Dublin High’s Drama program put on their spectacular show, Mamma Mia! a few months ago, beginning with a special preview night for middle schoolers on Wednesday and ending off with senior recognitions (bows) on Saturday. The show was a major success, garnering major support from the Dublin community. This show, and the department as a whole, truly showcase the collective nature of the drama program. There are a number of moving parts to it all, including acting, choreographing, singing, and designing. Dublin High’s Drama department proved that when these disparate parts are seamlessly assembled, the result is a truly great show.
The show has been in production since the start of the school year, with the whole crew meeting up nearly every day after school to rehearse. Especially in the weeks leading up to the show, rehearsals were often long and unforgiving, pushing students to the ede of perfection. However, every member of the cast and crew stepped up to the challenge, giving their absolute best to ensure a successful show.
From a spectator’s point of view, the show was magical. While Mamma Mia! itself is a classic play with the backdrop of powerful vocals by the pop group ABBA, the drama department performance of it was full of its own unique twists that brought the play to life. First and foremost, the cast all did a phenomenal job, making sure to balance the high-octane musical numbers with the emotion of the story itself. The extras that would join the scenes displayed high amounts of energy and passion, contributing heavily to the overall scene and experience. The transitions in and out of musical breakouts were clear and smooth, allowing the story to progress with little to no interruption.
Across the board, singing and dancing from the cast was incredible. Much of the team were not trained in either, and still, their performances were stunning. Mamma Mia! also featured an ensemble behind the stage that provided live music as the scenes played out. Both on the stage during the play and off the stage in the side rooms, the positive energy of the team was present. Every member of the team hyped each other up, showcasing the supportive nature of the community that is Dublin High’s drama department.
As mentioned earlier, this show was made possible by a collective effort, and a few cast and crew had thoughts to share!
Junior Gianna Alvarez was the choreographer for all the dances in the show, and her work provided some of the best visual highlights of the evening. “This is my first time choreographing for something like this, in that it was a large project. It was a lot fun, but it was also a lot of work because I did it all on my own. With the help of my dance captains and input from the director and student director, everything’s going really well and I think we put on a great show,” Gianna shared.
Another major contributor to the visual experience was the costume designer. Senior Emaan Qayyum led costume design, producing elaborate and vibrant pieces from both the drama department’s and her own stores of clothing. During the show, she was available on standby to take care of any last-minute wardrobe malfunctions, and reassure any panicked actors. Her work ensured that no logistical delays ever interrupted the flow of the performance.
Aizah Ali, a senior, was one of the ensemble actors for Mamma Mia!, and she expressed her excitement for the show as well as the drama team. “Honestly, this production has been so fun. Everyone’s strung through, and this production feels like a miracle. The team has been working incredibly hard, and we’ve gone through so many tough spots together. I really love this community, and I’m so excited for Mamma Mia! because I know everyone is going to do wonderful.”
Another actor and senior, Rishi Singhal, masterfully played Sam Carmichael, a successful architect and one of the three men invited to the island as a potential father for Sophie. Rishi has been in theater for many years, and he shared similar sentiments to Aizah about the production. “This show is so, so, so, so, so great. The cast is very connected personally, and we’ve been in close quarters for so long that we’ve formed strong bonds with each other. It’s very personal for me because it’s my last fall show, so I’m very excited to see how it turns out with the audience and with opening and closing nights.”
On the managerial side, Sasha Ferris, senior and Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) shared their opinions on the show. Their job as an ASM means that they manage rehearsals and ensure that the cast and crew is in the right place at all times, with all the props they need. “Working on this production all semester has been so amazing, and seeing it on stage is so gratifying. I have seen all of the work that both the cast and crew have put into this, and they have done such a good job!”
Finally, drama department director and “the people’s friend” Mr. Edward Hightower shared uplifting comments. “This show is amazing! It has an amazing score to begin with, because it’s ABBA. But it’s the cast, the crew, the designers, the production team, and the PAC staff that make this show work. In the hands of people who cared less, it would not be what it is. It is a delight!”
The drama department urges all attendees to return for One Acts in the spring!