Germantown Academy’s Belfry Club will be presenting its highly anticipated spring musical “Mamma Mia!” on March 7, March 8, and March 9 in the Art Center.
Featuring the popular music of ABBA, “Mamma Mia!” follows the journey of Sophie Sheridan, a young woman preparing for her wedding while trying to discover the identity of her father. The show’s interesting story, combined with its popular soundtrack, makes it a favorite among audiences of all ages.
The Belfry Club faculty selected “Mamma Mia!” for its popularity and accessibility, as it appeals to all generations whether they are students, teachers, parents or grandparents.
“I think it’s a really fun, accessible musical, and it was important for me, since I am new, to do a musical that might draw a whole lot of interest,” new Belfry Director Mr. Sean Gibbons said. “It is a show I can do with [ student performers] that can inspire them through the act of joy.”
Rehearsals have been well underway, with the cast and the crew dedicating numerous hours to this production.
The role of Donna Sheridan, Sophie’s mother, is played by senior Gianna Mooney ‘25. Donna Sheridan is a relatable character: an imperfect mother who often feels everything is falling apart. While Mooney enjoys portraying her, she also faces challenges.
“What’s challenging is that I have never had a daughter, so I don’t really exactly know how I’m supposed to feel in certain situations, ” Mooney said. “Sometimes, I’ll act out a scene and I’m like, ‘Wow, I really sound like a teenager in this, I gotta switch it up.’”
Lauren Sass ‘26, who plays Sophie Sheridan, has been balancing her schoolwork with learning lines, choreography and songs for the show. She has a similar experience to Mooney in regards to experiencing some challenges.
“It’s challenging finding all those different layers and complexities,” Sass said. “She is getting married, and I haven’t had that experience in my life yet, so I’m kind of trying to figure out how it would feel.”
Other key cast members include David Mendte ‘25 who plays Sam Carmichael and Alex Ortiz ‘26 who plays Tanya, as well as many others working hard in every scene to bring their characters to life with humor and energy.
When asked about the most challenging part of the process, Mr. Gibbons pointed to the struggles that come with scheduling to make sure everyone who wants to participate can.
“We have 50 students in the show, so thinking about building a rehearsal schedule around 50 people’s schedules has probably been the most challenging part,” Mr. Gibbons said. “It’s important to make sure that the most people are in the room, so that they learn something, and that they feel confident in what they need to know.”
However, Mr. Gibbons and the rest of the Belfry faculty are happy to find workarounds to build an inclusive Belfry.
“Students have multiple interests,” Mr. Gibbons said. “And I believe wholeheartedly that if a student comes to me and says, ‘I love football, but I also love theatre,’ that we’re finding a place for them to experience both at the school.”
Additionally, the production itself would not be possible without the hard work of the technical crew and supporting faculty. From building the set to designing costumes, the crew is needed to create the world of “Mamma Mia!”
“We are in constant communication and collaboration with each other to design one show with the same vision in mind,” Mr. Gibbons said. “We can’t dance if there’s no set to dance on, and we can’t show we’re in Greece if there’s not something on the set that resembles Greece.”
The cast and crew are looking forward to sharing their hard work with the GA community. Tickets for Mamma Mia! are available now.