playbill vip

The music of ABBA was introduced to a new generation when their iconic music was the inspiration for a production that hit the stage in 1999.  In 2008, it was re-imagined into a big screen musical that so many of us have watched over and over again. It has that magical combination: fun music that makes you want to sing and dance along, great characters that make you laugh and cry, and a storyline that at its core is the love between a mother and a daughter.

I’d like to thank our creative team, who have collaborated to bring you this fantastic show. We have brought Sharron April on board this year as our Set Designer, and she has truly placed us on the island of Kalokairi, Greece. She has a wonderful way of teaching students as she accomplishes her artistry, and we are so grateful to her. Stan St. Onge and Tyler Soucy bring their magic to lights and sound, while Carl Benevides directs our orchestra, bringing a real professionalism to our production. Student Stage Manager Claire Sullivan has this show well in hand and is the hardest worker I know. Choreographer Amy McGuigan brought her special flare to these iconic dances and included former student Timmy Saunders and current students Emma Richards and Delaney Corcoran as they collaborated on several terrific numbers. Kim Whitehead brings her special talents to the complex harmonies of these ABBA songs and to the keyboard she plays in the orchestra. 

I would also like to thank our cast and crew. 52 students who have committed to the show and to each other. They have brought their very best to this production, and I am so proud of them.

This year, some significant goodbyes are being said. The first is to our 11 Seniors, some who have joined us for the first time this year, some I have worked with for the past 8 years. And two who have been together either watching from the sidelines or performing on the stage together since they were 5 years old, Lucy and Mitchell. To my own Senior, the baby of the family, thank you for all the years of putting up with having your mother present in your school life…it has been an incredible privilege to watch you grow into this accomplished performer.

This brings me to my second goodbye, to Denise Jacobs. She and I have been working in tandem on AMS and Souhegan shows for 13 years. She has been my sounding board, my confidante, my ally and my partner. Along with Kim, we were our very own Dynamo trio, and our time together with AMS Theater Club holds some of my favorite memories. I am so grateful that she joined us here at Souhegan to create just a few more. She does far more for this program than anyone knows, and I will miss her wit, her creativity, her kindness and her presence more than words can express.

And the final goodbye for me this year was very unexpected. My mother was the ultimate ABBA fan, with records, 8 tracks, and cassettes of every album. When we announced “Mamma Mia!” for this year’s Spring Musical, she was so excited, and everyone I have talked with these last few weeks has shared that she could not wait for the show. Her passing on March 4^th was something for which no one was prepared, and I appreciate all the love and support Lucy and I received from my cast, crew and creative team as we and our family process this loss.

We are excited to bring you along with us on this journey to Greece. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, as we share the story of a mother, a daughter, and the importance of family. And join us at the end of the show- we know you know the words!!

Jennifer