Sister Act is showing here at Parkway Playhouse May 29-June 7, 2026!
We reached out to Reed Atherton, who is the director of this comedy, to find out more about him and his experience working on this production.
What part of this show is your favorite and why?
It is such a hilarious and iconic story. The 1992 Whoopi Goldberg movie was a staple of my 7th Grade Choir Class, and almost everyone I talk to about this show has a memory of watching the original movie. Between the laughter-inducing story and the music that makes you want to get out of your seat and dance, this show has proven to be incredibly fun not only for the cast on stage but also for everyone who has watched so far.
What about this show do you think will stick with audiences?
I really hope the love and community. When we started this process, I told the cast that I think this show has one central question: What is the byproduct of finding the connection between the sacred and the secular? I believe the answer is love and community. These characters want so desperately to find ways to love each other and build a strong community. To me, that’s not something that exists solely on stage. I hope that each audience member leaves feeling a stronger sense of love and community with those who came to see the show with them.
What have you loved so far about working with Parkway Playhouse?
This incredible cast, and the way that they have so openly been willing to share their wins, losses, joys, and blessings with one another. I feel overjoyed that our room is filled with so much laughter every single night. When I hear them all sing together, I cannot help but smile.
How did you get into theatre?
When I was six, my parents were flying back and forth to Boston in order to care for my younger sister. They wanted to find an activity for me so that I could socialize with people my age, while they were gone at times. That is the beautiful thing about theatre: it allows you to build a family and listen deeply to others’ stories, as they listen to yours.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the area?
I am incredibly partial to spring in Western North Carolina and all the beauty that it brings. After three years of going to school in Boston, it is so refreshing to be surrounded by so much nature. So you will catch me hiking outdoors, reading books, or simply just walking my dogs to soak it all up.
Tell us about yourself!
I am a soon-to-be graduate of Emerson College in Boston. I will be finishing my degree out in LA this fall. There, I have studied Theatre & Performance with specific concentrations in Acting and Directing. As an artist, I am pulled by pieces with characters dealing with the theme of Love. This includes stories of people dealing with romantic love as well as platonic love, love of self, love of society, and love of found family. I work to bring theatre back to what it was at its origins, a method of human connection, and a desperate fight for love and understanding of the world.
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