The world premiere work — billed as "a fabulous disco spin on the heavenly hit movie" — will be a co-production with California's Pasadena Playhouse, which had already announced the musical for Oct. 24-Nov. 26, 2006.

A Jan. 17-Feb. 25, 2007, run in Atlanta was announced Feb. 28. Peter Schneider, the former producer for Disney's theatrical division, will direct.

In the 1992 movie with a screenplay by Joseph Howard, Whoopi Goldberg played a Reno, NV, singer running from her thug boyfriend and finding sanctuary in a convent. She becomes to choir director and brings a little soul to the habitués there. Veterans Maggie Smith and Mary Wickes were among the sisters who arched their eyebrows in the picture. A sequel, "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," followed.

Alan Menken is the Tony Award-nominated, Academy Award-winning composer of stage and film musicals, including Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, "The Little Mermaid" and more.

No casting has been announced.

The Steinkellners' other recent musical is the libretto to David Zippel's Princesses, still in development.

For more information, visit www.alliancetheatre.org or www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.