THS Theater Department Presents Mamma Mia!

Audience members are in for a treat as the Tullahoma High School theater department brings Mamma Mia! to the stage this week, with shows opening Thursday.

“We have had a bunch of new students audition for the show, which has been great,” said THS Theater Director Benjamin Spurlock. “This is one of our biggest ensembles that we have had, and we are looking pretty good. There’s a lot of music and dancing, and these kids have worked so hard to put this show together. I’m really excited for them to bring it to the stage on Thursday.”

Mamma Mia! is a musical about Sophie Sheridan, a bride-to-be who secretly invites three men from her mom, Donna Sheridan's, past to her wedding, hoping to figure out which one is her dad. Things get hilariously messy as old flames reignite and secrets come to light, all with ABBA songs at the forefront of the show.

“I’ve had an insane amount of fun with my character,” said Hannah Warta, who plays Donna Sheridan. “I’ve been in so many shows and never played a character like Donna before. There are so many different emotions that her character goes through, like happiness, sadness and love. It’s been scary to play a character like this, but I’ve been able to dive deep with this character, and it's so much fun.”

Warta’s castmates have also enjoyed getting to know their characters. Cast members also stated that they have enjoyed learning the music and thanked THS Choral Director Melissa Hinds for helping them get ready for the show’s debut.

“Rehearsals have been really enjoyable, and it’s been fun to toy around with my character,” said William Dawe, who plays Bill Austin. “It’s been great to work with the cast, build relationships and have fun with songs and the choreography we get to do.”

“Everybody has been so much fun and entertaining to work with,” added Bralynn Clinton, who plays Sophie Sheridan. “Everybody is so immersed in this musical, and I love it so much. I’ve been telling people who don’t really go to or like the theater that much that they should come out. It’s going to be a blast.”

As showtime gets closer, the cast is excited to perform the show live in front of an audience.

“People really don't know how much effort we have put into this show, like set building, learning lines, learning music and more,” said Avery Caldwell, who plays Sam Carmichael. “This is my first year in theater, and sadly, my last. I’ve truly experienced people coming together and putting something great together. Performing Mamma Mia! in front of an audience is going to be mind-blowing, and I’m excited to bring this to the stage.”

Mamma Mia! debuts this Thursday and runs until Sunday. Thursday and Friday nights will feature an evening performance that begins at 6 p.m. Saturday will feature two showings, one starting at 2 p.m. and another at 6 p.m. Sunday will close with a 2 p.m. matinee performance. Tickets are $10, and more information about the production, including advanced ticket purchases, can be found here.