I have been in love the Mamma Mia since the first day I ever saw it. The story was fun, but the music was exhilarating, and brought me back to my childhood love of ABBA music. As a person who loves musical theatre, I have often thought that Mamma Mia is one of the best “jukebox” musicals, where a show is written around the music of a single artist.
While I have loved the music, I haven’t really appreciated the story or the characters until I undertook this project. Through the creative process of the show, we have discovered that it is more than just a fluff piece of musical theatre. The characters are rich and the story, while on the surface might seem silly, instead has an incredible amount of depth, with a natural sense of real life.
The music, however, is what drives the story and the music is what everybody remembers the most. Who can deny the pleasure of any ABBA tune, and who doesn’t want to just get up and dance in their seats and aIsles?
It has been an extraordinary pleasure to work with the many talented people in the show. As a cast, they are some of the best in town. I’m in constant awe and admiration of their dedication and love of this project. We have had so many late night rehearsals, and no one has ever complained. They are true professionals and have a genuine love of the arts.
I have also had the extreme pleasure of working with the incredible talent of Wilfred Paloma and Jim Tompkins MacLaine. While everyone has busy schedules, they have managed to make this project a priority in their lives. I will always be grateful have to have these two gentlemen as my co-collaborators.
I would like to thank Kristina Petrea, Executive Director of Young Actors’ Theatre for always being the stable force in a sometimes frantic theater world. Her strong sense of reality always keeps me grounded. Thank you to the YAT Board of Directors for the ongoing support. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their constant support, and I would especially like to thank my husband, Jeff, for his support, patience and acceptance of the crazy world of theater!
I hope that you enjoy Mamma Mia, and I hope that you will always be able to find your inner Dancing Queen!!
Jean Isaac
