Ta'Rea Campbell, appearing as Deloris in the musical Sister Act, says she and Deloris are both a little ''sassy,'' but while Deloris still pretty much says anything that's on her mind, Campbell says she learned awhile back that isn't always the best strategy.
Sister Act, running for a week at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts courtesy of Gexa Energy Broadway, is set in Philadelphia rather than a San Francisco convent as Whoopi Goldberg's 1992 movie version was. There's also an original score by Alan Menken, but Deloris is still the singer masquerading as a nun after witnessing a murder.
''Deloris is very flashy on the outside, but she has a lot of heart,'' says Campbell. In a way, Campbell is getting back to her roots to play the role; she grew up singing in church. She's been on Broadway and on tour in Lion King (as Nala) and the original cast of The Book of Mormon.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-315-2525 or visit thehobbycenter.org. $25 to $305.
