You can hear the ocean waves lapping on the sandy shore. A cool, salty breeze nips at your skin. You lay down, and no clouds are in sight as you feel the sand collect between your toes and the sun, drowning your body in warmth. Is it summer already? Not quite. That sun you feel? Stage lights. The ocean sounds? A soundtrack. You are not lounging in Greece during summer, but it is the next best thing. Welcome to White Station High School’s (WSHS) production of “Mamma Mia!”
“I really am excited for the kids to be seen; they are fabulous,” Camryn Pitts, director, said. “[The kids] have worked so hard, and I’ve spent so much time … and effort, and they are doing some acting on this stage. It is beautiful and breathtaking, and there are moments that are gonna make people cry, and there are moments that people are gonna laugh and have an amazing time. It’s just the kids’ work is amazing, and watching it come together has been fun.”
For Pitts, she lives in the world of all things singing, dancing and acting. Long before students start the new school term, Pitts begins to conjure up ideas for the year ahead. Immediately, Pitts felt a pull towards her long standing musical love, “Mamma Mia,” as a contender for the school’s musical of choice this year.
“There’s a lot that goes into choosing a show … It’s a lot of looking at the group of students I have, the ones that I know are staying [and] the ones that I know I’m losing.” Pitts said. “And then the other part of it is if I’m not excited about a show, then the kids aren’t going to be into it. And so ‘Mamma Mia’ is one of my favorite musicals; it’s always been.”
For cast and crew members, “Mamma Mia” has provided them with an outlet to share their passion for performing. Some want to pursue musical theater as a career, while others are using it to push themselves out of their comfort zone. Regardless of their motivation behind joining the musical, seasoned singers, those just beginning to dip their toes into the acting pool and “techies” alike come together to produce a show worth remembering.
“It’s about the experience for me because I’m still [kind of] new to doing [theater]; I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone,” Derwin Miller (9) said.
As for the scenic storytelling, it is largely a group effort. It requires many hands to make the stage come to life. Cast, crew and even the occasional stragglers from AP-3D art volunteered their artistic and creative talents as they worked towards creating the set. Staying true to the essence of “Mamma Mia,” many hours were put towards bringing the vibrant landscape of Greece to viewers.
“I’m having such a good time getting to help with this amazing production,” David Pentecost, set painter, said. “I feel lucky and honored to help them with the show … Their hard work has inspired me to want to be a part of this [production]. I know how hard they’ve worked on it … I want to do a good job for [the students].”
Hidden beneath the humor and songs, this traditional ‘jukebox’ musical houses a lesson of family and, more specifically, chosen family.
“The whole story of Mamma Mia is about family,” Pitts said. “ You can choose who your family is … [and] the fact that the people around you can be your family is a really beautiful part of the story. It’s a really beautiful heartfelt story once you get to the core of [Mamma Mia].”
For many of the thespians at WSHS, the magic of theatre not only lies in the art of the storytelling, but the bond between members of the community. The tight-knit and supportive nature of the community is a defining characteristic of WSHS theater.
“These kids are very close and they’re their own family here, but it’s a welcoming family; we have new kids come in and join us all the time,” Pitts said. “The older kids take the new kids under their wing and it just creates a really beautiful family unit. It’s a beautiful thing to come to work and feel like, you know, we are a family here.”