Madison Messenger - July 17th, 2022

PAGE 4 - MADISON MESSENGER - July 17, 2022
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‘Mamma Mia!’ cast packs talent and experience
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
The music of ABBA will come to life in
the Joyce Hildebrand Auditorium at London
High School as the Madison County Arts
Council presents the musical, “Mamma
Mia!”, July 21-23.
Songs from the Swedish pop group, popular
in the 1970s and ‘80s, provide the
framework for a mother-daughter story that
takes place on a fictional Greek island. The
daughter, Sophie (played by Ruth Peart), is
preparing to marry Sky (Aaron Gates). She
wants her father to walk her down the aisle,
but she doesn’t know who her father is.
After reading her mother’s diary, Sophie
narrows the possibilities to three: Sam
(Nathan Haley), Harry (Cory Mitchell), and
Bill (Paul Oswalt). She invites all three to
the wedding.
As events unfold, the audience gets to
know Sophie’s mother, Donna (Denise
Bloomfield), and her mother’s friends,
Tanya (Ciera Bierbaugh) and Rosie (Sherry
Holland). In the end, mother and daughter
make peace with each other and themselves.
Danielle Fredette, who is directing the
show with Kevin Lohr, said she is very
pleased with lead actors’ performances,
adding that they bring a lot of experience to
the production.
“We’re happy we had the option to cast
these people and that they were willing to
come and do this community show,” Fredette
said, noting that the most of the 30-
member cast hails from the Madison
County area. “More than one of them has a
music degree, one has an acting degree, and
all of them have been in lots of shows before.”
She praised the talent of the actors who
make up the chorus, too, and is excited to
showcase their talents in ways that differ
from the original production of “Mamma
Mia!”
“In the original, they used a pit chorus.
They weren’t on stage at all; they were in
the orchestra pit,” Fredette explained.
“We’re using the ensemble a little differently.
We’re going for a ‘70s Greek/dream
chorus kind of look, where those actors will
be on stage for some songs in hopefully creative
and fun ways.”
Among the well-known tunes incorporated
into the show are the title track,
“Mamma Mia!,” “Money, Money, Money,”
“Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “Voulez-
Vous.” Great dance numbers accompany the
likes of “Dancing Queen,” “Does Your
Mother Know?” and “Under Attack.”
Joining Fredette and Lohr in putting on
the show are Scott Blanton on set design
and construction, Billy Ruhlen on lights and
Rehearsing for Madison County Arts Council’s production of “Mamma Mia!” are: (from
left) Ciera Bierbaugh as Tanya, Denise Bloomfield as Donna, Sherry Holland as Rosie,
and Ruth Peart as Sophie.
sound, and Shannon Treynor as rehearsal dents in high school or younger. Go to
accompanist and pit orchestra organizer. madisoncountyartscouncil.org to purchase
Show time for all three nights is 7 p.m. tickets. They will be available for pickup at
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for stu-
a will-call station at the shows.
Hospital golf outing set
The Madison Health Foundation’s popular
golf outing, the Memorial Golf Classic,
will be held at the London Country Club
Aug. 3-4.
This annual event, formerly known as
the Bob Powers Classic, offers two play formats
for the social or competitive player.
On Wednesday, Aug. 3, experienced
golfers can participate in a competitive fourperson
shamble. On Thursday, Aug. 4, social
golfers can play in a four-person traditional
scramble.
Both days have an 11 a.m. shotgun start
and include 18 holes of golf, cart, golfer gift,
games, contests and lunch.
Online registration is available at madisonhealthmemorialgolfclassic.com
or contact
Jodi Homan, development coordinator, at
(740) 845-7053 for more information on golf
or sponsorships.
Three generations of the Wheeler family enjoyed a day of scramble golf at the 2021 Memorial
Golf Classic held at the London Country Club.