THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC-AL Fine arts programs perform production of “Mamma Mia!”

The vibrant sounds of ABBA’s timeless hits filled the air as the cast of the school musical, “Mamma Mia!, The Musical”, took the stage and the fully-packed audience waited in anticipation.

“Mamma Mia!” is a musical that follows the story of a young woman named Sophie who is getting married on a Greek island. Sophie invites three men from her mother’s past who could possibly be her father to her wedding in hopes of finding out who her real father is.

For junior Georgia Sledge, who played Sophie, playing her favorite character in the production was more than just a performance. It was an opportunity to channel her inner spirit and bring the role to life in her own unique way.

“I’ve always admired her character,” Sledge said. “She reminds me so much of myself [because of] her spunkiness and her character. It’s been really fun stepping into that role, taking it on and making it my own.”

Junior Maddie Knoop played Lisa, one of Sophie’s best friends. She says the communal aspect of theater — where every scene became a dynamic exchange between the actors — is one of the things she enjoyed the most.

“I love having the accountability that I’m not just doing it for myself — my own enjoyment — but also for others,” Knoop said. “They’re gonna go off me, and I’m gonna go off them.”

Many cast members have past experience in musical theater, which helped them easily connect with their roles and work as a whole. This was the case for senior Jacob Lane, who played Sam Carmichael, one of the three potential fathers.

“[My past experience] helps me learn how to work with others much better, [and it helps] them further their characters as well as help with mine,” Lane said. “It really is a more fun experience knowing exactly what I have to do and getting to enjoy myself more instead of stressing about it.”

Sledge has also participated in Consol’s previous two productions, “Little Mermaid Jr.” and “The Addams Family, The Musical Comedy”. However, being the main lead brought a new set of challenges.

“The past couple of years I have been in the ensemble, so this experience [of] being a lead is so different but so exciting,” Sledge said. “I’ve been able to watch past students in lead roles and learn from them in order to play the part.”

Stepping into the shoes of a role requires more than just memorizing lines and songs. The transformation from actor to character is a process that requires equal parts of technique and passion.

“I get to incorporate my own feelings within the emotions of the character and just feel like I’m in that world,” Lane said. “[Everything] needs to blend together.”

For Lane, the rehearsal process was not just about perfecting the performance, but also about the personal growth that comes with embodying a new persona. With each run-through, he became more immersed in the character and enjoyed the opportunity to showcase his growth on stage.

“Rehearsal feels long, but it’s worth it,” Lane said. “It’s a time to be able to relax and kind of give in to a character that you don’t normally get to be. [Then] you get to show that in front of people you know.”

With this mindset, Sledge put everything she had into the musical, reveling in the joy of the process and the thrill of the performance.

“I’m only going to receive what I’ve put my heart and soul into, so I’m going all in with it,” Sledge said. “It’s been such a fun process [and] I’ve enjoyed every step of the way.”