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By Sabrina Feuerbach
Wagner Excessive Faculty

Not many cult classics are as beloved within the theatre because the illustrious Mamma Mia. So it comes as no shock that Ross Sheppard would pour a lot coronary heart into their manufacturing. So Thank You For The Music, Ross Sheppard, in addition to the fabulous lighting and projections, and dedication to the roles, that made this present a must-see.

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Mamma Mia, whereas additionally identified for its 2008 movie adaptation fame, was initially a jukebox musical written by Catherine Johnson. The present, that includes lots of Swedish supergroup ABBA’s hits, debuted in 1999 on the West Finish, and hit Broadway two years later. The high-energy musical follows the story of single mom Donna and her daughter Sophie, the latter of which is getting married in a day’s time at her mom’s Greek island resort. Whereas Sophie has grown up her complete life understanding nothing about her father’s identification, she discovers three potential candidates and invitations all of them to the marriage, unbeknownst to her mom. This premise makes for a couple of hours of hilarity and campy musical numbers, all whereas it subtly pulls at your heartstrings. The present rapidly gained traction, incomes it the title of the longest-running jukebox musical in Broadway historical past.

Earlier than the opening quantity, Ross Sheppard was already displaying their technical experience. A surprising projection of a seaside view, designed by Chii Nguyen and Gabriel Baltazart, occupied the backdrop of the set and adjusted all through the present to match the time and tone of every scene. Baltazart, alongside Religion Wong and Tyler Watts, additionally contributed to the emotional lighting that furthered each temper of the present.

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Maybe some of the integral components of Mamma Mia is its full dedication to comedic timing. Ross Sheppard had comedic timing in spades; most notably from Noah Maldonado, taking part in the position of Tanya. Their particular person dedication (particularly to these heels), in addition to the chemistry current between Maldonado, Sophie Dufault (Rosie), and Jamie Spurrell (Donna Sheridan), made for a lot of fantastic moments that felt as if they’ve been a bunch of associates for many years.

Spurrell specifically completely personified her character of Donna Sheridan. With hovering vocals and a feisty perspective worthy of any stage, Spurrell really introduced the present to life. Whereas laughter crammed many of the present, the second act delivered a touching reminder concerning the coronary heart of Mamma Mia, and Spurrell had a guiding hand in each cases. The one-two intestine punch of each Slipping By way of My Fingers, sung with Elyn Marcos (Sophie Sheridan), and the ballad The Winner Takes It All, took the viewers proper to the uncooked middle of this musical; the significance of loving relationships, and the trials and tribulations that they create.

Each the stunning technical elements of the present, and the shifting performances from the solid, created a palpable sense of pleasure, and slightly little bit of Greece, inside Ross Sheppard’s very personal theatre.

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By Lauren Fersovitch
Wagner Excessive Faculty

Ross Sheppard Excessive Faculty left audiences feeling like Dancing Queens after their efficiency of Mamma Mia!! Written in 1997 by Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical with songs by ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Over 65 million individuals worldwide have seen a manufacturing of the present because it has performed in additional than 50 international locations. The present was tailored right into a film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried because the mother-daughter duo. Mamma Mia! follows Sophie Sheridan earlier than her marriage ceremony, as she tries to determine which of her three potential fathers is her organic dad, all whereas making an attempt to maintain their invitation a secret from her mother.

Within the position of Donna, Jamie Spurrell completely shone. With gorgeous vocals and excessive power, from the highly effective Cash Cash Cash to the heartfelt Slipping By way of My Fingers, Spurrell completely stole the present. As the opposite half of the mother-daughter duo, Elyn Marcos flawlessly encapsulated Sophie’s excitable power and persona. Marcos’ smile lit up the stage and introduced pleasure all through the theatre. The chemistry between these two was evident and had audiences feeling the love, particularly as they received prepared for Sophie’s Marriage ceremony.

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With a solid of over 30, it may be a problem to maintain the stage from feeling crowded, however they efficiently discovered the stability between being busy and changing into overwhelmed. The ensemble of this present was really so robust, and everyone had one thing to do, whether or not or not it’s taking part in playing cards or arm wrestling, so nobody ever appeared not sure. On high of that, balancing 30 voices isn’t any easy activity, however they created lovely harmonies and have been all capable of shine in their very own methods.

A present like this might not be potential with out their technical group. Below the stage administration of Gabi Layton and Jade Foote, with Carmille Apilado and Martine Jerome as ASMs, technicians seamlessly executed scene transitions, lighting and sound cues, adjustments of the projections, in addition to any crucial backstage help.

Upon coming into the theatre, viewers members have been instantly transported to Greece, with the painted flooring and set of neutrals and blues, in addition to lighting the stage with blues. Although each technical component was unbelievably essential in transporting viewers members to this world, the costumes have been equally and completely breathtaking. From the sunshine, flowy sundresses to Donna and the Dynamos’ unimaginable disco outfits, and all over the place in between, Angelina Vo, Nova Logan-Mutch, and Daphne Nabus completely outdid themselves.

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This present was splendidly accomplished, and all the solid and crew ought to be extraordinarily pleased with themselves and what they achieved.

By Emily Yiu
Archbishop MacDonald Excessive Faculty

A Greek island. An exuberant marriage ceremony. An enthusiastic lady. An ephemeral dream. Three envelopes are despatched within the mail, and an entrancing expertise kicks off for each the protagonist and the viewers! The group was enticed to dive in (with flippers in hand!) and discover the magical efficiency of Ross Sheppard Excessive Faculty’s Mamma Mia!

Conceived by Judy Cramer and written by Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia is a musical with songs written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, members of the Swedish group ABBA. The plot centres round Sophie, a headstrong lady looking for her father. In doing so, she invitations three potential individuals who may very well be her dad, and from there, whimsical hijinks ensue! Mamma Mia intertwines themes of affection and identification whereas additionally threading in components of hilarious comedy.

Elyn Marcos, also referred to as EJ, did an outstanding job because the lead character Sophie! Her singing was emotional and transported the viewers to a different world, whereas her facial expressions have been extraordinarily expressive and match the temper completely. From her excited squeals to her distressed and panicked actions, Marcos made Sophie really feel like a real particular person moderately than a stage character. Notably, when Marcos’ character screamed at her mom, Donna (performed by Jamie Spurrell), the feelings in her voice felt uncooked and heartbreaking, inspiring heart-rending chills within the viewers.

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One other exceptional particular person was Parker Douglas, who performed one of many ensemble members. The passion in his scenes was infectious, making him a personality positively price wanting ahead to. He might usually be seen doing enjoyable issues with different solid members (reminiscent of sharing drinks with them), and his affability in the direction of the others made the world of Mamma Mia really feel like a tight-knit group celebrating a rowdy time earlier than a marriage! He introduced all of his power to each scene he was in, reminiscent of the extreme and comical arm wrestling choreography.

Nevertheless, identical to how a marriage will need to have in depth behind-the-scenes preparations to make it wonderful, so too should a present! The projections within the background, accomplished by Chii Nguyen and Gabriel Baltazart, made the efficiency d
istinctive, enhancing the environment of the present. The projections cleverly confirmed the passage of time, with the sky altering from a vivid blue to a starry black. Within the tune Below Assault, the dynamic background added to the nightmarish temper with eyes that will periodically look down on the principle character. Moreover, the transitions have been persistently clean, little doubt because of the stage managers, Gabi Layton, Jade Foote, Carmille Apilado, and Martine Jerome! Each actor knew what gadgets they wanted to hold, which ensured that the downtime was quick! As effectively, the sound was all the time balanced and maintained with precision, because of Ava Rose Graham and Natalie Lam.

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It began with three envelopes despatched within the mail and an unsure dream. Ultimately, although, Ross Sheppard’s Mamma Mia turned the principle character’s uncertainty into surety, identical to the way it turned the viewers’s curiosity into felicity and vivacity!

By Kira Slator
Strathcona Excessive Faculty

‘ABBA-solutely unforgettable’ is definitely a phrase becoming to explain Ross Shepherd Excessive Faculty’s rendition of Mamma Mia! The Musical. Overflowing with irresistible attraction and a wave of nostalgic delight, this manufacturing had the viewers up and dancing lengthy after the ultimate curtain dropped.

Mamma Mia! stands as a gem amongst jukebox musicals, first gracing the stage of London’s West Finish theatre in 1999. Written by playwright Catherine Johnson, this manufacturing showcases a fusion of ABBA’s legendary compositions, that includes an array of songs composed by the acclaimed Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the Swedish pop ensemble. Having conquered the West Finish, this musical made its Broadway debut in 2001, to fast success; since then, Mamma Mia! has achieved the title of being the longest-reigning jukebox musical in Broadway historical past. Following the story of younger bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan on her quest to search out her father, Mamma Mia! is a energetic, infectious celebration of affection, identification, and second possibilities.

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Although the ensemble members on this manufacturing have been copious, the massive numbers didn’t overshadow glorious performers. Aaron Ostashower as Harry Brilliant, Samuel Penate Sosa as Invoice Austin, and naturally, Jamie Spurrell portraying Donna Sheridan all stood out as being devoted to their renditions of those beloved characters. Spurrell specifically, portraying the high-spirited hotelier, was capable of adeptly showcase the nuances current inside the character; by means of her portrayal, Donna blossomed as a multifaceted particular person, with Spurrell effortlessly balancing the roles of a faithful mom and an impartial girl. Ostashower and Penate Sosa have been distinctive as effectively, with Ostashower changing into a fast fan favorite by means of his depiction of the charming but honest Harry Brilliant; Penate Sosa’s efficiency because the loveable Invoice showcased an astute command of comedic timing, as he effortlessly delivered one-liners that stored the viewers in stitches at some point of the present. General, the solid featured quite a lot of proficient performers; with their enchanting stagecraft, they whisked viewers members away from the smoky veils of Edmonton and into the villas of Donna’s picturesque island.

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In such an ensemble-heavy manufacturing, it’s straightforward to grow to be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of individuals taking to the stage; the solid of this rendition, nonetheless, did a marvellous job of creating a small house appear expansive. To create this impact, the stage wings have been ingeniously employed. Each time scenes known as for backing vocals however not the presence of further characters on stage, actors would discreetly place themselves inside the wings. This association not solely gave the phantasm of a bigger stage but in addition allowed them to stay engaged within the scene. As well as, the usage of projections succeeded in transporting the viewers throughout the Aegean Sea and straight to the refuge of Donna’s island. Fully student-designed, the dwell photos of the ebbing sea projected behind the set allowed the viewers to be drawn in totally to the efficiency, included fully into the Greek paradise.

General, this manufacturing of Mamma Mia! The Musical by Ross Shepherd Excessive Faculty proved to be a convincing success. Brimming with nostalgia and exuberant enjoyable, this manufacturing left the viewers really “grateful for the music” that echoed of their hearts lengthy after the curtain fell.

By Savannah Robinson
W.P Wagner Excessive Faculty

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Ross Sheppard Excessive Faculty’s manufacturing of Mama Mia is really one to recollect. It highlights an attractive and empowering story crammed with excellent choreography and phenomenal set design. This manufacturing took the viewers by means of an emotional curler coaster journey. From laughing in pleasure to tear-jerking connections, Ross Sheppard’s manufacturing by no means did not maintain everyone hooked. Mama Mia is a jukebox musical with music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, primarily based on pre-existing songs from the band ABBA, and a ebook by Catherine Johnson. It follows the journey of a woman named Sophie Sheridan who invitations three males who might doubtlessly be her father to her marriage ceremony at her house in Greece in an try to determine who she is and issues get slightly uncontrolled. On the opposite aspect, we see her mom Donna struggling when compelled to come back nose to nose with a previous she hoped to maintain hidden eternally.

The dedication and precision these actors put into their characters really did wonders for this efficiency. The portrayal of Donna Sheridan by Jamie Spurrell was awe-inspiring. All of Spurrell’s character decisions from the tone of her voice to her intricate facial expressions actually engraved a deep connection between her character and the viewers. Her line supply was completely executed with highly effective and passionate singing that stored the viewers mesmerized and intertwined along with her character. What was really coronary heart melting to witness was the deep connection Spurrell’s character shaped with Sophie, portrayed by Elyn Marcos. Marcos did a wonderful job at brightening the stage along with her contagious smile. She confirmed innocence and naivety of Sophie, whereas additionally displaying the concern and confusion she felt inside. The connection between Donna and Sophie that was introduced by means of Spurrell and Marcos really resonated with everybody within the room.

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The sensible choreography and world-building by means of units positively made for an enthralling efficiency. Each single musical quantity was crammed with the right choreography to correctly seize the imaginative and prescient of the scene. The ensemble created picturesque actions on stage that everybody was able to executing brilliantly. The strikes added to the musical numbers produced all the things from humour to eeriness. The setting actually additionally helped obtain this. The set design not solely did a beautiful job in constructing the world but in addition supplied efficient transitional use for the actors. The sunshine and ethereal environment actually made the viewers really feel as if they have been in Greece. The double-sided set was additionally an impressive concept that allowed for seamless methods to utilize the restricted house that they had.

This manufacturing took an considerable quantity of labor from each the solid and crew. Everybody concerned introduced their very own individuality and uniqueness to this manufacturing, which is what made this present so pretty. Their power that was maintained for all the efficiency was excellent and made this manufacturing one that can keep within the minds of everybody for a really very long time.

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