College-Community Summer Theatre to Present ‘Mamma Mia!’ in Mid-July

Local Production Is Among Nation's First Amateur Productions of Popular Musical The cast is set, rehearsals well underway and tickets are on sale for the Wilmington College-Community Summer Theatre’s mid-July production of the musical, Mamma Mia!, in Hugh G. Heiland Theatre at Wilmington College. Show dates are Thurs., Fri. and Sat., July 12, 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., July 15, at 2:30 p.m. Director Wynn Alexander and the production team invite audiences to, “Put on your dancing shoes, flare bottom pants and become a ‘Dancing Queen’ as we present one of the country’s first amateur productions of Mamma Mia! “  The show finds wedding festivities commencing on an idyllic Greek island with a young bride-to-be scheming to discover the identity of her father from among three men involved in her mother’s past. Through the “eternally catchy” score of chart-toppers by ABBA, the hilarious and touching tale of daughter, mother and would-be dads crescendos to an exhilarating finale celebration. “Get swept away by the infectious music, uplifting story and dazzling dance numbers that have made Mamma Mia! a worldwide phenomenon,” he added. Alexander announced the cast to feature: Tricia Heys as Donna, Cherie Cooper-Darragh as Tanya, Gina Beck as Rosie, Matt Purkey as Sam, Andrew Conarroe as Harry, Bryan Wallingford as Bill, Theresa Knopf as Sophie, Keni Brown as Ali, Natalie Drury as Lisa, Andrew Hall as Sky, Stephen Crouch as Pepper and Jackson Tofte as Eddie. The female ensemble includes: Rachel Beck, Olivia Fuerst, Kenzie Klostermeier, Alexia Minton, Rylee Riggs, Olivia Swicegood and Maria Tucker while the male ensemble is comprised of: Jalen Douglas, Vern Brown, Troy Oates and Gary Smith. The chorus of backup vocals includes: Samantha Burns, Jessica Fair, Timothy Larrick, Seth Parshall, Melissa Reeder, Mary Rizzardi, Tim Swicegood and Rhonda Wheasler. Tickets are now on sale. All seats are $15 and reservations can be made by calling the Theatre Box Office at 937.481.2267 weekdays, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Parental guidance is recommended, as the show contains some mild profanity.