Sisterhood is powerful on the Lehigh Valley stage.

Two musicals with women as the stars are at two venerable Allentown theaters.

MunOpCo Music Theatre, in its 95th season, presents “Dreamgirls,” Feb. 25 - March 5, Scottish Rite Cathedral, Allentown.

Civic Theatre of Allentown presents “Sister Act,” Feb. 24 - March 12, Nineteenth Street Theatre, Allentown.

In the musical comedy, a female singing trio from Chicago, led by the talented Effie, gets the big break at an amateur competition and begins singing backup vocals for James “Thunder” Early.

Things begin to spin out of control when their agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr., makes Deena, and not Effie, the lead singer for the hit group that will become known as The Dreams.

The show is based on real-life Motown girl groups, The Supremes, The Marvelettes and Martha & and Vandellas.

“Dreamgirls,” with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, opened on Broadway in 1981 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, receiving six Tonys.

The stage show was adapted into a 2006 movie musical starring Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson.

“This tale tells the trials and tribulations the African-American people encountered via music, drugs, family and love,” says MunOpoCo “Dreamgirls” director Ali Santos.

“This community, my community, has too many times been robbed of ideas, dance moves, inventions, education and most importantly, dreaming. Members of our community should be able to walk away with more of an education of black history and the way it has impacted our everyday lives,” Santos says.

Santos says that she hopes the musical’s “beautiful” story will inspire audiences to ask questions about the past.

The cast features Krystle Tate (Effie), Arianna Rodriguez (Deena), Taylor Hood (Lorrell), Rebekah Gray (Michelle), Marcell McKenzie (Curtis), Daniel Duch (Marty), Tyree Scott (Jimmy) and Treyvonn Cephas (CC).

The large cast includes Cormac Stone, Melissa Dorflinger, Krystal Cruz, Christina Graham, Nate Kuhns, Bob Calder, Juneika Martinez, Quisha Farrell, Victoria Spruill, Keane Carrington, Khylah Eure, Ashley Ocasio, Ciara Alford, Kayla Carrington, Reign Jodun-Allah, Shya Kohler, Mauri Crawford and Connie Santos.

The MunOpCo production has a 15-piece orchestra. David Mascari is music director. Karl DeBoeser is vocal director. Crystal Williams is choreographer. Jon Tobias is set designer. Connie Santos and Nate Kuhns are in charge of costumes.

“Dreamgirls,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, March 1-4; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5; virtual, 10 a.m. March 4, MunOpCo Music Theatre, Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1533 Hamilton St., Allentown. Tickets: 610-437-2441; https://www.munopco.org/

“Sister Act” at Civic

Civic Theatre of Allentown presents “Sister Act,” Feb. 24 - March 12, Nineteenth Street Theatre, Allentown.

“Sister Act” is a musical based on the hit 1992 film of the same title that starred Whoopi Goldberg.

In the musical comedy, when disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in a convent, the one place the police are sure she won’t be found.

Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle and a mother superior. Using her disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community.

In doing so, she blows her cover. Soon, the bad guys are after her, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly-found sisterhood.

Featuring original music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (“Newsies,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Little Shop of Horrors”), the musical has lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner.

The show opened on Broadway in 2011 and was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The civic production is directed by Will Morris and stars Deborah D’Haiti as Deloris.

Other main cast members include Miki Fuentes (Michelle), Deja Frazier (Tina), Keith Miller (Curtis Jackson), Bob Trexler (Joey), Diego Subero (Pablo), Dominique Shelby (TJ), Mike Firuta (Ernie), Justan Parker (Eddie Souther), Tracy Ceschin (Mother Superior) and Dan Becker (Monsignor O’Hara).

Playing nuns are Nina Elias, Mel Klausner, Trish Kane Steele, Julie Valenzuela and Marie Ann Suter.

Also in the cast: Alexis Cooper, Maya Costanzo, Christy Dunbar, Maggie Fajardo, Peaches Gordon, Sam Levisay, Nina Metrick, Grace Nyberg, Julia Urich, Lauren Verna and Maya Costanzo.

The March 5 performance will be presented with an ASL interpreter on the audience left side of the theater.

“Sister Act,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24-25, March 3-4, 9-11; 2 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5, 12, Civic Theatre of Allentown, Nineteenth Street Theatre, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown. Tickets: 610-432-8943; https://civictheatre.com/

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com