Mamma Mia: Director's Notes
I have a dream; a song to sing
To help me cope with anything.
If you see the wonder of a fairytale
You can take the future, even if you fail.
I believe in angels, something good in everything I see.
I believe in angels.
When I know the time is right for me I’ll cross the stream.
I have a dream.
To launch our return to in-person entertainment, Mamma Mia! was chosen for many reasons. Of course, it’s fun and high-energy with the feel-good nostalgia of ABBA music; but the primary reason for choosing Mamma Mia! is because of the relationships in the story. There is a real connection between people—long-time friendships, family bonds, love and romance—that surpass time and distance. After 18 months of separation from live theatre, what better way to reunite artists and audience than through a show that celebrates human connection?
It is this human connection, the shared energy in time and space, that theatre artists have really been missing. The pandemic has tested us, tasked us with finding new ways to tell stories through new mediums, and we have risen to that challenge. But there is nothing quite like being in the theatre. The theatre is a sacred space. It invites creativity, collaboration, and connection; it beckons us to be innovative, encouraging, and brave; and we are made better each time we share in the emotion and vulnerability of live storytelling.
I have enjoyed the process of Mamma Mia! so much because of the individuals involved, the collaborators in the sacred space. Theatre people do see the wonder in fairytales, and I believe there are angels among us as we bring these tales to life. Thank you for sharing this time and space with us, for returning with us to our dream.
Krista Hansen, Director