Mamma Mia: Inside Scoop

Fun dancing, amazing singing to infectious songs, and dynamic trios, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School’s spring production of Mamma Mia has it all. 

I was fortunate enough to attend the hustle and bustle of tech week as the Stage One Saints are working hard to make sure everything is perfect for opening night. I felt lucky to be a part of the excitement while getting an inside look of the inner workings of putting a show together. 

It started with a mic check giving me a taste of little parts from the show. Abba songs bellowing through the building as the cast practices is bone-chilling. The whole cast warms up together doing silly tongue twisters, stretches, and scales. It was cool watching everyone begin to completely transform into their characters. The months of practice are noticeable by how natural everyone is while engulfed into their character. The chemistry between the cast and the inside jokes were nice to be able to see especially from the pit band showing me their “ringtone.” I like that they are able to have lots of fun and laughter along with being efficient during rehearsals.

There is so much going on backstage, so remember while you are enjoying the show from the audience, backstage there are; prop tables, sound systems, costumes, and cast and crew members running around. Everything has a place in order for the show to run smoothly. There are also many crew members who are there to make sure everything goes as planned. Everyone’s make-up was perfect for their character and the stage, but funny to see it up close. 

I was then able to see the show up until one of my favorite ABBA songs, “Dancing Queen.” The pit kicks off the show with a medley of many Mamma Mia songs, which had my heart racing. I was so excited to see what was next. Then, Charlotte Nichols ‘24 came on the stage with such a delightful presence and exceptional vocals which she continued to entertain beautifully throughout. Her costume was perfect for her character, Sophie. The Ensemble was so much fun to watch with lively choreography and marvelous costumes. Amber Dunton ‘23 did a phenomenal job in commanding the stage as Donna. 

When watching this show, there are many aspects besides the incredible singing and dancing to appreciate such as the backstage crew, lighting and sound, the pit band, make-up artists, costume coordinators, choreographers, and more. From the beloved music to the vibrance of the show, it is a must see!

Shows are:

Friday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 4 at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Buy tickets here.