Mamma Mia Souvenir Full Color Program
Mamma Mia! Here we go again! or rather... went?
Now that all is said and done, there is M nothing left but celebrating the great things that we accomplished in the Knights of Columbus Eggplant Theatre this school year. There were many moments of laughter, tears, hard work, and dedication that brought Mamma Mia! to life at CCH and you are all a part of the how and the why.
Thank you first and foremost to the amazing cast, crew and production team who came together to put this on. We always receive the compliments that the cast was spectacular and so well-suited to their roles, that the crew made things look so seamless, and that the team really knew what they were doing to create this show. It's all true! I have been blessed this year with such a wonderful group of people who took so much time and effort to bring all of the pieces together. This show was a dream of mine and it was very humbling to get to work with such incredible people. Thanks in particular to our graduating cast and crew who joined us this year on the beautiful island for the first, second, or third time - you are special people and we can't wait to see where you go next!
Thank you secondly to the public - to our sponsors and donors for helping realize the dream of Mamma Mia! through their contributions and to you, the audiences and families of our cast, crew, and production team, for all of your support. In a challenging year of twists, turns, should-theys and how-do-wes, we received amazing support from you all. To the play-goers who returned once, twice, or even more often to see our production; to the people who (re)discovered their joy of music, of theatre; to the people who created the impetus for us to rise above and show them that what we do at CCH is good and important; to the people who understood the message of love, acceptance, and forgiveness that was shared at each performance - THANK YOU. Not everyone is cut out for theatre, but you lovely people made it worth it this year and will continue to do so. Moreover, we are grateful for all the contributions made to the Chinook Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. Over $1700 in ticket sales will be combined with these contributions. You have made a difference in the lives of many children and youth in our community!
Thank you finally to God for His continued guidance throughout the last six months. We may have faltered and had to pick each other back up, but He never left us - I am pretty sure He was chuckling in the Taverna at one point during the sing-along, but He doesn't want it too publicly known :)
Thank you for the music, and to all of the people out there who already "know" what is in store for CCH Fine Arts in the future, I can be proud to tell you that for next year's production, CCH Fine Arts is proud to present... a secret ;)
On behalf of the cast, crew, and production team, have a safe and blessed rest of your year and we look forward to opening our doors once again for you soon enough, Braden Dalton
Director of Mamma Mia! and dreamer of things
From the Director’s Chair
Braden Dalton
Mamma Mia! Here I go again! My, my, how can I resist… making this the opening remark of this note from your loyal director? Welcome back to the Knights of Columbus Eggplant Theatre! Does it show again? My, my, just how much [we]’ve missed you? Now, Knowing Me, Knowing You, you have accepted the mission of enjoying another production inside these esteemed purple walls, and we hope to live up to the expectation! You could say that it’s The Name of the Game. This year is no exception, and we hope that you don’t want to leave When All is Said and Done.
This year has felt like a lifetime of preparation – many of us grew up Head over Heels listening to ABBA. Personally, my blue-velvet box set of ABBA albums has been a valued keepsake since an age I dare not mention. I can remember seeing Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas the summer my brother and I graduated from CCH – don’t worry, it wasn’t Our Last Summer to experience great memories together. The first time I remember saying I Have a Dream about this show happening in the Eggplant was the premature closing night of our production heading into the pandemic. It is hard to believe that we are here. Despite the sweat, the tears, the Should I Laugh or Cry moments, WE ARE HERE. We are home. Our family gets the chance to celebrate a wonderful story together with the new generation of student-performers who have risen above many challenges to get here.
Many see this as a fun ABBA musical. The music is instantly recognizable and irrefutably catchy. The movie was a Hollywood hit. No one will argue these base points. When it comes down to it, however, there are some important messages in the story of Mamma Mia! that not everyone can see. Our cast and crew have been working hard – they are a true group of Super Troupers – to tell you a story of an imperfect family coming to realize what is truly important in their lives. This story is for the families who don’t always understand each other (or themselves) but still come to realize that, even when Under Attack, they know the people who will always support them. This musical is about a daughter who thinks she knows what she wants but finds herself in trouble with her choices and a mother who lives with a past which unduly brings her shame but she makes the best of her circumstances because of her love for her child. In the end, both learn to forgive each other and themselves and that their love for each other is strong enough to weather the challenges that life sets in their path. In the end, the family that we have and choose to have leads us to where we belong.
This show is about you, Eggplant Family – the parents and children, teachers and students, and all of the people who help you to recognize your shortcomings (or opportunities for growth) and Move On in spite of everything. There are so many people to thank for this program and this opportunity, and I am sure that their names will be Slipping Through My Fingers, but thank you to Peter, Don, Annette, Carol, David, Laurie, Danielle, and Sarah (and everyone else who has made an impact) for your years of dedication and paving the way to this point; thank you to the Production Team for coming to the rescue at every SOS; thank you to my family for being ever-present; thank you to the cast and crew of Mamma Mia! who continue to Take a Chance on Me; and last but not least, Thank You for the Music.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, if you dare! La question, c’est Voulez-vous?