Jefferson College will put on a production of the musical “Mamma Mia!” over the next two weekends at the Fine Arts Theatre on the Hillsboro campus.
It is the first summer musical the college had held in three years, after they were canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said director Rebecca Ellison, a communications and theatre professor at the college.
Show times are 7 p.m. the next two Fridays and Saturdays, June 17-18 and June 24-25, as well as 2 p.m. the next two Sundays, June 19 and June 26.
Tickets for adults cost $10 for the Friday and Saturday night performances and $5 for the Sunday matinee performances. The price for students and senior citizens for any of the performances is $5.
“We’ve never done ‘Mamma Mia!’ before,” Ellison said.
She said the show, which features several songs by the group ABBA, is a lot of fun.
“I’m a child of the ’70s and I’m a big fan of ABBA,” she said. “I love the show.”
“Mamma Mia!” tells the story “of a young woman who is about to be married and wants to find out who her father is,” Ellison said. “It’s a comedy with a few serious moments.”
The cast includes students, community members and staff.
“It’s an incredibly talented cast, crew and orchestra,” she said.
Whitney Dodson of St. Louis will play the main character, Sophie, who longs to learn who her father is.
Teresa Schwartz of St. Louis plays Sophie’s mother, Donna, who has kept the identity of her daughter’s father under wraps.
Ellison will contribute a rare performance in the show, playing the part of Rosie, one of the three members of the former girl group she and Donna were in.
“I sometimes have filled in (for Jefferson College productions), but I haven’t had a part like this for 20 years,” she said. “This is a dream role for me. I’m having a great time.
“It’s good for my actors to see me on stage, to put my money where my mouth is.”
Ellison also is the show’s choreographer. The music director is Chris Auchly, and the stage manager is Christopher Owens.
Ellison said the musical isn’t geared toward young children.
“There is some adult language,” she said. “I would say it’s for preteens and older.”
She said those participating in the production are thrilled with the return of the college’s summer musical.
“We’re really excited to do this again,” Ellison said.
Other featured cast members include Desiree Terry, Cedar Hill; Angelina Pirolo, Hillsboro; Ashley Rudolph, High Ridge; Mateo Bluemel, Arnold; Brayden Pratt, De Soto; Brandon Menke, High Ridge; Ray Martin, Shrewsbury; Joel Vanderheyden, Fenton; Aaron Kamphhoefner, Kirkwood; and Michael Booker, Barnhart.
The ensemble includes Terry, Pirolo, Pratt, Menke and Booker, as well as Maren Burns, Wildwood; Cameron Clark, De Soto; Michael Esparza, Festus; Veronica Franklin, Barnhart; Kyley Gartner, Barnhart; Maggie Kausler, Hillsboro; Matthew Kettmann, Fenton; Zoey Laburay, De Soto; Shawn McAfee, High Ridge; Lucas Nevois, Hillsboro; August Palmer, Ste. Genevieve; Lizzy Schappe, Festus; Alyson Schneider, Hillsboro; Riley Stolarski, High Ridge; Katie Tipton, Crystal City; Ally Willeke, St. Louis; Zoe Wood, Hillsboro; and James Woolston, Arnold.
Auchly conducts the orchestra, which includes Mark Trautwein, Betty Kusterer, Karen Propst, Jillian Mayer, Shane Maue, Zach Dineen, Craig Vinyard, Gavin Luther and Jeremy Lovier.
Advance tickets are available at jeffcopace.ludus.com.
Tickets will be available at the door on an availability basis. For more information, call the Box Office at 636-481-3369.