After months of rehearsals, set design and building, costume preparation and so much more, WT’s Performing Arts department put on their annual spring musical: a production of Mamma Mia! From the first song, the audience was transported to a sunny Greek island. From backstage, the crowd could be heard cheering, giggling, and singing along.
Some of the cast members’ best memories were made during the week leading up to the show. Jae Reynolds ‘28, who played Rosie, recalls a funny incident the night before the show: “We were doing notes and Ms. Mascio pointed out a mouse in the pit and everything just went haywire but it was really funny too.” In an interview with Currie Bigham ‘28, who played Lisa, she said that her favorite memory was “when I was dancing and singing as quietly as possible with people backstage trying to master the dances before we went on stage before dress rehearsal. It was really stressful but SUPER FUN!!!”
The show ended with a vibrant performance of ABBA’s greatest hits: Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen bows, and Waterloo. When asked about her favorite song to perform, Currie said: “All of the bows, because we were all dancing and singing together and I felt like it represented the community in our cast. That was one of the rare times we were all doing the same exact thing, and I felt very connected and equal to everyone there.” Jae Reynolds ‘26 agreed, saying “My fav song was 100% ‘Dancing Queen.’ I loved that me, Ella, and Tasha all got to just be silly and have a ton of fun while singing an iconic song!” She added that “Super Trouper” was a close second for the same reason.
Cast members interviewed felt a universal sense of gratitude for the experience. Bigham remarked: “I LOVED being Lisa. It was a really awesome experience!! I love Nazhet and Abbey and I can’t imagine a better Ali and Sophie!!” For Reynolds, closing night was bittersweet. “I am so incredibly grateful that Mamma Mia was my last show here at WT, it’s iconic in SO many ways. I really related to Rosie as a character, being someone who’s quirky and weird and sometimes funny I really related to her. I just loved the costumes and set and everything honestly about the show.”
Bringing the show to life required weeks of behind-the-scenes effort. A big thank you to the light and sound crew, led by Cheyenne Mitchell ‘26. Stage crew, led by stage managers Martha Pitard ‘26 and Avery Pollock ‘26, made sure that each set piece and prop was in place for the show. Director Jill Machen and Music Director Nina Mascio led the cast from the first rehearsal to the final performance. Thank you to the parent volunteers that helped with lobby decorating, concessions, cast headshots, and food. Most importantly, to the cast, thank you for the music!
