playbill vip

It is easy to dismiss Mamma Mia! as another fun, but ultimately frivolous jukebox musical with fun Abba tunes and a disco beat. Those that do are dangerously close to missing the entire point of the show. Cathryn Johnson who wrote the book, did so as a tribute to female empowerment, and so she wrote a show that contains not one, but six powerful female friends who are not in competition with one another, but there to support and uplift one another. Johnson, along with Mamma Mia! creator Judy Craymer and Phyllida Lloyd who directed the original production of Mamma Mia! Ended up making history as one of the only all-female production teams on the West End, and then Broadway. While Mamma Mia! is indeed a fun show, it’s deeper meaning can be seen in Sophie’s search and ultimate discovery in who she truly is and what ultimately makes her happy. The search for identity, I believe is one that needs to be acknowledged as an integral part of the high school experience. The person a student enters high school as is often not the same person they leave as. Interests, goals, and motivations change. There is so much discovery that happens in these four years that mirrors the journey Sophie takes from the beginning of the show to the end.  This show also mirrors a part of my journey here at Newport Harbor. A few years ago, Joe D’Aquino trusted the “tech guy” to direct a small one act show, and now here I am directing a show that sees not only a cast of 30 but a large crew and the return of live music in our “Tarpit” Orchestra. I could not have done this show without some incredible individuals to contribute their expertise including the return of my 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee “dream team” of vocal director Jeffery Ledon and choreographer Sara Lunsford, and the addition of Mr. Andy Julian who is leading our live band for the run of this show who is a pretty good guy for a UCLA Bruin. This show could also not have been as successful without the help of my Assistant Director, Gabriella Earnhart. Finally, many thanks to the NHHS Administration, our Friends of Wentz Boosters, and my wife who had to listen to hours of Abba songs in the car over, and over, and over again. My journey at Newport Harbor has been profoundly enhanced by traveling the road with this group.                       

                                                                                               Christopher Ramirez