New Westminster Secondary School students will soon take to the stage in a musical that’s been bringing joy to audiences around the world.
The NWSS musical theatre program, School’s Out Productions, is presenting Mamma Mia! at Massey Theatre from March 5 to 8.
“The team has long talked about producing this uplifting show because we love the music, and we wanted to do a show with human characters since our last two productions featured fairy tale characters from Beauty and the Beast and Shrek,” said Frances Monteleone, theatre teacher and director for NWSS School's Out Productions. “We wanted to give students an opportunity to explore a different genre and allow them to practice this style of characterization.”
For folks unfamiliar with Mamma Mia!, Sophie, a young bride-to-be, is determined to discover the identity of her father before her wedding day, so she secretly invites all three of her possible dads to a sunny Greek island in hopes of uncovering the mystery.
“Using the chart-topping songs of ABBA, this jukebox musical reminds us that friendships, understanding, and connections are what actually create a sense of belonging,” said a synopsis of Mamma Mia! “Join us as we explore the bond between a mother and a daughter as they navigate their way through personal growth and learn to cope with anything life throws at them.”
ABBA classics, including Mamma Mia!, The Winner Takes It All, Does Your Mother Know, Waterloo, I Have a Dream, Super Trouper and Dancing Queen, are among the tunes featured in this musical.
What can audiences expect from Mamma Mia!?
“High energy, passion, connection. Lively dance numbers with fast choreo, emotional songs where internal conflicts are revealed, and a plot that is reflective of real-life experiences,” Monteleone said. “We have strived to create a production where each player on the stage has created a unique individual to portray who helps to support the story being told.”
Who’s involved?
Rebecca Vander Zalm, a Grade 12 student who also played Shrek in the school’s last full-scale musical, has the lead role of Donna.
“She is an incredibly skilled actor who fully commits to character. She is professional, keen, and demonstrates a strong work ethic,” Monteleone said. “Rebecca has skills beyond her years and is going places. She aspires to perform professionally and is pursuing her learning in this discipline post-secondary.”
Rebecca said she's thrilled to be part of the cast.
“It’s been such a privilege to play Donna alongside such a talented team of teachers and peers,” she said. “I've definitely been able to step into my motherly shoes and I'm excited for everyone to experience the vast relationships Donna has with all the versatile characters in Mamma Mia!”
Grade 10 student Elyse Meville, who has been dancing competitively and performing for years with Lindbjerg Academy, will be playing Donna’s daughter, Sophie. Like Rebecca, she’s passionate about musical theatre and feels like she’s found a home in the NWSS program.
“I connect with Sophie’s curiosity and determination so it’s nice to present those aspects of her personality on the stage. I am also really lucky to work with Rebecca, who is playing my mom, because I have known her for years and have always looked up to her as a role model,” she said. “I think that the cast and crew have worked tremendously hard to make this show what it is. The teachers always put their hearts and souls into educating the students and go above and beyond their regular duties. I am excited for everyone in our community to see the magic we create.”
Rebecca and Elyse both take voice lessons outside of school with local instructor Peter Jorgensen.
The three dads are being played by Grade 11 students Christian Oljaca (Sam) and Liam Couch (Harry), and Grade 10 student Adrian Macias (Bill). For most of them, this is their first foray into musical theatre.
Olivia Muir, a Grade 11 student, is playing Donna’s quirky friend, Rosie, a member of Donna and the Dynamos. She has taken to the stage in many NWSS productions and also supports and mentors younger performing arts students at NWSS in junior classes.
Grade 11 student Rosie Haas is playing the rich and sophisticated Tanya, who is the final member of Donna and the Dynamos. In addition to performing, she plays on the school’s senior girls basketball team.
Grade 12 student Andre Paiva — a first-time musical theatre performer — is playing Sophie’s fiancé, Sky. Andre, who takes drama, choir, and directing and script development classes at NWSS, hopes to pursue film studies after graduating from high school.
Mamma Mia! What an undertaking
More than 75 NWSS students are involved in the production; some on stage, others behind the scenes.
“We have almost 50 students involved as performers, approximately 20 students in both crew and orchestra, and an additional 15 students working as hair and makeup,” Monteleone said. “The actors auditioned last spring, where we had close to 100 interested students from the district come out.”
Members of the crew take a specialized course in technical production skills called theatre production. They work on set painting, props creation, costume coordination, fundraising and more.
Monteleone said Alix Sabinin (Grade 12 tech guru) is a senior member of the production’s tech team.
“They started taking drama classes in Grade 9 and quickly found a love for the technical side of theatre performance,” she said. “For our production, they are assistant stage manager for props. Alix has designed lighting for the MT Foundations shows and has also stage managed (called all technical cues) for many of our productions in the non-auditioned courses and created and operated sound. They, too, are hoping to continue learning in this field post-secondary.”
While the students put a tremendous effort into the production, so do the teachers at New Westminster Secondary School.
Asked about the work that goes into the musical theatre productions, Monteleone said teachers begin the planning process in the previous school year in preparation for a September start.
“We hold auditions for specific roles in the fall and then practice, practice, practice,” she said. “We have weekend rehearsals and spend an entire week in the theatre before opening to build the set, program lighting, and run tech.”
Productions feature separate teachers for choreography, voice, acting/directing, orchestra, and hair and makeup, so they get specialized instruction in the separate disciplines of the musical theatre genre. The teachers also function as full producers of the show, with support from the school’s photography department where that teacher assists with creating all graphics and images.
“It’s an enormous undertaking and that’s why we only produce shows of this scale every two years,” Monteleone said. “We use a professional lighting designer and stage manager who happen to be former students from our program. We love the sense of community created. Our professional technical director has worked with us for years and provides great guidance. The students and teachers fundraise for the cost of the production and rely on ticket revenue and donations from sponsors to pay the bills.”
Anticipation is building as opening night nears.
“It’s all hands on deck. Students are working overtime to learn final numbers and polish their characterization,” Monteleone said. “This group of students has worked to really create a special bond where there is support and understanding. Throughout the process, they have been cooperative and enthusiastic.”
Monteleone said a number of Mamma Mia! cast members are taking part in an upcoming spring break trip to New York City, where they will get to meet Broadway professionals, participate in workshops, and attend productions.
In addition to the auditioned program, New Westminster Secondary School also runs a musical theatre foundations course every year. Open to students in grades 9 to 12, the course is an opportunity for all students to experience and learn the ins and outs of putting on a musical production.
Mamma Mia! takes to the Massey Theatre stage on Wednesday, March 5, Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, March 8 at 2 and 7 pm. Tickets are $24 for adults and $22 for students/children (plus service charges) and are available online.
