Kat Reynolds returns to stage as disco diva Sister Mary Clarence
Theatre Under the Stars' Sister Act opens July 7 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Reynolds channels Whoopi Goldberg in the beloved musical.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kat Reynolds is stepping back into musical theatre after a five-year hiatus to make her Theatre Under the Stars debut in the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, running July 7 through August 21 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.
The musical, based on the 1990s Whoopi Goldberg films, follows Deloris—an aspiring disco diva forced into hiding at a convent after witnessing her gangster boyfriend commit a crime. Disguised as Sister Mary Clarence, she's tasked with reviving the convent's struggling choir, eventually discovering deep bonds with her fellow sisters as they find their inner voices and strength through music.
This isn't Reynolds' first time in Deloris's platform shoes. She played the role in an Edmonton dinner-theatre production in 2019. Since the pandemic, Reynolds shifted her focus to film writing and directing. Her recent work includes 2024's "A Day In The (After)Life of Diane Staples" (Canadian Comedy Film Igniter Award at the Canadian Film Fest), 2026's "So Happy For You" (Best LGBT Short at Toronto Short Film Festival), and "Gone Viral," which she cowrote and directed at the 2026 Crazy 8s short filmmaking challenge.
When director-choreographer Peter Jorgensen—whom Reynolds had worked with on Arts Club Theatre Company productions Rock of Ages and Avenue Q—approached her about Deloris again, she couldn't refuse. "It's the music, it's the themes, and it's this character's emotional journey that is extremely fulfilling," Reynolds told Stir. "It has so much heart while delivering an insane amount of comedy. It's just really well written and has the potential to move an audience to tears and make them burst out in laughter in seconds."
Returning to musical theatre required serious vocal preparation. Reynolds reached out to her New York–based vocal coach Kaitlyn Davis to gauge whether her voice was ready. "She has really helped me find my voice again and find what my voice is now, all these years later, because it has changed and shifted," Reynolds said. "These songs are not easy and she gave me the space to explore."
Performing outdoors at Malkin Bowl means vocal discipline is paramount. Reynolds' routine includes vocal mist and strict warm-ups and cool-downs. She's also added daily cardio to train her breath control and vocal stamina for the show's demanding mix of disco, Motown, soul, R&B, and gospel.