Record breaking performance of Mamma Mia by NHS theater

As the lights dimmed in the Niwot High School auditorium, people settled into their seats for another ordinary high school musical. That's not at all what they got.

This year, Niwot's theater department presented "Mamma Mia" - a classic show about marriage and life on a Greek Island, all with the backtrack of the famous 70s pop group ABBA. The show revolves around Sophie (played by Hazel Rinehart), a 20-year-old woman getting married on the island she's lived on for her whole life. She wants her father to be at her wedding, but there's one problem: she doesn't know who he is. The production follows the characters leading up to the wedding, and the comedic interactions they have.

The first sign that this wasn't a high school level musical was the set: a two-story villa facade that the cast and crew transformed at multiple points in the performance. Niwot's tech team, led by teacher Jason Watkins, designed a set that was both versatile and surprising.

At various times, cast members appeared from balconies, but the most exciting set moment was when the theater was lit up with string lights and a central disco ball. Audience interaction was a key part of this show, and the set helped engage viewers.

The acting this year was professional-level, due to the immense amount of work put in by students and teachers. The cast of 47 students, from all grades, started preparing right after winter break. Emma Gamber (Junior) said that the hardest part of rehearsing was "the long hours and countless rehearsals together."

The hard work definitely paid off. The vocals were amazing as well; supported by a small but powerful pit crew, actors sang 27 Abba numbers. The most powerful moments in the musical were during songs; Donna's solo of "The Winner Takes It All" (performed by Ellise Stager), was an emotional and beautiful scene, while ensemble songs like "Super Trouper" (featuring Ellise Stager, Aliyah Backus, Josephine Gravelle, and the female ensemble) were really well choreographed and performed.

The musical was funny, too, with Eddie (Alex Fick) as a comedic star for the audience to remember.

Finally, the choreography and stunt work put into the musical was high-level. Josephine Gravelle recalls one of her favorite moments in rehearsal: "Watching everyone look equally excited and terrified while using the sheet to launch Hazel [Sophie] for the first time in 'Under Attack'. Hearing the audience scream when they threw her during the show was so much fun."

It's important to consider how much student work and leadership was put into this musical. For example, Eliza Eastland (Junior) helped choreograph some of the complex dance scenes, while Luc Piquette (Senior) was the marketing student director. There was also a lot of age diversity in the cast, with sophomores Hazel Rinehart and Jackson Carano taking on the lead roles of Sophie and Sky respectively.

This year's musical included amazing vocals, acting, comedy, choreography, and stunts. The massive team of students and adults involved helped break Niwot's all-time ticket record, with 2,137 tickets sold over four nights, surpassing the previous ticket record of 1,956. As a result, Ms. Laura Walters, NHS choir teacher who was the performance's Pit Director and Musical Director, will be dying her hair rainbow as promised.

In the words of senior Mercer Stauch, "This musical raised Niwot's musical theater reputation to yet another level... 'Mamma Mia' played well into our cast's ability to embrace emotional vulnerability alongside comedy, which is what I think rocketed the show's success and connected so well with audiences."

So, how was Niwot High's musical? Exceptional, and way above the level of your ordinary high school musical.