Actress Jeannette Bayardelle proud to star in musical ‘Sister Act’

Bronx-born actress and singer Jeannette Bayardelle, who performed her one-woman play “SHIDA” last November at the American Repertory Theatre, is back in the Bay State in the role of Deloris Van Cartier in the five-time Tony-nominated musical “Sister Act.” The musical is playing through Sunday at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly.

Bayardelle is thrilled about playing the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg.

“I’ve been wanting to play Deloris for so long,” she tells the Banner, speaking by phone the day after the start of the North Shore run. “I’ve never met Whoopi Goldberg. That’s a dream of mine. She’s been my mentor from a distance and I would love to meet her.”

Bayardelle also starred in the revival production of “Hair” on Broadway, and received an NAACP award for “Best Lead Actress in a Musical” for her role as Celie on the first national tour of “The Color Purple,” another role Goldberg has played.

“I always wanted to be a part of ‘Sister Act,’” Bayardelle says. “When I got the opportunity to audition I was just so excited. I feel like the character of Deloris is closest to my personality. She wants to be a star. She wants to be a performer. She’s witty. She’s funny. I have so much fun playing her.”

As the lead in “Sister Act,” Bayardelle knows she has to set the tone for the rest of actors. She radiates positivity and makes sure she “keeps it nice, light and fun, but professional” at all times, she says.

She knows how lucky she is to have this opportunity.

In 2008, she suffered a severe pulmonary embolism in her lungs while on tour with “The Color Purple,” flying from New York to Portland. She initially felt sick and couldn’t breathe. Once the plane landed, she was rushed off to the hospital and doctors discovered that she had clots in both lungs. Bayardelle pulled through and is now healthy. Knowing that she’s received another shot at life, she refuses to let fear stop her from achieving any of her dreams.

Despite having only two weeks to “put the show up” for its regional run, Bayardelle feels relieved, happy and blessed.

“I’m thankful for the team we have,” she says. “Our director Kevin Hill is amazing. He’s a visionary. He put this thing together. It blows my mind what were able to accomplish.”

The actress is also bursting with pride in the cast.

“Everyone is so lovely and talented. I’m just grateful for each and every person on that stage.” She especially praises her co-star Ellen Harvey, who stars as Mother Superior. “This woman is so amazing,” she says. “I love her. I love playing opposite her. She makes it easy.”

When asked what her favorite scene in the musical is, Bayardelle says it’s the last song that they sing before the curtain call, where everyone comes out with glittery outfits and is out and singing.

“That always gets to me,” she says, “because that’s the moment that I feel like ‘Wow, I’m doing what I love.’ These are great people. I’m just blessed and I don’t want to take it for granted. I don’t want to take anything that I do for granted. I have to live in this moment. In this moment, I’m with these cast members and we’ve told this story and all is well with the world.”