From the Director
"Mamma Mia!" is quite a phenomenon in our culture, isn't it? Just seeing the title probably makes you start singing the hit ABBA tune in your head, and chances are you may have seen the show more than once. If so, I can relate. From the time I first saw this show on Broadway 8 years ago, I became hooked and saw it many times regionally, nationally, and even on cruise ships! When the rights to produce this show became available, our group, like others in the area, jumped on it. It was that impulse that made me begin to wonder, what makes this show so special? Why are people drawn to it so strongly? And most significantly, how do we produce a popular show in a way that provides a new experience to our audience?
At face value, it's often said that "Mamma Mia!" is a celebration of ABBA music, but we wanted to challenge that superficial notion. As we pored through the script, the lyrics, and the music, the creative team found a much deeper meaning of the script hidden in plain sight. "Mamma Mia!," and specifically the Greek island, represents an escape from reality. We first see this in the opening of the show when Sophie sings, "I have a dream / A song to sing / To help me cope / With anything." Through our staging, set design, lighting, and choreography, we explored this concept of "fantasy versus reality" and how the characters navigate each. For some characters, dreaming is a way to propel themselves forward, while others only want to live in the here and now. As you watch our production, I hope you will find a special connection with this fantasy island and see just why the characters wanted to come back from all different corners of the world.
To many of us, myself included, the theater is a special place where we can retreat from the realities of the world in which we live... a place where people of all different backgrounds converge for an experience that connects them and often helps them grow in some way. Community theater, in a very specific way, is an important vehicle for building bridges in our communities for actors, technicians, and audiences alike. At Golden Ticket Productions, our goal is to bring as many people into the "theater" fold as possible with opportunities both on stage and off stage.
I would like to personally thank our directing team, Alana and Ethan, for creating an "island" experience during this process. I am greatly appreciative of the cast who brought intense focus, creativity, and goodwill to our rehearsal process, and to our designers who brought this vision to life with a great deal of heart. This production was truly a collaborative, group effort of "Super Troupers."
And a big thank you to you, the audience. Your support and presence is what keeps our vision alive and well. You're truly "Golden!"
Joe Pope
Artistic Director
