By Sydney Schuhmacher
“Mamma Mia” is coming to Marathon and it’s not the 2008 classic movie or its 2018 sequel. It’s “Mamma Mia,The Musical” and will be playing Friday and Saturday, April 12-13 at Marathon High School. Tickets are $10 and curtain goes up at 7 p.m.
With “The Wiz,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Chicago” and “Legally Blonde” under its belt, the Drama Club is ready to add another hit to its repertoire. The story features an independent lady hotelier in the Greek islands who is readying for her daughter’s wedding with the help of some girlfriends. Meanwhile her daughter has invited three men from her mother’s past, hoping to meet her biological father who might escort her down the aisle.
Sophomore Mary Ryder plays Sophie Sheridan, and she is very familiar with the stage. The 16-year-old joined Drama Club in sixth grade and has been in nine productions.
Each musical and play is chosen by students in Drama Club.
“The energy level we needed for this show was very similar to our last show, and we really enjoyed ‘Legally Blonde,’ so we wanted a similar show,” said Ryder. “It was between ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ and we definitely thought ‘Mamma Mia’ was a much better fit for our cast.”
“Mamma Mia” is senior Shannon Pitchford’s last production and she plays Donna Sheridan, made famous by Meryl Streep in the Hollywood movie.
“I absolutely love Meryl Streep and, from the beginning, as soon as I heard we were considering this show, I just said ‘Donna,’” Pitchford said. “That’s kind of who I am — she’s weird and quirky but still powerful and strong. I am just so happy to be playing her, so I’m really excited and I hope that I give a good rendition of her.”
Pitchford will attend Florida State University in the fall, and plans on continuing her involvement in theater.
Senior Jay Walters is also heading to college and thinks he’ll keep up the singing after high school. He plays Sam Carmichael in the show and said that choosing musicals is all about what will be fun and enjoyable. Walters’ first musical was “Chicago” when he was a freshman.
Stage manager Myreen Roxas is a senior. “Mamma Mia” will also be her final high school production. When asked about the best part about being the stage manager, she said, “I get to yell at people, but not too much. I get to have control over what should happen.” Roxas is a fan of the technical side of theater and plans on making theater her minor in college.
Carrollyn Cox is the director of “Mamma Mia.” She started teaching at Marathon High School in 2008, is a science teacher and the Academic Challenge coach. She has been involved in Drama Club ever since it was created. She comes from a musical family and went to college for theater but came out a biologist. Cox described “Mamma Mia” as a “feel-good show” with classic tunes and said she hopes by the end audience members will be on their feet singing along.
