Raise your voice and let your freak flag fly, sings Casey Donovan, wearing a nun's habit.
The Australian production of Sister Act opens in Melbourne on Friday, and Donovan believes it might be the answer to the prayers of many.
"In the world we're living in right now, I think it's what people need," she said.
"It's just a story of friendship and love and community."
The musical is based on the 1992 comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg and has already been a smash on Broadway and in the West End.
Also starring Genevieve Lemon and Rhonda Burchmore, it is surprisingly Donovan's first lead role in a musical, as Deloris Van Cartier.
"I absolutely love it ... to stand in the leading lady light, it's amazing," she said.
The spotlight also finds Donovan's character Deloris Van Cartier - who pretends to be a nun after witnessing a murder and hides from the Mob in the convent - until the convent choir starts to attract unwanted attention.
The score by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken is inspired by Motown, soul and disco, but the songs are different to those in the film.
Menken's score is no less than a work of art and the script is full of wit, promises Lemon.
"For anybody who has had a Catholic background, you'll get all the jokes, and everybody else will get 98 per cent of them," she said.
Lemon, who plays Mother Superior, was taught by nuns at school and remembers some "spectacular" heads of convent.
She now relishes the chance to represent these important women.
Sister Act also sees theatre great Rhonda Burchmore, whose autobiography is titled Legs 11, hiding her legs under a habit and wearing sensible shoes as Sister Mary Lazarus.
"I usually go with a five-inch heel, but this is next level comfy," Burchmore said.
Sister Act has already played in Sydney and will tour Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth following its Melbourne run.
