Carmel High School Proudly Presents: “Mamma Mia!”

April 2021

Carmel, it’s that time of year again, and yes—this year’s Carmel High School (CHS) spring musical is going to be performed LIVE on May 6–7 at 7 p.m. and May 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Dale E. Graham Auditorium at CHS!

This will be the Carmel High School Performing Arts Department’s first live performance for an in-person audience since the pandemic commenced last year.

Bring Your Inner “Dancing Queen” to the Show!

This year’s production will feature 45 student actors and over 50 crew members. They are going all-out with production values too, as the set and costume designs are modeled after the Broadway production. The show ran in New York for 14 years, and now Carmel High School is thrilled to bring the show to Central Indiana.

The storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, nonstop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make “Mamma Mia!” a must-see production. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

A Round of Applause to Our Kids!

Assistant Director of Choirs and Spring Musical Director Anna DeBard is incredibly proud of the cast and crew for the level of commitment and heart they are all pouring into this year’s production. She and the student actors and crew are elated to be performing in front of 700 people per show, so let’s show them our appreciation and SELL THESE SHOWS OUT!

“It’s limited to 700 [people], which is actually great compared to the 200-person limit back in early January,” DeBard expressed. “With four performances we have an opportunity to get more of the community in and not just limit it to parents and family. It is very much a first-come, first-serve basis though!”

Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, this production of “Mamma Mia!” cannot be recorded or livestreamed.

DeBard added, “Tickets are currently on sale at the Carmel Choirs’ website.”

Audiences will be enthralled by the level of entertainment and professionalism that the cast and crew will exude in these performances. Anyone who has attended a musical presented by CHS already knows that it rivals a professional company’s production, and even I, who’ve attended Broadway productions, have forgotten that I was watching a high school musical and have been blown away at every show that I’ve attended in the last several years at CHS.

DeBard shared her thoughts on the cast and crew’s commitment to putting on the best show possible this May.

“The cast and crew, everyone really, is just hungry to be doing something and hungry to be putting on something that is community-based,” DeBard stated. “Not only is it an incredibly talented cast, crew and directing staff, there’s also this overwhelming desire to get back to some level of ‘normalcy,’ and I think that’s driving a lot of the kids as well as us directors.”

The Show Goes On and the Magic Happens

The set is very similar to the “Mamma Mia!” tour set for those devout fans who are familiar with it.

“Andrew Okerson, our tech director, and his crew have done some amazing thigs,” DeBard shared. “We’ve got a few surprises as well and are trying to make it as exciting and energetic and as Broadway-based as possible! The students have been working every day for over a month, and we’ve had to fill in more rehearsals than normal because we bumped the date up a week. So, that means we don’t really have much time to sit and relax, but the kids are totally fine with that!”

DeBard concluded, “They’re very self-motivated and self-driven, and it’s great to see that hunger for excellence. The cast and crew are just excited to be interacting with each other again—outside of school and their hybrid cohorts. It’s been really great to see they’re really energetic!”

I think it’s safe to say that audiences are every bit as hungry to see live shows in person again and are just as enthusiastic to support the Carmel High School Performing Arts Department, cast and crew! So, visit the website today, give some “Money, Money, Money” to these super troupers as our way of saying “Thank You for the Music”!

Tickets are on sale at https://secure.payk12.com/school/Carmel—Performing-Arts/671.

So, get yours before they slip through your fingers!

Writer:

Janelle Morrison

Photography:

Submitted