Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor
“We are actually the third high school in the country to do (“Mamma Mia”),” said Central High School’s production director Jeff Witt, “the other two are east of Texas, so we’re the west coast high school premier.”
In May of 2018, Jeff Witt — the vocal and music director at Central High School — teamed up with co-director Wendy Boyack to make their vision a reality. The theater program was originally planning on showcasing an entirely different musical, “Tuck Everlasting,” until they were notified that the rights to the musical had been restricted. That same day, Witt was made aware that “Mamma Mia!” was available.
Witt sent in the school’s royalty application — which cost $3,000 — and received the good news that Central High would be putting on the first production of “Mamma Mia” on the west coast.
“(The students) would not stop screaming,” Witt chuckled as he recalled the moment he revealed the decision to his students.
Rehearsals started in mid-August of this year.
“We’re here every Saturday, sometimes Sunday, putting that set together,” Witt said as he pointed to the looming 24-foot revolve nestled on stage left. The theater department was able to acquire the same walls used in Broadway Rose’s production of “Mamma Mia” in Portland; the walls sit atop the revolving base and forms three separate scenes that can be changed via the attached motor. The program spent an additional $8,000 on new microphones for the show.
“(‘Mamma Mia!’) fits the kids that I have. I always look for a show that fits the kids that I have, and when that happens they have a good time doing it,” director Witt commented.
The leading actors, Lillian Boyack as Sophie; Monique Eschette as Donna; and Seth Dickson as Sam Carmichael, definitely commanded the crowd’s attention. Each showed promising vocal skill and stage presence.
The secondary and tertiary characters also gave lighthearted, confident performances and cultivated an easy-going, fun-loving environment. The excitement of the whole cast throughout the show was palpable from the audience.
The production included disco choreography that is symbolic of ABBA’s career. There were a surprising amount of tender, teary-eyed moments along with the more frequent laughable ones.
There were a couple snafu’s and off-key moments, but considering that this show is a high school production, the performance was entertaining and proved to be a crowd-pleaser.
Future shows will be held November 1-3. Tickets are sold at the door or online on Central High’s website.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton
