When Sister Act performs its ninth annual concert in La Grande Friday, sisters actually will be part of the performance.

Three sets of sisters are members of the 22-member women’s chorus that will present its hour-long program starting at 7 p.m. at First Christian Church, 901 Penn Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Stacy Webster, president of Sister Act, is a soprano in the group while her sister, Vicky Brogoitti, is the narrator.

Sisters Jan Musgrove and Barb Shanklin also are members of the group.

Sisters Mandy Treanor and Joelle Trotter will be stepping away from the chorus for a few minutes to perform a duet.

But that’s not where the family relationships end. Webster and Brogoitti’s mother, Bernice Webster, sings soprano in Sister Act.

Treanor and Trotter are also joined by their mother, Mardene Dowdy, an alto.

Those attending Friday’s concert should expect to kick back and have a good time as the lively group performs some new songs as well as old favorites including, "He is Alive," "Just a Closer Walk," "Joy," "Rejoice," "Shout to the Lord," and others.

A quartet, made up of Sister Act’s director Cheryl Hudson, Carol Prescott, Debby Riggle and Angie Bard, will sing "Gonna Go Home to be with Jesus."

Accompanying the chorus on the piano is Carla Varland.

Testimonies from a few Sister Act members will also be included.

Many of the original members of the group, that formed a decade ago following the success of Whoopi Goldberg’s box-office smash, "Sister Act," are still getting together on Thursday evenings to practice.

"It’s our love for each other that has kept us together and our love for singing," Stacy Webster said. "We just really have a lot of fun."

Webster said the women originally got together to sing a couple "Sister Act" songs in church.

"People were excited to hear it. We decided to expand it and make it a ministry," she said.

Although Friday’s concert is the highlight of the year and the culmination of practice sessions that began last fall, Sister Act also performs before church and civic groups.

The chorus performed for the Soroptimists a week ago. A few years ago, it put on concerts in other Christian (Disciples of Christ) churches in Oregon. It also has performed at Disciples of Christ regional conferences.

"We’ve sung at the Elks, at various churches in town and at the Masonic Hall," Webster said.

She said the group is open to other engagements. Booking information is available from Hudson at 963-6908 or Webster at 963-6834.

Although all the members of Sister Act currently attend First Christian, Webster said the group is open to other women who enjoy singing.

Those attending Friday’s concert will not only be leaving with some tunes rolling around in their heads, they’ll have tasted ice cream sundaes, served in the church’s fellowship hall following the program.

Story by Dave Stave