A Note from the Director...

I am going to be completely honest here...I am not a big fan of sentimentality and entertainment for the sake of entertainment in the theatre. That doesn’t preclude enjoying a smart and sassy farce or a light and frothy musical rom-com as long as they have some wit and wisdom in their DNA. This is not a secret and 35 or so years of directing for the stage has made it abundantly clear that, as an artist, I prefer to work on shows that are chock-a-block full of intelligence, sagacity, and high theatricality.

So, when I was deciding whether to step outside of my comfort zone and direct Mamma Mia! (Described by Ben Brantley in his rave New York times review in 2001 as, “a giant singing Hostess cupcake”) it took me a day or two to consider all the implications of tackling this seemingly sugar filled excess. As we stand here on the cusp of bringing the show to the audience, I’m delighted I took on that challenge.

The show is a massive undertaking. It contains 24 songs with intricate melodies and harmonies. And not just any songs - iconic songs – songs that defined a generation! Everyone in the audience has heard these tunes 100 times and knows backwards and forwards and that means expectations. Expectations born from years of hearing these songs on the radio, on television, in the movies, at weddings, at reunions, in the grocery store, in the elevator – you get my point.

Watching these talented, hardworking students throw themselves body and soul into the daily grind of learning these songs and pushing themselves to take the choreography and storytelling to the next level because they were having so much fun has taught me that not every piece you work on as an artist must drip with meaning. When I think back to how much we giggled when I would get up and do a little boogie because the music was so infectious or how much we laughed when we hit on the idea of zombies in the nightmare sequence or how I get a little choked up at the end of the show when the opening notes of I Have a Dream start to play it’s hard to believe I was ever less than enthusiastic about the idea of working on this afore mentioned “giant singing Hostess cupcake”.

Thank you, students, for showing this old dog that there are still a few new tricks to be learned. It truly was a ton of fun creating this confection with you.

George Brock February 2023

CAST BIOS:

Avalon Bell ’26 (Ensemble) is so excited to par�cipate in Mamma Mia! She has most recently performed in Frozen Jr., The Musical (Oaken/Duke of Wessleton) and Puffs (Puff/Rita Scooter). She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and for always being there for her.

Lydia Berckley ’23 (Donna Sheridan) is thrilled to be a part of her twel�h produc�on at Episcopal. She previously performed with TUTS, Wildfish Theatre Company, Inspira�on Stage, and in school produc�ons. Previous EHS performances include: The Man Who Came to Dinner (Ensemble), King Charles III (TV Producer), Tuck Everlasting (Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Valen�ne), Letters to Sala (Raizel), Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Po�s), Upper West Side Story (Amber), Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs), Eurydice (Big Stone), Chicago (Mama Morton), and most recently, Puffs (Professor McG).

Lydia is proud to be a part of the theatre, dance, and music program at EHS, as well as being in top classes like Masque and Impact. She is also very involved at Theatre Under the Stars. Most recently, she was part of the cast of The Secret of My Success, premiering in Sarofim Hall, being one of the few teens in the cast, and working with well-known actors and directors in the industry. At TUTS, she is also in the Pre-Professional Company, and has been in their produc�ons of Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife) and Bring It On (Truman Cheerleader). She is incredibly grateful for her family and friends, and constant support—last one!

Act One

Prologue: I Have a Dream - Sophie

Honey, Honey - Sophie, Ali, Lisa, Ensemble

Money, Money, Money - Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Company

Thank You for the Music - Sophie, Sam, Harry, Bill

Mamma Mia! - Donna, Company

Chiquitita - Tanya, Rosie, Donna, Ensemble

Dancing Queen - Tanya, Rosie, Donna, Company

Lay All Your Love on Me - Sky, Sophie, Men

Super Trouper - Donna and the Dynamos

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Sophie, Ali, Lisa, Company

The Name of the Game - Sophie, Bill, Ensemble

Voulez Vous – Company

15-minute intermission

Act Two

Entr’acte - Company

Under Attack - Sophie, Ensemble

One of Us - Donna

S.O.S. - Sam, Donna, Ensemble

Does Your Mother Know - Tanya, Pepper, Ensemble

Knowing Me, Knowing You - Sam, Ensemble

Our Last Summer - Harry, Donna, Ensemble

Slipping Through My Fingers - Donna, Sophie

The Winner Takes It All – Donna

Take a Chance on Me – Rosie, Bill

I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do – Sam, Donna, Company

I Have a Dream (Reprise) - Sophie, Company

Bows - Company

CAST BIOS:

Tallulah Berckley ’26 (Rosie) is delighted to be a part of her first Episcopal High School musical. Tallulah has previously performed in Puffs (First Headmaster/Victor Bro/Death Buddy), Camelot (Ensemble), Godspell (Ensemble), Alice in Wonderland (Ensemble), Madagascar (Penguin/Ensemble), Seussical (Ensemble), Dear Edwina (Ballerina/Napkin), The Big One-Oh (Swampy), Oliver Jr. (Nancy), Into the Woods (Witch), and Bring It On (Bridget). She is excited about Mamma Mia! and thanks her family and teachers for all their support!

Sarah Bezemek ’26 (Ensemble) is thrilled to be a part of her first ever Episcopal musical! She has performed in one other produc�on at Episcopal, Puffs (Professor Lanny), last fall. Prior to a�ending Episcopal High School, she went to Second Bap�st School and performed in the Spring musical, Moana (Gramma Tala). She loves ac�ng and singing and is very excited to do more with EHS Onstage in her �me at Episcopal. She thanks her friends and family for their endless support through the years.

Nicole Blanco ’26 (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing in Episcopal High School’s produc�on of Mamma Mia! This is Nicole’s second produc�on at EHS. Nicole has been performing for eleven years and has been in several shows, including Into the Woods (Li�le Red) and Bring It On (Ensemble) at Theater Under the Stars, and Puffs (Hannah) at Episcopal High School. She would like to thank Humphrey’s School of Musical Theater, her family, and her friends for all their support, and for pushing her to be the actress she is today. She looks forward to par�cipa�ng in EHS produc�ons in the future.

CAST BIOS:

Ashlyn Collings ’24 (Ensemble) is delighted to be performing in Mamma Mia! and thanks her friends and family for their support.

Brooke Crabtree ’25 (Ensemble) is thrilled to par�cipate in Mamma Mia! for the Episcopal theater program. She has previously performed in Our Town (Rebecca Gibbs), Eurydice (Li�le Stone), Chicago (Ensemble), Puffs (Megan Jones), and most recently, Julius Caesar (Calpurnia). She would like to thank all the faculty of EHS Onstage that put together this produc�on, and her family and friends for their support.

Stella Frank ’25 (Ensemble) is so excited to be par�cipa�ng in the produc�on of Mamma Mia!

Stella has a great love of theater, and has par�cipated in Our Town, The Prologue, Chicago, 2022 student-directed plays, Puffs, Julius Caesar, and now Mamma Mia! while at EHS. She has performed in the JCC/PAC produc�ons of Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Technicolored Dream Coat, Lion King, Cats, Seussical, The Addams Family, Pippin, Freckle Face Strawberry, Camp Rock, Game of Myths, and FAME. Stella is so grateful to have been given the opportunity to par�cipate in this show, and loves working with her fellow actors and stage crew members.

Carina Garza ’25 (Lisa) is delighted to be in Mamma Mia! and thanks her family and friends for their support.

CAST BIOS:

Mathieu Gay ’24 (Eddie) was recently seen as Ernie Mac in Puffs and is excited to take the stage in Mamma Mia! This is his fourth show on stage, and he is grateful for all the opportuni�es available through theater. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support!

Harrison Goy�a ’24 (Bill Aus�n). This is Harrison’s ninth EHS Onstage Produc�on. Previous EHS Shows include Julius Caesar (Julius Caesar), Puffs (Wayne Hopkins), Chicago: HSE (The Judge), And Action (Dean), The Prologue (Hades), Our Town (Constable Warren), Beauty and The Beast (Beast), and Twelfth Night (Antonio). Other produc�ons include Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), Our Town (Simon S�mson), Godspell (Disciple), The Music Man (Mayor George Shin) and Urinetown: The Musical (Hot Blades Harry). In his free �me, Harrison enjoys crea�ng music, making films and spending �me with friends. Harrison would like to thank everyone involved in EHS Theatre, his teachers, friends and family for their con�nued support.

Henry Harkins ’26 (Ensemble) is looking forward to performing in his first musical at EHS. He has been a part of past school produc�ons this year such as Puffs (Viktor) and Julius Caesar (Lepidus). Aside from EHS, Henry has performed in numerous other shows that include West Side Story (Tony), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), Annie (Oliver Warbucks), and 13: The Musical (Archie). He would like to thank his friends and family for all the help and support he has received along the way.

Lydia,

We are so proud of you and all the hard work you have put into your part.

We love you kiddo!

Mom, Dad, Pudge and Cooper

Mathieu, You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life…

Love, Mom, Dad, Julia, and Jacqui

CAST BIOS:

’25 (Ensemble) is excited to con�nue his EHS Onstage career. Joaquin has previously been in Julius Caesar (Lucius), Puffs (Seamus/Wayne Rivers-Jones), The Cave (The Self-Deceiver), Chicago: High School Edi�on (Ensemble), and the tech crew for Eurydice. In his free �me Joaquin likes to read, crochet, listen to music, and play the guitar. He thanks his family and friends for their support in his love for theater and is very excited to perform with an amazing company.

Joaquin Hartsfield

Brooklyn Hermance ’26 (Ensemble) is excited to be in her first musical with EHS! She was most recently seen in the EHS produc�ons of Puffs (Prof. Sprou�y) and Julius Caesar (Trebonius/Lucilius). She spent her summer with the Alley Theater Conservatory, where she was seen in the student-devised piece, Shift/Change. She has previously performed in numerous shows at Wildfish Theater, with her most recent credits being Urinetown (Li�le Becky Two-Shoes) and Bat Boy (Shelley Parker). At her middle school, she performed in Moana Jr (Hei Hei) and Madagascar (Marty). She would like to thank her mom (her #1 fan!), the EHS theater family, and all those who made this show possible!

Olivia Jameson ’25 (Ali) is super excited to be performing in Episcopal’s produc�on of Mamma Mia! Her other shows at EHS include: Chicago (Ensemble), Puffs (Hermione #3), and Julius Caesar (Por�a/Dardanus). She loves this cast and would like to thank her parents for their coopera�on with her schedule.

Mom & Dad