First Look at St. Andrew’s Mamma Mia!: The Greek Island Musical Fantasy

As a child of the 70’s and early 80’s, I was inevitably surrounded by the music of ABBA, the Swedish musical group made up of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. So, as a Broadway fan, I was pleasantly surprised when Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway in 2001. ABBA ignited the jukebox musical fad that took over theatres in New York, London, and beyond. 

Shows that fit the jukebox musical genre share specific characteristics. They use preexisting songs connected by an overarching narrative and are sung by fictional characters. Furthermore, the show is meant for a live performance, even when the songs were not originally composed for a musical¹. Mamma Mia! was not the first jukebox musical, but it opened the door for so many popular productions, which include Rock of Ages, based on 80's glam rock; On Your Feet!, which showcases Gloria Estefan’s music; and Hell’s Kitchen, based on Alicia Keys’ songs. 

The St. Andrew’s production of Mamma Mia!, which runs from February 5th through the 9th at the Dell Fine Arts Center (DFAC), brings to life a romantic Greek island through solid performances, amazing stagecraft, and songs that tempt every audience member to get up from their seats and dance.

A good show always makes you feel that there is an actual world that breathes on stage. The challenge of theatre artists and technicians is to make the audience believe in the physical dimensions of this constructed reality. Since I experienced one of the last dress rehearsals of Mamma Mia!, I was able to see the director, Jason Kruger, giving directions; I listened to the musical director, Olivia Havel, making observations from the sound booth; and witnessed the choreographer, Taylor Rainbolt-Bernal, making sure that the dancing went without a hitch. Their energy demonstrates that what happens backstage and during rehearsals is as exciting as the show itself. But even with their interventions, the teenage performers behaved like seasoned professionals and continued inhabiting the Greek island where a young woman, Sophie (played by Amelia Brandon and Lucy Bowles), looks forward to meeting her biological father, while her mother, Donna (played by Addy Zimmerman and Kaitlyn Zimmermann), prepares her small hotel for her daughter’s wedding. 

The plot thickens when Sophie invites her three possible fathers to the wedding: Sam (played by Benjamin Gillham), the romantic architect; Bill (played by William May and David Moore), the adventurous traveler; and Harry (played by Jude Bush and Matthew Sykes), the proper British gentleman. Donna’s two best friends also come by to provide support. Their personalities beautifully complement each other with Donna’s independent spirit, Rosie’s (played by Andrea Osteicoechea and Allegra Pizzolatto) confident feminism, and Tanya’s (played by Charli Squire and Ava Barnard) love for the finer things in life. Alongside the main characters, the strong ensemble cast makes sure that the audience has fun. 

As a Spanish teacher, it is inspiring to see students bring their best energy to the production. I was also highly impressed with the featured dancers, who added much needed corporeality and movement to ABBA’s hits. What’s more, the professional level of work of designers such as Nick Pascarosa (Technical Director), Bill Peeler (Lighting), Laura Skipper (Costumes), and Brydon H. Lidle, IV (Scenic and Projections Designer), among many others, ensures that the island of Kalokairi is filled with festive colors, white stone-colored structures, and the feeling of a sun-drenched Mediterranean beach. 

Yet the true greatness of this dazzling show is the work that these teachers put into recreating an inspiring theatre experience for students. Furthermore, the sacrifice that the young performers devote to their work demonstrates that a student’s life is hard. But when they bring their all, magic and beauty will always be the inevitable outcome.

Read More About Mamma Mia! 

Love, Laughs and ABBA Hits—Mamma Mia! Hits St. Andrew’s This February
Purchase Tickets


_{¹ Byrne, Kevin, and Emily Fuchs. Introduction. The Jukebox Musical: An Interpretive History, Routledge, 2022, p. 7.}