By Marisa Dawson

Bennington High School’s auditorium was filled with energy, laughter, and familiar ABBA melodies over the weekend as students staged a lively and heartfelt production of Mamma Mia! With multiple performances from Friday through Sunday and two full casts alternating roles, the show showcased the depth of talent in the school’s performing arts program while delivering a colorful, crowd-engaging experience for audiences of all ages.

From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear that the production had been carefully planned and thoughtfully executed. A bright, Mediterranean-inspired set served as the backdrop for the story of Sophie, a young bride-to-be determined to discover the identity of her father before her wedding day. Throughout the performance, cast members broke the fourth wall, sang in the aisles, and interacted directly with audience members, transforming the auditorium into a lively island setting.

Elise Roth (pictured below, middle), who portrayed Sophie, said she was especially excited to take on a role she had admired long before the show was announced. “I’m really excited about this role because I just love the show in general,” Roth said. “All the music is super fun and I loved listening to it a lot before we even knew we were doing this musical.”

Roth, who has participated in every high school musical, said the role allowed her to grow both as a performer and as a person. “It’s been really fun to just keep stepping up the levels and progressing as I’ve gotten older,” she said. She added that performing for the community gave her a meaningful way to share her talents: “It’s just a way that I can share one of my God-given gifts with our community.”

Playing Sophie’s mother, Donna, Addison Yates (pictured below) embraced the strong, spirited nature of the character. “I really like the spirit of her character,” Yates said. “It’s similar to myself, so I can just have a lot of fun and add my own personality to it.”

Yates said she hopes audiences left with a sense of unity after watching the show.
“This show is super light-hearted and fun, and I think that just watching our sense of community on the stage is really important,” she said.

Preston Nocita (pictured below, right), cast as Sky, said he was surprised to land such a prominent role in his first high school production. “Not really,” he said when asked if he had expected to play Sky. “I didn’t imagine I was going to get this kind of role… but I’m very happy and fortunate.”

Nocita credited his previous experience with community theater for helping him feel comfortable on stage. “I’ve done many Bennington Community Theater shows,” he said. “That helped me a lot… especially since this is the biggest role I think I’ve done.”

He added that Sky’s personality made the role especially enjoyable. “I love the young nature of Sky,” Nocita said. “I like being able to be someone I don’t get to be normally.”

Zane Walter (pictured below, left), who portrayed Harry Bright, said the role suited him both vocally and personally. “I feel like vocally it’s right in my range,” Walter said. “It’s been really nice to kind of be able to be myself sort of on stage.”

Walter said the friendships formed during the rehearsal process would be what he remembers most. “I really enjoy this cast… we have a lot of talented and funny people, and it’s been a blast,” he said.

Beyond the lead roles, the show’s ensemble played a major part in shaping the production’s lively atmosphere. Hueffa Honliasso said the chance to interact directly with the audience was one of the highlights. “My favorite part of the show is when the ensemble’s in the aisles and everyone’s kind of dancing and having an overall good time,” Honliasso said. “We kind of reach out to the audience and urge them to have fun as well.”

Chorus member Adalynn Wareham, who transitioned from crew work to performing this year, said the experience gave her a new appreciation for the work that goes into a production.
“I’ve really enjoyed that kind of switch from being backstage and seeing the whole show come together versus now being a part of it,” Wareham said. “For me, it’s been a fun transition seeing, like, ‘Oh, I get to dance and sing now.’”

She also hopes the show highlighted the strength of the school’s music programs. “I hope the community gets to see that more,” Wareham said. “We have a deep talent pool… everybody is just so good at what they do.”

Jay Kruse (pictured below, right), who portrayed Pepper, said he had his heart set on the role as soon as the musical was announced. “As soon as I knew we were doing Mamma Mia!, I knew I wanted to be Pepper,” Kruse said. “I love him with my entire heart.”

Kruse said musical theater provides a unique space for students to express themselves. “It gives you an opportunity to be somebody else who’s not judged by anything else besides your ability,” he said. “That’s a really cool opportunity for everybody.”

While the performers were front and center, students behind the scenes played an equally vital role. Assistant stage manager Jacie Johnson said her job involved keeping everyone organized and on schedule. “It’s a lot of just keeping things organized, making sure everybody’s here and doing what they need to be,” Johnson said.

She said the sense of teamwork built during rehearsals would stay with her long after the final curtain. “I think just all of the time we spent leading up to opening night… getting to know everybody involved in the show,” Johnson said, is what she will remember most.

Director Konni in den Bosch said the choice of Mamma Mia! was made in collaboration with vocal music director Tye Hanke and aligned well with the program’s goals. The show offered a single set that students could build themselves, strong roles for female performers, and the ability to involve a large ensemble. “We try to let the kids create characters that are uniquely their own and encourage them as they explore character development,” in den Bosch said.

Despite minor challenges, like what students jokingly called the “Bennington Bubonic,” which caused frequent absences due to illness, she said the cast and crew adapted quickly to changes and remained committed to a seamless performance.

In addition to entertaining audiences, in den Bosch hopes the production encourages greater appreciation for the school’s arts programs. She noted that while athletic teams often receive recognition for building successful programs, the music department does the same. She hopes audiences leave with “respect for the deep talent of our students.”

Hanke, who led the vocal ensembles and helped shape the musical direction of the show, said building strong chorus numbers began with focusing on singing fundamentals before adding choreography and staging. “We start the process by focusing on singing first when we are building the chorus ensembles,” Hanke said. “Then we move it up onto stage and ask the chorus to mix so they are no longer isolated with students singing the same parts.”

He added that having the band on stage allowed actors to perform closer to the audience, which created a more immersive experience but also challenged students to perform in tighter proximity to spectators. “It takes a full team of committed students to pull off a great show,” Hanke said. “I enjoy watching the show grow during tech and dress rehearsal week… and seeing students begin to see the efforts of their hard work begin to pay off.”

Music director Blake Thompson, who worked closely with the leads and instrumentalists, said capturing the distinctive sound of ABBA while fitting it to student voices was a rewarding process. “I was amazed at how well their voices fit each distinct sound,” Thompson said. “Each student builds their voice and character, and I worked to ensure they were staying as true to the music as possible.”

He added that upbeat numbers would likely have audiences clapping along, while the emotional ballad “Slipping Through My Fingers” offered a particularly powerful moment in the show.

With its vibrant costumes, dynamic choreography, and heartfelt performances, Bennington High School’s Mamma Mia! successfully captured the humor and emotion that have made the musical a global favorite. More importantly, it highlighted the dedication, creativity, and collaboration of dozens of students both onstage and behind the scenes.

For many in the cast, the show was about more than just performing, it was about building friendships, growing in confidence, and sharing their talents with the community. As the final notes of ABBA’s music faded and audiences rose to their feet, it was clear that the students’ hard work had paid off, delivering a production that will be remembered as one of the school’s standout theatrical achievements.