Mamma Mia!

In this article, Haddix Blackmon announces the upcoming musical for Rogue Music Theatre.

Mamma Mia!

By Haddix Blackmon

A new show is coming to our lovely town of Grants Pass! After three years of waiting, Rogue Music Theater will finally be putting on the hit fairly family-friendly musical Mamma Mia! late this summer. The cast has begun rehearsal and will be working their hardest to be ready for the first performance on Aug. 26, 2022, being put on at Grants Pass High School in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). With the music and choreography on stage, this show is sure to make viewers want to jump out of their seats to dance with the cast! Now, please don’t do this, but it is okay to feel strong emotions.

First showing on Broadway in 2001, Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical filled with popular songs by the 1970’s pop band, ABBA. This classic showcases songs such as “Lay All Your Love On Me”, “Dancing Queen”, “Super Trouper '' and many more. Richard Propes from The Independent Critic describes the show as “...a joyous and vibrant musical filled with toe-tapping numbers. Unless you absolutely hate the music of ABBA, it is practically impossible to hate Mamma Mia!, These hits are all used to tell the story of Sophie (played by Mairen Ogle in RMT’s production) and her three possible long lost fathers, Sam (Ryon Lane), Bill (James Southwick) and Harry (Chris Green). The romantic and heartfelt main story, paired with ABBA’s soundtrack, as well as the setting of the show, makes for a great musical to end the summer season. This widely-known musical has been described by Denise Baker, the director of Rogue Music Theater’s Mamma Mia!, as a story of the bond between a mother and her daughter. Sophie is trying to understand herself and is doing so through understanding her family’s past. In order to do so, she invites her three possible dads, who have not been to the island in twenty years, to her wedding. Her mother, Donna (Alissa Barry), is a feisty, hardworking woman who does not need a man in her life to feel complete. With her childhood lovers showing face, many emotions have begun to surface.

Pictured by Denise Baker - Cast of RMT's Mamma Mia!

Although the show's main focus is around Sophie, Donna, and the three possible dads, there are plenty of other characters to watch throughout this musical. Other characters include Sophie’s two best friends, Ali (Ashlie Chatfield) and Lisa (Ava LaChance), Donna’s old friends Tanya (Melissa Allen) and Rosie (Michele Spohn), and Sophie's fiance, Sky (Ricky Reebel). These characters support and also make matters worse for Sophie and Donna as the show goes on. With the undying love for Sophie that Sky has, the excitement of Ali and Lisa over the wedding and the secret plot to find her dad, and the constant playful bickering of Tanya and Rosie, this show has a lot of fun relationships to watch on stage.

Mike Stapley, the music director, has been in charge of working behind the scenes with the cast to perfect this show's music and voices. Jeff Baker, the stage manager and general chaos controller, has been overseeing the production as the ball has started to roll on getting this show set up. With the choreography direction of Tanaia Green and the creativity of the director, Denise Baker, this show is finally coming to life as we head into the summer season.

Be sure to come to Mamma Mia! in August on the show dates of Aug. 26-28, 2022 and Sept. 2-4, 2022. Tickets will be $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and children. Our Mediterranean island paradise welcomes you to come and join us! Can’t wait to see you there.

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