In January of 2025, Gort Community School brought the high-energy, heartfelt musical Sister Act to life. This production was a whirlwind of music, excitement love and laughter, and we had the incredible opportunity to play two of the leading roles, Deloris Van Cartier (Elena W. Khan) and The Mother Superior (Eimear Clancy). The weight of the message of the show is deeply important to us as we believe it is imperative to promote love and empathy throughout the world at this time.
Auditioning for the Show
Inspired by the production of Sister Act we saw in the Bord Gais Theatre last February, we began the process of casting and rehearsing our show in the late sunny weeks of September. Our talented and dedicated creative team inspired us from the beginning about Sister Act and from our first work shop to final call backs, we competed to earn our roles!
“Auditioning for Deloris Van Cartier was an intensive and joyous experience as I was preparing since early September and wanted the role desperately. When I received news that I had earned the part I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to start the process of becoming this character” Elena Waseem Khan
“Auditioning for Mother Superior was an exciting and humorous experience. From the beginning I knew what had to be done to pursue this role, and I was certain that I was going to put my best foot forward. Hearing that I got a callback was incredible but actually earning the role was a dream come true”. Eimear Clancy
Rehearsals
Sister Act the Musical boasts extensive exhilarating group dance numbers and an intricate musical score. As a result, rehearsals were an intense 4 month period where every member of the cast and creative team had to work extremely hard so as to put on a stellar performance in the new year. Nether less, there are so many amusing memories to look back on.
Despite our characters loathing of each other for most the duration of the musical, Eimear and I are wonderful friends. I personally found it taxing to keep a straight face throughout many our line reads as she is such a natural humorous actress.
Though Elena and I played contrasting characters, we always found moments of laughter and joy. I will always cherish these rehearsal memories.
Bringing the Characters to Life
The responsibility of bringing these characters to life was great and required countless hours of rehearsal, dedication and preparation.
To undertake and preform the role of Deloris Van Cartier to the highest standard required me not only to research the origins of the beloved character, balancing the icon of who she is and the personal freshness I wanted to bring to her on stage. I worked tirelessly with my vocal coach to work through her extensive and emotional material not only changing and enhancing my voice but my approach to music and performance. The process taught me the significance of dedication and self-belief and I am a changed performer as a result. Elena Waseem Khan
In order to bring The Mother Superior to life I had to lean into my Irish traditional musical talent and bring that excellence to stage and to the character. My goal for the character Mother Superior was to portray a stern and old fashioned elder woman who is fearful of the change that Deloris brings to the convent. I watched many clips of other actresses playing Mother Superior and got an insight into how I should present myself as her. Although I was influenced by other actresses, I made sure that I had my own personal flare to the character herself and I wanted to portray an original version of the character, unique to me. Eimear Clancy
The Magic of Opening Night
The magic of finally preforming a show we poured so much hard work, dedication and love into was an electric and emotional experience. To witness our cast and chorus come together in the spirit of collaboration and trust resulted in remarkable, dynamic performances and a standing ovation each night from our wonderful audiences was the crowning accomplishment. We will never forget this formative experience.
A Show to Remember
Sister Act was more than just a school production—it was a journey of growth, friendship, and unforgettable memories. The joy of performing, the challenges we overcame, and the bonds we formed with our castmates have left a lasting impact on us. Seeing our hard work come to life on stage and receiving standing ovations each night was an experience we will cherish forever.
We are incredibly grateful to our directors Ms. O’ Carroll, Ms. Quinn, Ms. Broderick and Ms. Hannon, our crew, and the entire creative team for their dedication and support. Without their passion and commitment, this production would not have been possible. To our amazing audiences, thank you for sharing this journey with us and for embracing the spirit of Sister Act with open hearts.
This experience has shaped us not only as performers but as people, teaching us the value of teamwork, perseverance, and believing in ourselves. No matter where life takes us next, Sister Act will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Elena Waseem Khan & Eimear Clancy – Transition Year 2025