With 25 years of stage productions under its belt, Mamma Mia! and its easily recognizable ABBA songs are definitely fan favorites.
After memorable renditions of Mean Girls and The Wizard of Oz, the Lower Moreland High School’s Drama Club is presenting Mamma Mia! as its spring musical. Students, parents, friends, and community members are certain to be delighted by what the hard-working cast and crew have in store for them. The performances will take place from Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5.
For those who don’t know the show or the movie, it is about Donna, an independent hotelier on a picturesque Greek island, who is preparing for her daughter’s wedding with the help of two old friends that she was in a girl group with during years gone by. Meanwhile, Sophie, the spirited bride, has a plan to find the missing piece in her life. She invites three men from her mother’s past in the hope of meeting her father.
The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. The large cast, non-stop laughs, and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! is guaranteed smash hit for any theater. A mother, a daughter, three possible dads, and a trip down the aisle you will never forget!
Among the recognizable ABBA songs that the audience is sure to hum or sing along to are Mamma Mia!, Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All, Money, Money, Money, and Take a Chance on Me.
The show has great heart, time-honored music, and a spirited cast that has been working hard at rehearsals five days a week since January.
Portraying Donna Sheridan, Adrienne Nicastro, a junior, has been performing in school shows for years including her prominent roles as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Cady Heron in Mean Girls.
With experience at drama and music camps, she has aspirations to pursue a career in musical theater and says the more that she auditions the more she becomes comfortable pursuing new roles. She was excited to play the role of Donna because she loves ABBA’s music and was familiar with the 2008 Mamma Mia! movie.
“Donna is very different than other roles, because she is an adult, and I have portrayed a lot of children and teens,” Adrienne explained. “She is different from other roles that I have played. I love that she is very strong and independent.”
Adrienne added that the challenges of playing an adult resulted in her “trying to tap into what it would be like to be a mother. Also, vocally I am using my alto voice a little more.”
When it comes to the friendships and camaraderie fostered at Drama Club, she says that it is “great to be working on the same project. All of us have a common goal of producing an awesome show that connects us in a wonderful and unique way. I encourage the community to come and have a really great time. It’s funny, heartwarming, and a great way to bring local people together!”
The roles of Donna’s best pals are played by Alyssa Gottesman (Tanya) and Vivienne McGarrigle (Rosie).
Vivienne, a freshman, sees the role of Rosie as a great deal of fun because she is “the craziest of the three Dynamos,” the 70s singing group that Donna and her pals were in. “I love that Rosie is never afraid to speak her mind. She is fun-loving and independent, and this is one of the most fun roles I have played since middle school and theater camps.”
She added that the dance party that takes place for Dancing Queen is one of her favorite parts of the show. “My mom and I love that song, and we get to prance around with feathered boas wrapped around our necks. I have always been a fan of that song.”
Alyssa appreciates doing this show with her close friends, and enjoys spending time with everyone in the cast. She encourages the Lower Moreland community and beyond to come to the show “because this is a popular show that nearly everyone knows the songs, and it’s a truly fun musical. The set is amazing. It is one of the best shows I have ever done.”
The role of Sophie, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried in the two movies, is played by high school senior Grace Kwon, who joined the Drama Club as a freshman and has acted in eight productions. “Playing Sophie was the biggest goal for me and this is my first really big role, so I am more than excited.”
Grace plans to major in chemistry and pursue a career as a pediatrician, with a minor in music to showcase her love for playing the violin and oboe. She says that she loves that Sophie has “a dedication and a sincere heart. I love how she has this big goal and she works hard to make it happen/”
She added, “The life lessons I see from this show is that family is very important, appreciate the moment, and do what you love because life is too short to be unhappy with your choices.”
The three prospective fathers in this production of Mama Mia! are played by Sam Bond (Bill), Jaden Keal (Sam), and Garrett Murawsky (Harry).
Sam says his favorite songs in the show are Waterloo and Voulez Vous, and he knows most of the songs since he saw the movie twice. Mamma Mia! is his third high school musical and fifth production.
He admits that this production has taken a great deal of hard work and a lot of hours, but the show and group make it all worthwhile. “It is very difficult and tasking at times to put all of this time into the show, but this is a super nice community. I feel more confident since my earlier shows. I talk to so many new people all of the time. I learned a different side of myself from this part.”
Junior Jaden transferred from the Academy of the New Church, a local private school, Jaden says that he performed in dance shows, but this is his first time in a theater production. He said that he knew some of the songs from the movie, and appreciated the singing.
Not only does he enjoy his character of Sam, he said that being the new kid in school “the Drama Club has been a great opportunity to meet so many new people and to make great friends. I love it! Everyone should come to support us and support our school, even if you don’t know the cast members.”
Garrett, who is also a high school junior, played the role of Cady’s boyfriend Aaron in the 2024 musical Mean Girls, and has been in school shows since 5th grade. He appreciates that his character Harry, has a Scottish-Australian accent and he has found freedom is portraying it.
His favorite songs in this production are Thank You for the Music, Money, Money, Money, and The Winner Takes It All. He encourages the entire community to come out to see this production of Mamma Mia! “I love the experience of making this happen and I can’t imagine anyone passing up the opportunity to see other people come alive on stage.”
When it comes to lifelong friendships, Garrett said that most of his friends are members of the Drama Club. “I know if I need something, they always have my back. This show has deepened our friendship.”
Mamma Mia! Director Leah Abramson, a Pine Road Elementary School kindergarten teacher, has been directing shows for the Lower Moreland School District for 23 years.
She was attracted to Mamma Mia! for the spring 2025 production because it is “a fun and popular Jukebox musical. It also has classic ABBA songs that many people know. So, we expect that people in the audience will be singing and dancing along when they hear and see our gifted cast showcase their talents.”
Mamma Mia! has a great deal of singing and dancing to enjoy. “The ensemble sings in every song. We set high standards and goals for our cast members. We want our production to be the best it can be, and these kids help make that goal attainable.”
In addition to teaching dramatic acting, musical numbers, and choreography, Abramson says that the high school shows offer so much more.
“In our Drama Club, we are a family. We pride ourselves on building a community within the cast. We are an inclusive band of fun, silly, and talented people that lift each other and cheer each other on,” she explained.
“We work together to bring out the best in each other. I’m so proud of our theatre community at Lower Moreland. It is an honor to work with everyone involved in this production,” Abramson said. “All the students in the drama club both past and present hold a special place in my heart. I am so proud to see their talents shine on the Lower Moreland stage. I am also honored to work on such a collaborative and creative production team.”
Vocal and Music Director Cora Castor loves that, Mamma Mia! is an ensemble show because that makes it super exciting from a vocal perspective.
“Every cast member is involved in nearly every single number, whether they are acting onstage or singing off stage. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to witness our ensemble learn and perfect their singing parts, from the fan favorites like Waterloo and Money, Money, Money, to the challenging, technical numbers like Chiquitita and Slipping Through My Fingers,” Castor said.
“A personal highlight of mine is Under Attack,” she added, “because it provides vocal challenges while simultaneously requiring physical demands.”
She said she became involved in her drama club in high school and quickly “discovered the magnetic pull of theater. I continued participating in theater during college as well, and after graduating, I wanted to remain involved in some capacity. The community that theater creates is irreplaceable, and I am so grateful to have found that community again as part of this production staff.”
Beyond the show, Castor strongly believes in the Drama Club friendships and camaraderie. “I believe that there is no better community than a theater program. There is something about the combination of working together toward a shared artistic goal and then getting to share your art with an audience; it creates bonds like no other,” she said.
“The nature of the theater fosters supportive relationships between cast members and encourages everyone to be unapologetically themselves,” Castor said. “As a staff member, this community is a beautiful thing to witness and help facilitate.”
Assistant Director and Choreographer Jennie Kelly agrees that this production of Mamma Mia! has been a “blast to produce because of the catchy ABBA music and the outlandish costumes to the upbeat choreography. It has been a fun challenge for our Drama Club to take on.”
Kelly added that a personal highlight has been “getting to be creative with choreography by utilizing large sheer curtains in our rendition of Under Attack. I also hope that the energy of the cast encourages everyone who attends to get up and dance with us during the post-bows Mega Mix!”
In addition to producing a memorable show, Kelly is proud of the lifelong friendships that result. “Our Drama Club is a place where we encourage and celebrate everyone having fun and being themselves.,” she revealed.
“We provide a place where students are supported and know they have a network of both students and staff to rely upon,” she said. “By developing a camaraderie with fellow cast members, students often form bonds that can last a lifetime. As a member of the production staff, I am proud to see students form these lasting relationships.”
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Mamma Mia! takes place on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 5, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. At the Lower Moreland Auditorium, 555 Red Lion Road, Huntingdon Valley, 19006. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors.
For tickets and information please go to: https://lmhsdramaclub.lmtsd.org/