Only a few months away from opening night, this year’s musical production of Mamma Mia! is in full swing, consisting of a cast of 57 students and 4 teachers. I spoke to a couple of students who are taking part in the musical to hear their highs and lows of creating the show.

  Karson Smith ‘22, a member of the ensemble, told me that her favorite part of creating the musical so far has been “getting together to create dances that include the entire cast of the show”. According to Karson, the most difficult aspect of the production is figuring out how to “ incorporate everyone and their talent levels on such a large spectrum” Karson’s favorite scene from the musical is “Money, Money”. 

I also interviewed Juliet Oswald ‘22, another cast member in this year’s production. Juliet enjoys spending time with her friends during rehearsals, working hard while also “hang[ing] out and hav[ing] fun while we’re practicing”. The demanding dance aspect of the musical has been a challenge for many cast members. “Choreography is super difficult” says Oswald, “because I’m not a trained dancer like some of the girls and I can’t catch on as fast”. Juliet’s favorite scene is also “Money, Money, mostly because it’s not only dancing so it’s easier for me to grasp”.

For me, myself a member of the ensemble, the best part of creating this show is getting to learn everything alongside my friends. During practice, we laugh it off when we make mistakes, talk through choreography, and learn music together. The camaraderie between cast members creates a truly constructive and positive environment of growth, which (in my opinion) will lead to an astonishing production.