Welcome to Lexington High School’s production of Mamma Mia! The Musical. ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!
This show has a special place in my heart because it is the show I named my daughter after. Sophia was born in the spring of 2019 and I decided to produce Mamma Mia at my previous high school in the spring of 2020. Spring…2020…..as you can probably imagine I didn’t get to complete my original production of Mamma Mia! We had to stop right in the middle of the rehearsal process. We walked away from costumes, props, a half built set and months of hard work. It was heartbreaking! After that devastation, the pandemic destroyed the theatre program I had built in NC and I made the difficult decision to leave my home, move to SC and start over. Thankfully I was chosen to work at Lexington High School and Leslie Dellinger graciously allowed me to direct the musical this school year. I knew that I had to finish what I had started 3 years ago. I needed closure, I needed to prove I could do it, I needed to pay homage to my child, and I needed to start anew. Fortunately directing Mamma Mia at LHS has been a dream come true. This cast and crew are beyond talented, this community is beyond supportive, and I am beyond blessed to work here.
When I first started working on the LHS version of this production I knew that I wanted to incorporate the incredible LOPAC space to really surround the audience with the world of this musical. While watching this show you will see a cast of 45 students and they will be coming and going from all areas of this space. It allows the audience to feel truly immersed in the world of the play and feel like they are an important part of the story. The 30 person ensemble in this production have taken on the traditional role of the Greek Chorus. They know things that the main characters don’t know, they have opinions about the goings on of our leads, and they are always around watching and listening to the action taking place. There is rarely a moment when the ensemble is not enthralled with the drama of our main characters.
I hope when you leave Mamma Mia! tonight that you walk away feeling the overwhelming sense of family, friendship, love and belonging. This show has brought so much joy to my life and I hope that it can do the same for you. So please smile, laugh, cry, sing, and dance the evening away. These students have worked so hard to make this show possible and the more fun you have the better they will be. Remember that these students only get paid by your applause so please pay them well!
