The Tippecanoe Valley High School Theater Department will present the musical “Mamma Mia!” on Thursday, March 21, Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. Shown rehearsing a scene on March 14 are Kaitlyn Eastgate, left, and Emma Craig.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — People may enjoy hearing ABBA’s songs through Tippecanoe Valley High School’s spring play.

The TVHS Theater Department will perform the musical “Mamma Mia!” at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 21 and 22, and 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23. Tickets may be purchased at the door or tvtheater.ludus.com.

The play tells the story of Sophie Sheridan, who tries to find out who her real father is before her wedding.

Director Thomas Boys said students suggested the play.

“It was to be an ambitious undertaking, but after seeing how many students were excited to hear this was a possibility, I decided to go for it,” he said.

“The overall theme of the show is love and acceptance, as shown through the main characters’ interaction,” said Boys. “The plot also touches on more social ideas such as single parenthood, search for personal identity and taking risks to achieve one’s dreams.”

Twenty-three students make up the cast, with 14 others serving as crew, with many of the latter being “members of the new technical theater class being taught at TVHS,” said Boys.

“The students are learning the amount of dedication and discipline it takes to make a production successful,” he said. “From the cast to the crew, all members are learning to work as a team with the understanding that each individual person’s contribution is equally important and integral to the show’s success.”

“These students have a real ‘heart’ for this show,” added Boys. “You will stand and applaud their efforts when you see them giving their all doing what they love. Assistant director Kayla Rassi, art director Lisa Lynch and I have been there every step of the way to guide students to see the value in what they’re doing and learn and enhance skills in all areas of theater production.”

Boys said audience members “can expect to enjoy the fantastic lights, sights and singing from a cast and crew that are pumped to bring this show to the public.”

“If you are a fan of the show or a fan of ABBA, a dominating musical force from the 1970s, you will be sure to leave the school with a positive feeling and perhaps be humming one of the well-known songs from the show,” he continued.

‘Mamma Mia!’ Cast List

Emma Craig, Kaitlyn Eastgate, Porter Rich, Jacob Kiefer, Kodiak Hillen, Anessa Stutzman, Sarah Gross, Madison Grossman, Kayly Miller, Olliver Pettit, Hailee Norman, Wyatt Craig, Karsen Putman, Sarah Farley, Karlee Harshman, David Walker, Guadalupe Jimenez-Baca, Cassie Rich, Karis King, Tessa Rich, Lily Kiefer, William Cunningham and Kaien Fields.

From left Emma Craig, Olliver Pettit, Wyatt Craig and Hailee Norman practice a scene from “Mamma Mia!” March 14.

Porter Rich, left, and Emma Craig rehearse a scene from “Mamma Mia!” on March 14.