Needham High School drama students will “take a chance” this weekend, bringing ABBA’s greatest hits to the stage for its production of “Mamma Mia!”
The musical, a long-running hit on Broadway, follows 20-year-old bride-to-be Sophie, who is determined to have her father walk her down the aisle. But there’s one problem — Sophie doesn’t know who he is. Her mother’s old diary reveals three candidates, all of whom she invites to her Greek island wedding. The wedding countdown brings a wave of unexpected reunions between former lovers and longtime friends, all set to songs by the 1970s Swedish pop band.
Needham High’s Fine and Performing Arts Department is reviving “Mamma Mia!” for the first time since its October 2019 production, said Kristen Mazzocchi, the show’s director. She said “Mamma Mia!” feels like a good contrast with last year’s more serious production, “Les Misérables.”
“They’re both demanding, just in a little bit of different ways, so I liked that it was a big change from the last show,” Mazzocchi said.
“Mamma Mia!” features a cast of 62 students, complemented by two student musicians in the pit and about 20 students on the technical crew. The cast has been rehearsing every weekday since returning from winter break, Mazzocchi said.
Senior Max Scott, who plays Bill Austin, one of Sophie’s potential fathers, said he values the time spent having fun during rehearsals.
“There’s so much opportunity to add your own spin to the songs [and] have fun dances,” Scott said. “I think that rehearsals have been way more fun than they’ve ever been, with such a super uplifting, heartwarming musical.”
LeeAnn Sutton, the department’s program director, said she’s looking forward to attending the show and “seeing it in its glory.”
“When we’re thinking about a production like ‘Mamma Mia!’ it really takes a village,” Sutton said. “Students have to utilize teamwork, creativity, problem-solving and a fair bit of flexibility toward putting together such a large production.”
The performance includes 22 ABBA hits, such as “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All.” Having a lot of students in the ensemble this year allowed for impressive, large-scale dance numbers, Mazzocchi said.
“I think the thing about ABBA is you can’t not have fun with the music,” Mazzocchi said. “Even the students, who are obviously much younger than the generation of ABBA, love it. They love the music.”
Senior Mary Scott Dunn, who plays Sophie, can’t wait to see audience members of all ages enjoy the show and an iconic soundtrack.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing all generations enjoy the show, because the music is so widespread,” Dunn said. “I think that ‘Mamma Mia!’ is just bringing together all generations and communities at one place.”
Sutton said she is excited by the outpouring of support from the Needham community. “I love seeing the community buzz. It is really special to be part of a community that supports its performing arts in this way.”
Mazzocchi said she is looking forward to watching the students showcase their hard work.
“Once we get to the point where the show is ready to go and they perform it, I don’t do anything. I just watch,” Mazzocchi said. “It’s fun to see them make it happen and work together as a team, do all their various jobs and come together and help each other out. That’s always rewarding for me to see them do their thing.”
Performances will take place Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Newman Elementary School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults and can be purchased online.
This story is part of a partnership between the Needham Observer and the Boston University Department of Journalism.