"Take a Chance" on LCCP's Mamma Mia
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Max Graham
Donna Sheridan, played by Crystal Miller, sings between best friends Tanya (right), played by Tracey Harmon, and Rosie (left), played by Lynette Hart, during a dress rehearsal of Mamma Mia! at the Chilkat Center.
For just $15, find yourself on an island with three handsome bachelors and an ABBA soundtrack; your holiday will be two hours with a brief intermission.
The Lynn Canal Community Players (LCCP) production of Mamma Mia debuts Thursday Oct.6 at 7:00 PM in the Chilkat Valley Center for the Arts. The story follows Sophie (Matilda Rogers), a young woman in the days leading up to her wedding. Sophie, having never met her father, invites three of her mother's (Crystal Miller) ex-lovers (Tom Morphet, Ryan Lane, and Pete Redshaw) to her wedding. Chaos follows as Donna (Crystal Miller) reunites with her past and all three men claim to be Sophie's father.
The romantic comedy musical features a soundtrack of popular hits composed by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Many cast members were familiar with the soundtrack before working on the musical.
"It's a special show because most people know the music and people that come to the show can be engaged in that way," Ryan Cloutier (Sky) said. "It's different from a typical musical where songs might be foreign to people."
Donna's spirits are kept high with the help of her "dynamo" sidekicks, Lynnette Hart and Tracey Harmon.
"The four leading ladies are really outstanding," LCCP member Annette Smith said. "I think everybody is really going to enjoy it, and everybody is having a fun time with it as well. But we always do."
LCCP teamed with Hali Duran, a choreographer from Juneau.
"Hali was tremendous," Cloutier said. "I admire her patience and dedication working with people who don't have dance experience, including myself. She's an excellent choreographer and we had a lot of fun working with her."
With only five weeks of rehearsal time, the cast had an initial frenzy after scripts arrived three weeks late. When it came time to hang up posters, the posters were nowhere in sight.
"There's lots of challenges living here but we still love Haines," Producer and Stage Manager Sue Waterhouse said. "It's just to be expected."
The cast includes 23 ensemble members and 6 stagehands.
"Every director says 'we have a wonderful cast' but it has been; it's been way fun," Director Mark Sebens said. "People will see new actors and actresses who have never been on stage before, as well as actors and actresses that have been in many productions in the past."
While the musical takes place in Greece, familiar faces on stage give the production a small town feel.
"It's fun seeing the people you know and love on the stage of the Chilkat Center," Waterhouse said. "I think seeing the people in Haines is the next best thing to Broadway, or better. It's people we know and love."
Mamma Mia will take place in the Chilkat Center for the Arts Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children.
