Oldest Cast Ever 73-97, Perform 'Sister Act Sr.' in Fair Lawn

(Fair Lawn, NJ) - Outside the Fair Lawn Community Center on a balmy summer evening, audience members filed into the auditorium to see Sister Act Sr., a condensed version of the Broadway musical based on the 1992 film "Sister Act," which starred Whoopi Goldberg.

This special cast is what sets Juniper Village’s production apart from most others. The youngest performer was 73 years old, while the oldest was 97, making it the oldest cast ever to perform Sister Act.

On June 10 and 11, 12 residents of Juniper Village at Paramus presented a staged reading of Sister Act Sr. After beginning rehearsals in March, the residents had just three months to learn their lines, the music, and the lyrics.

"I'm so proud of everything they've accomplished," said Stephanie McKay, Connections Director at Juniper Village at Paramus, who served as both director and narrator.

"This is the first time our community has done a musical with new music they weren't already familiar with," McKay said. "They've really taken it in stride and learned everything."

A comedic musical, Sister Act Sr. follows nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier, who, after witnessing a mobster murder, unexpectedly finds herself hiding out in a convent, disguised as a nun. While in hiding, Deloris helps the nuns turn their choir around, and they teach her a heartwarming lesson about friendship and belonging.

Sister Act Sr. features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, with additional book material by Douglass Cartner Beane. Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture “Sister Act” written by Joseph Howard. Sister Act Sr. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International(MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

According to McKay, the themes of friendship, belonging, and finding family made the show especially meaningful for the community.

"Sister Act Sr. is about friendship and belonging and finding family in a place where you didn't necessarily know it was going to be there," McKay said. "I think this is a great theme for our Juniper community as a whole. This is a place where we all become a second family together."

"For our residents who are coming to us, a new place, for a lot of them this is their third act, and they get to keep thriving here," she added. "By going on stage, they're getting to do something many have never done before. Overall, it's a beautiful experience, and I'm so glad to give our residents that confidence."

“Since 2018, Juniper Communities has been a pilot partner with Music Theatre International, creating new opportunities for older adults to step into the spotlight through the Broadway Senior program,” said Katie Kensinger, National Director of Marketing of Juniper Communities.

“The Juniper Village at Paramus production of Sister Act Sr. beautifully reflects Juniper’s mission to ‘nurture the spirit of life’,” added Kensinger, “More than just a musical, the story is a celebration of friendship, purpose, and community, proving that when individuals are encouraged to keep creating, they inspire everyone around them.”

For some residents, performing in Sister Act Sr. offered a chance to reconnect with a lifelong love of music.

John Docke, who played Deloris' love interest, Lt. Eddie Souther, spent much of his childhood playing piano and singing in his high school choir.

"My favorite part of the show is performing my solo, 'I Could Be That Guy,'" Docke said. "Steve Bell has been great at helping me learn the part and get the timing right. I think I do a pretty decent job."

To bring the show to life, performers donned nuns' habits while the gangsters wore black hats. Projected backgrounds transformed the stage into settings ranging from a disco club to St. Katherine's Monastery.

Sister Act Sr. is part of Broadway Senior, a growing initiative for adults ages 55 and older. Since its launch by Music Theatre International in May 2025, more than 100 senior centers and community theaters nationwide have staged Broadway Senior adaptations.

"Broadway Senior musicals were created because Music Theatre International believes that the desire to perform, tell stories, and be celebrated on stage does not diminish with age,” said Jason Cocovinis, MTI’s Director of Marketing. “When we see a resident step into the spotlight in front of their family and community, we are reminded of exactly why this program exists.

Similar to Broadway Junior productions, the abbreviated musicals are designed specifically for older adult performers.

"It's amazing how dedicated they are to working on this show and learning their music," said Steve Bell, Musical Director for Sister Act Sr. Bell previously directed Guys and Dolls Sr. and Fiddler on the Roof Sr. at Juniper Village at Paramus.

"I've been so impressed by how focused they are on getting this right," Bell said. "It's really funny because they will correct each other and help each other when someone forgets a line. Most importantly, they're having a lot of fun."

Cheryl Cramer, who played the lead role of Deloris, said “Bless Our Show” was her favorite musical number, "because our show is blessed," she said with a laugh.

Although Cramer previously appeared in Guys and Dolls Sr. and Fiddler on the Roof Sr., this marked her first leading role.

"We've been working on the show since March, and the time really has flown by," Cramer said. Her grandchildren attended the performance and presented her with a bouquet afterward.

"This is my third musical with the Juniper Village Perennial Players," said Carlos Palencia Jr., Assistant Director and Juniper Connections Associate.

"This is our first time performing in a theater with the group, since we've always staged the shows at Juniper Village at Paramus," Palencia said. "It's great to see the evolution of the program. With the lights, costumes and projections, it's very rewarding for all of us."

While the audience laughed at the residents' comedic performances, others found themselves moved for more personal reasons.

"I loved the show. “I got emotional," said Sue Hock, whose sister, Terry Grebla, played TJ and Mary Celeste.

Grebla, who has been a resident of Juniper Village for a little more than a year, made her theatrical debut in the production.

"Before Terry came to Juniper, we almost lost my sister twice," Hock said. "It's a miracle that she's here. In 2019, she was even in hospice care. Miraculously, she recovered and is now living at Juniper."

For the cast members of the Juniper Village Perennial Players, Sister Act Sr. was more than a musical. It was a celebration of creativity, friendship, and the belief that it's never too late to step into the spotlight.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation, owns and operates senior living communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas that emphasize the well-being, interaction and security of those who call Juniper home. Our approach to housing and care offers community members the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve resident care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of the communities’ residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.

About Music Theatre International

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to arts in education, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.