By VICKI BROWN
The CCHS Choral Department presented the musical “Mamma Mia!” on June 3rd and 7th at the CCHS Performing Arts Center, with another performance held on June 5th at the Walterboro Wildlife Amphitheater.
The performances were part of this year’s Rice Festival, and the choral department’s 7:00 p.m. performances seemed to delight every audience member as some sang along with the cast, laughed and avidly watching the stage.
The play features lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaus, and some songs with Stig Anderson. It is based on the book by Catherine Johnson, with the play conceived by Judy Craymer.
The local performance was led and directed by CCHS Choral Instructor Stephanie Drawdy and was choreographed by Camden Segura, Grace Ann Cox and Matilyn Griffin.
The local teen actors were lively and the singing superb. The set was colorful and eye catching, and created the perfect scene for the musical.
The storyline of “Mamma Mia!” is simple, and the plot generates confusion and jealousy that is humorous. The lead character, Sophie (Catherine Bunton), is set to marry Sky (Raleigh Obenaus). Sophie lives on a Greek island with her single mother, Donna (Rebekah Hanna). She knows nothing about who her father is until she reads her mother’s diary and discovers there are three men who may be her father, Sam (D’Andre Hicks), Bill (Alex Greene) and Harry (Kaleb Conover). She invites all three to her wedding, perhaps hoping that her real father will come. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, all three show up for the occasion. This leads to amusing antics in which all characters participate.
The Cast
Donna Sheridon played by Rebekah Hanna; Sophie Sheridon played by Catherine Bunton; Tanya Cresham-Leigh played by Anne Mathis Thomas; Rosie Mulligan played by Sierra Obenaus; Harry Bright played by Kaleb Conover; Sam Carmichael played by D’Andre Hicks; Bill Austin played by Alex Greene; Sky played by Raleigh Obenaus; Lisa played by Camden Segura; Ali played by Dorothy Dessoye; Pepper played by Blaine Cook; Eddie played by Johnathon Johnson; and Father Alexandrios played by Alyssa Hanna.
Ensemble
Jackson Bell, Marley Garvin, Jana Matthews, Ashley Goettee, Jeana Matthews, Dominic Elliott, Jenna Cox, Jennings Chapman, Tucker Spires, Abigail Corbett, Makel Bowman, Alyssa Hanna, Cody Keeney, Katelyn Chisolm-Riley, Makenzy Hand, Ian Shark, Annette Lopez, Destiny Case, Tylar Eversole, Gabrien Sullivan, and Montajiah Colleton.
Songs
‘I Have A Dream” sung by Sophie, Ali, Lisa, Ensemble; “Money, Money, Money” sung by Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Company; “Thank You For The Music” sung by Sophie, Sam, Harry, Bill; “Mamma Mia!” sung by Donna, Company; “Chiquitita” sung by Tanya, Rosie, Donna, Ensemble; “Dancing Queen” sung by Tanya, Rosie, Donna, Company; “Lay All Your Love On Me” sung by Sky, Sophie, Men; “Super Trouper” sung by Donna And The Dynamos; “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” sung by Sophie, Ali, Lisa, Company; “The Name Of The Game” sung by Sophie, Bill, Ensemble; “Voulez-Vous” sung by Company; “Entr’acte” sung by Company; “Under Attack” sung by Sophie, Chorus; “One Of Us” sung by Donna; “S.O.S” sung by Sam, Donna, Ensemble; “Does Your Mother Know” sung by Tanya, Pepper, Company; “Knowing Me, Knowing You” sung by Sam, Ensemble; “Our Last Summer” sung by Harry, Donna, Ensemble; “Slipping Through My Fingers” sung by Donna, Sophie; “The Winner Takes It All” sung by Donna; “Take A Chance On Me” sung by Rosie, Bill; “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” sung by Sam, Donna, Company; “I Have A Dream” (reprise) sung by Sophie, Company.
Crew
Director, Stephanie Drawdy, CCHS Chorus Director; Sound and Lights, Scott Grooms; Lights, Nate Erwin; Musical Score Tech, Dominic Elliott; Building and construction, Mike Swearingen; Small Set, Jamie and Terry Bunton; Tech and stage crew, Tyler Carlton/Cody Keeney/ Perry Smalls/Dominic Elliott/Tucker Spires/Lucas Lutz; Playbill program, Victoria Douglas and Madalynn Fulmer; Online ticket setup, Amy Jessen and Teresa Manigo; Costumes, Cathy Hunter; Choreography, Camden Segura; Backdrop and Special Art, Matilyn Griffin/Class of 2020.
“Mamma Mia!” was sponsored by Enterprise Bank of South Carolina, Bank Of The Lowcountry, The Bunton and Robbins’ Families, Coastal Electric Cooperative, Dukes Barbeque, Colleton County Arts Council, Cook Design Studio, Lowcountry Surgical Associates, Palmetto Foot Clinic, Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, Lynah’s Tours, Spencer Witkin, Dmd., Walterboro Pole Company, LLC., Breland’s Country Store, Carolyn Burns’ Piano Studio, Consignment Envy, Ryan and Amy Bunton, and Tire King. “Mamma Mia!” was presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International.
