Get ready to dance, jive, and have the time of your life! Upper Merion’s very own Underground Players are back and better than ever as they take on the iconic global phenomenon Mamma Mia! for their spring production. Inspired by popular music written and recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, the beloved jukebox musical turned major motion picture follows the lives of Donna and Sophie Sheridan as they navigate love, family, and friendship on the Greek island of Kalokairi. Donna is busy planning her daughter’s wedding at their humble island hotel with the help of some old gal pals. Meanwhile Sophie, unbeknownst to Donna, secretly invites three men from her mother’s past, in hopes of finally finding her father and having him walk her down the aisle. On the eve of the wedding, old memories and forgotten feelings come flooding back as the potential dads and Donna reunite 20 years later.
The moment you step into the theater, you are instantly immersed in the coastal charm and sun-soaked excitement of a distinctly Greek summer, demonstrating the technical crew’s dedication to artistry and atmosphere. The painted backdrop captures many notable elements of Greek architecture and aesthetics, such as Cycladic structures with their distinct blue domes and vast rocky landscapes. Though positioned far behind the action on stage, the set was crafted with remarkable detail–every stone, structure, and brush stroke display the crew’s commitment to building an authentic, fully realized world for the audience. The backdrop is brought to life with three-dimensional sets that bring depth, texture, and volume to the scenery on stage. It’s clear these sets were thoughtfully designed and meticulously constructed, given that the scene transitions unfolded with such fluidity and flawless precision under the run crew’s prompt pace. Moving away from the stage, lighting choices made in the control booth elevated each musical number. Spotlights intensified raw emotion during powerful ballads while vibrant, sporadic colors flickered during dance sequences, transforming the stage into a lively disco. Working alongside lighting, the sound team also played a crucial role, skillfully adjusting microphone levels to balance the many voices on stage and successfully allowing each actor to shine with their own unique talents. Speaking of talents…
Kalea Dasilva perfectly captures the charismatic, fierce, and independent nature of her character Donna, while still remaining a motherly, nurturing figure. Grace Dean is a natural fit for Sophie, capturing her hopeful, romantic spirit while balancing it with a grounded demeanor. In addition to their strong acting, both leading ladies carried the entire show with their bold, stirring vocals. Next up, Tanya is many things: chic, flirty, witty, and loyal, all of which Maggie Dooner embodied with a spellbinding performance. Tanya’s gal pal Rosie is played by Ann Picariello whose high energy and comedic performance was expertly delivered. Following this group of confident women, we meet three men–each with his own distinct personality, yet all equally bewildered about why they’ve been called to the island. AJ Boyle brought a beautiful blend of sensitivity, quiet romance, and thoughtfulness to his portrayal of Sam, capturing the character with remarkable balance. Weston charged his performance with lively energy, bringing a charming mix of sincerity and quirky awkwardness. Finally, of the three men, Bill is played by Lucas Albini who brings an effortless charm to the role, embodying the character’s chill, free-spirited, and adventurous spirit with real authenticity. Aside from the trio, Sky, the other male lead, is played by Ethan Lee whose role as a romantic, loyal, and supportive partner is exceptional and whose commitment to the craft is unmistakable. Finally, Daisy Huller, London Cherry, Finn Pryor, Liam Kelly, and Marshall Lenhart don’t let the restraints of a smaller role prevent them from meeting the standards that the lead characters set as their nuanced performances enhance the play’s attention to detail and overall feel. In addition to the main cast, the dance corps and ensemble truly rocked the stage with their passionate, energetic performances. The dancers not only perfected their moves but also captured the emotional context of each song with their expressions. From the audience’s perspective, it was clear that the stage was filled with a large and lively cast. Yet despite the sheer number of performers, every moment unfolded with impressive precision and coordination. Watching so many talented individuals work together so seamlessly to create something so spectacular was inspiring.
Between the extraordinary performances, quality lighting, enthralling sound design, and sublime set pieces, this show cannot and will not let you down. This production is evidently the work of creative, determined and dedicated artists, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes so you ABBAsolutely do NOT want to miss out on a chance to see the Upper Merion Underground Player’s Mamma Mia!
Interviews from Cast and Crew:
What is the most memorable part of your experience while working on Mamma Mia!?
Mrs.Masino (Pit Orchestra): “Being able to bring all of the elements together! The music, the singing, the dancing, the lights, everything, all in one.”
Micah Depakakibo (Production Crew): “Getting to watch everyone: all the lights, sound, pit, crew, actors, all come together and make what this show is really supposed to be like. You cannot have this show without all of these different groups of people cause otherwise, it just feels empty.”
Ethan Lee (Cast):“Being in a wedding dress.”.
John Nguyen (Production Crew): “Seeing costumes come together cause that was really funny but also really well done. For example, Ethan in a wedding dress… that was absolutely the most hilarious thing I have seen in this whole show.”
Lauren Lee (Production Crew): “The people you meet. Meeting everyone is always exciting and it is really fun to work closely with your friends.”
Addie Varga (Dance Corps): “I think the most memorable experience working on this entire show was starting to build some new friendships with people in younger grades. Some of our after rehearsal rituals were one of the times we had a snowball fight after Saturday rehearsal, or just going out to eat afterwards and building those memorable moments with people.”
Elle Meade (Dance Corps): “Definitely during tech week when I slipped and fell during bows, ripped my pantyhose, and cut my leg open and destroyed my outfit.”
Taylor Solomon (Ensemble): “Probably, “Gimme Gimme” and Ethan wearing a wedding dress.”
Daisy Huller (Cast): “The most memorable moments were people almost jumping into the pit. Or at least talking about it.”
Tanya Gopalakrishnamuralidharan (Production Crew): “Having Micah get me Burger King and working with all these awesome people in lights and having Barash yell at us about random light stuff. And he also got hit in the head.”
Tony Ledbetter (Pit Orchestra): “Voulez-Vous because it is a really fun chart and there are a lot of accidentals. So it makes it fun.”
Why should people come see this show?
Mrs.Masino (Pit Orchestra): “Because it is super fun, very entertaining. They are going to sing, they are going to dance, and you will have a great time.”
Elle Meade (Dance Corps): “Because it is amazing. It is so fun and it is a musical everyone can enjoy no matter whether you have seen the show or not.”
Ethan Lee (Cast): “So they can see me in a wedding dress.”
John Nguyen (Production Crew): “We put a lot of hard work into it. Everyone has put a lot of hard work into it. And it is a really good show. It is super fun and even though I have seen it over and over again, I still have times when I smile so it is really good.”
Lauren Lee (Production Crew): “Because it is a really great show and we put a lot of effort into it and everyone’s time is very valuable so please come see it!”
Addie Varga (Dance Corps): “Everyone from the people on stage to the people backstage to people who aren’t even here at the moment, from costumes, media, everyone who has worked on this show has put in so much hard work in to it and I think it is all coming together beautifully and it is just a fun night of ABBA songs and dancing. It’s going to be a really fun time!”
Taylor Solomon (Ensemble): “We put a lot of work into it. And almost everyone got sick in this show so everyone should come see it after everyone basically almost died.”
Daisy Huller (Cast): “Because it is a ton of fun. Energy non-stop. And even the slow moments have a really good vibe to them.” “THE SET IS GOOD TOO” -Maya
Tanya Gopalakrishnamuralidharan (Production Crew): “People should come see this show because it is hilarious. It is ABBA songs and ABBA songs are great. And we worked really hard on this especially with all the snow days off and our wood shipment being late. And we all learned new things and tried new things so you should come see this show to appreciate our work.”
Tony Ledbetter (Pit Orchestra): “Because we are really cool people and it took a lot of effort to put together. Also, the homecoming king, Lucas Albini, has a lead.”
