Thank you so much for joining us for this production of Mamma Mia! I am so pleased to bring another musical to the Bentonville West stage and to share my love of musical theatre with our students.
When considering what musical we would produce this year, I knew I wanted something that was well-known, featured lots of treble voices, and is upbeat and fun. It's no secret that I'm not a fan of jukebox musicals, but we realized right away that Mamma Mia! was the perfect option for the current students in our theatre program. (If I could go back in time 10 years and tell my past self that I'd be choosing this show, she'd be appalled.)
For me, this show is about love: the love Donna shows Sophie in raising her alone, the love Tanya and Rosie show in supporting Donna through her struggles, the love Sam, Bill, and Harry show to Sophie when they discover she might be their daughter, the love Rosie and Bill find later in life, the love Donna and Sam discover never died. All these characters have opportunities to choose themselves, and they consistently choose to show each other love. We all make mistakes, but we can also be forgiven. Everyone is deserving of love.
When I think about love, the first emotion I think of is joy. As you sit in the audience today, I hope you think about the people you love who bring you joy, and you feel the joy we feel in getting this opportunity to perform for you.
To my cast: Thank you for your work in bringing this show to the stage, for uplifting each other, and for helping me to learn how to have a little more fun.
To my crew: Thank you for making us look so good! You have the hardest job of all and I will never have enough kind words for you.
To my student production team: Thank you for taking the initiative to make this show the best it can be. Your work made my job so much easier!
To my production staff: Thank you for your collaboration and support on this show. This truly is the dream team. Six shows down, a million to go!
I love you all and I'm so proud of you.
Enjoy the show!
Emily Schiavone
Director
