SPECIAL THANKS
to the following who helped to make Mamma Mia! possible:
Christopher Garten - Head of School "Thank you for your service to 7 Hills"
Matthew Bolton - Head of the Upper School & Head of School-Elect
Susan Marrs -Assistant Head of School; Director of College Counseling & Director of Studies "Thank you for your service to 7 Hills"
Marc Raia - Upper School Theater Teacher
Jacob Hauser - Fine & Performing Arts Department Chair; Middle School Drama Teacher
The Arts Boosters
Dee Anne Bryll
Erin Carr
Dan Ledbetter Photography
Costume Castle
Dave Dumoulin - LW Office Furniture Warehouse
The Parents and Families of the cast and crew
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
I am excited and grateful to be a part of the Seven Hills Theatre program. I have known Marc Raia's work as an actor, a director and a teacher for decades. I jumped at the chance to work with him once again. In addition to Marc, I have been fortunate to work with two other talented faculty members, Tina Kuhlman and Trey Tatum. Mamma Mia! has been a team effort and I could not have done it without my three colleagues.
I have to admit to some slight trepidation when I was told I would be directing Mamma Mia! as my first show. ABBA? Seriously? You have to understand, in 1975-76, when ABBA was first making an impression on American music, I was listening to Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and Neil Young's Zuma. Swedish Pop/Dance music was nowhere on my musical radar. I had to find my way into ABBA's music. What brought me in was my love of vocal harmony. I loved the vocals of The Everly Brothers, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. ABBA's harmonies were my gateway into this show. What I realized after studying the script and the score is that Mamma Mia! is the "Rosetta Stone” of the Juke Box Musical, where you take existing songs and create a plot around them. This musical is solid and well crafted. No other Juke Box Musical comes close to Mamma Mia!. The show works.
I must credit the Seven Hills cast for bringing this show alive for me. They have been asking for this show for years. Their hard work, dedication and creativity are inspiring. I cannot wait to share their endeavors with you.
I dedicate this production of Mamma Mia! in memory of two "mia mammas", Mary C. Watson and Joan Starkey.
