60 John Glenn students bring 'Mamma Mia!' to the Pritchard Laughlin Center

Special to the Daily Jeffersonian
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

NEW CONCORD − John Glenn High School is bringing "Mamma Mia!" to the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center.

Full of surprises, humor and music, it is a tale of a bride-to-be who wants her father to give her away, but there's a catch. She doesn't know who her father is. Snooping through her mother’s diary, the bride makes a discovery that sets the show in motion.

Intertwined with the familiar and beloved songs of ABBA, the audience follows the story of Sophie (Lily Jefferis) who brings Sam (Riley West), Harry (Kole Williams), and Bill (Liam Clinard) to her mother Donna’s (Eliza Morrow) small hotel in the Greek Isles to determine which man is her father.

Eliza Morrow (center) plays the role of Donna in the John Glenn production of "Mamma Mia!" The show opens on April 28 at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. For more photos visit www.daily-jeff.com.
Eliza Morrow (center) plays the role of Donna in the John Glenn production of "Mamma Mia!" The show opens on April 28 at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. For more photos visit www.daily-jeff.com.

Fortunately, Donna has her two best friends and previous musical group members from Donna and the Dynamos, Tanya (Isy Bronner) and Rosie (Megan Morrow), to navigate the wedding weekend with support, fun, and music. Sophie’s fiancée Sky (Cooper Gadd) and best friends Ali (Emmy Baird) and Lisa (Jamie Ellis) are also there for the big day. The show is enhanced by Sky’s friends and hotel workers Pepper (Tanner Caudill) and Eddie (Townes Moore) and wedding officiant Father Alexandrios (Zack Boyd) also join in the fun.

Cooper Gadd (left) and Lily Jeffries tackle the roles of Sky and Sophie, respectively, in the John Glenn High School production of Mamma Mia! For more photos visit www.daily-jeff.com.
Cooper Gadd (left) and Lily Jeffries tackle the roles of Sky and Sophie, respectively, in the John Glenn High School production of Mamma Mia! For more photos visit www.daily-jeff.com.

Favorite songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “Lay All Your Love On Me” and “Momma Mia” are sung by a cast of 60 John Glenn students. The choreography was created by co-director Trinity Milliken and many of the students. Be prepared at the end for a sing-a-long where the entire cast joins the audience in singing their favorite ABBA songs.

"Momma Mia!" is based on the book by Catherine Johnson and originally conceived by Judy Craymer. The John Glenn cast is under the direction of Melinda Kaiser, choir/music director. Kaiser states “With a cast and crew of more than 60 students, all of whom have been hard at work since winter break, there is no denying the great show these students have created.”

Tanner Caudill (left) plays Pepper as Isy Bonner (right) delights as Tanya in "Mamma Mia!"
Tanner Caudill (left) plays Pepper as Isy Bonner (right) delights as Tanya in "Mamma Mia!"

The show will be presented at 7 p.m. April 28 and 29 and at 3 p.m. April 30 at Prichard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and can be purchased at the door, by visiting www.etix.com, or by calling the civic center at 740-439-7009.

Submitted by Kathleen Jeffries

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn students bring 'Mamma Mia!' to the Pritchard Laughlin Center