that through collaboration and mutual respect, a group of individuals can come together to create something extraordinary. 

Donavan also looks forward to working with Rhonda Burchmore, who plays Sister Mary Lazarus.

“We have performed many charities and galas, and I have never worked with her in a musical capacity. I have heard glowing reviews that she is the consummate performer, and I love that. She is full of life and fun and doesn’t take anything too seriously. She has paved the way for young women just to be able to come along and do our jobs. Like Genevieve Lemon (in the role of Mother Superior). They are the trailblazers, and we have been able to follow in their footsteps. I am very much looking forward to having a LOT of laughs.”

The respect is mutual from Burchmore.

“She is great fun and super talented, and I cannot wait to hear that glorious voice of hers.” 

Burchmore is also wrapping up another performance - in Cabaret de Paris.

“I love jumping from one thing to another, and who would have in a million years thought I would have been jumping into the habit! People's reactions have been, Oh my god, this is the best casting ever!” she laughs. “From the ultimate showgirl ensemble, which includes feathers, heels, and all the bling, to Sister Mary Lazarus in a very, very plain woollen habit and sensible shoes, is quite something. I love that they have cast completely against type. It excites me to play against what people usually perceive I would do.”

But she is looking forward to a particular aspect of the costume.

“I’m celebrating 42 years in the business, and it has always been the high heels and the corsets and showgirl glamorous; this is not glamorous! It is the most comfortable thing I have ever put on, and the shoes are like heaven on my feet. The bunions love it! The maintenance is low. I won’t have to wear wigs or all the make-up and high heels,” she adds. “I’m sold with that!”

While Sister Act celebrates the transformative power of music and the importance of coming together as a community to support one another through life's challenges, it highlights the enduring message that anything is possible through unity and shared passion. It is a show that embodies the theme of joy and community that the arts create as Sister Deloris van Cartier undergoes a transformative journey from a reluctant nun to a confident leader. 

Burchmore’s Sister Mary Lazarus also has her own journey.

“She is the head of the choir until Dolores comes along. My character is the most uptight of them all initially, but there is a wonderful journey for her to grow from this. There is a fun side of her that comes out in the second half of the show.” And there is a challenge for the veteran performer of 42 years. “I get to do a rap in Latin, which is quite something!” 

Burchmore has also enjoyed getting to know the music.

“The score is extraordinary, and the tunes are so catchy they run around in my head all day. There is a great sense of excitement about this show. After coming off Hairspray last year and playing Ms Baltimore Crabs, I redeem myself with this one. I think people will embrace it. It is the sisterhood and joyful sound when all those voices get together.”

The theme of joy is evident throughout Sister Act as the characters discover the power of music and unity in the face of adversity. As Deloris connects with the nuns and helps them find their voices, the audience is reminded of the transformative nature of music and community. “With all the uncertainty in the world, it is a good escape for a couple of hours; joyful is the word that comes to mind. The people are just so excited for it. At the moment, it is playing in the West End and going gangbusters over there”. 

When asked about hiding those trademark legs under a habit, she laughs, “There must be some breakaway moment when the leg comes out, and John Frost said anything is possible! So, watch this space!”

Photographer: Daniel Boud

Visit www.sisteractthemusical.com.au or follow on facebook and Instagram @sisteractmusicalau

John Frost for Crossroads Live in association with Jamie Wilson present

Sister Act

Capitol Theatre Sydney from August 2024

Regent Theatre Melbourne from November 2024

QPAC Lyric Theatre Brisbane from February 2025

Adelaide Festival Centre’s Festival Theatre Adelaide from March 2025

Crown Theatre Perth from April 2025