Summer is just around the corner at Oyster River High School (ORHS), a glimpse of hope carrying students through the final weeks of the school year. This year, the ORHS theater program is setting the mood beautifully with their spring production: Mamma Mia!
This iconic show, a heartwarming and hilarious tale of love and family inspired by music from the popular band ABBA, was a fan favorite choice among members of the theater program for the past few springs. This year, thanks to the passion and creativity of several students and the addition of a new director, the production will finally be brought to the stage by the ORHS drama club.
Grace Kasper (’25) is the choreographer of this year’s spring production and a huge driving force in the decision to choose Mamma Mia! as the show. She says, “There are shows that everyone loves, at least among high schoolers. If you think about Mean Girls and Heathers, some of these really fun shows, there’s parts that you really feel like you can relate to.” Kasper shares that doing this show has been at the forefront of her mind since the beginning of her involvement in the ORHS theater department, because of the fun summer vibe. After all, isn’t it everyone’s dream to live on an island in Greece?
Caroline Allen (’25) is the student director of the show, and works alongside Alexander Eustace, this year’s director and English teacher at ORHS to bring Mama Mia! to life. She shares Kasper’s enthusiasm for the show and emphasizes that this is not a production to be missed.
However, living up to the timeless 2008 film is no easy task, especially for a group of high school students. For some cast members, the shift from the laid-back environment of the fall play (39 steps) to a musical has been drastic. Isabelle Fenton (’26), who is a member of the ensemble in this production, explains that the shift from rehearsing with 5-10 people to upwards of 30, one of the largest casts of any ORHS production in recent years, has been challenging. “It’s really great to have that energy, but it can be very chaotic at times,” she says. Luckily, her strong acting skills have allowed her to adapt quickly. “This girl is a natural, once in a lifetime talent…quote me on that,” says Eustace.
Kasper explains that while the large cast size can be anxiety-inducing, especially as the choreographer, she’s enjoyed the challenge as it has allowed her to meet and connect with new people. “There are so many different characters and different people that you have to navigate and you get to know them [in the process]. When I start choreographing and teaching, I really start to get to know how different people dance and what they pick up on,” she says.
Kasper also shares that she has loved incorporating her own visions and creativity into the show, which often is only possible with a large group. Allen agrees, and states that she’s been able to bring a lot of her creative ideas to the stage in her role as the student director. “Eustace is pretty cool and lets the student director have a bigger role in [creating the show],” she says.
Many of the actors have also been able to take creative liberty with certain aspects of their character. Odin Whitely (’26), who plays the role of Sam, shares how he’s strayed from the general depiction of his character so he could better relate and give the best performance possible. “I’m playing [Sam] as more insecure and more to himself [unlike how he is depicted in the movie]. That has helped me fall into character a lot more because I’m not the most extroverted person,” Whitely says.
While many people may have their own expectations of what the show will look like, having seen the beloved film, the ORHS theater program’s production of Mamma Mia! is sure to be unique and creative in its own ways while still capturing the show’s original charm. “There’s not one bad song,” Allen says. “Everything from our stage to our costumes [is incredible], every single actor is so talented… it’s just going to be a super fun night(s).”
Fenton, along with the entirety of the cast and crew, urges people of all ages to come see the show at the ORHS auditorium on May 16th-18th (see photo for specific times). In her words, “it’s really fun — it’s like a big party!”
– Jahrie Houle
Mouth of the River 
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