By Michelle Kinsey—
Muncie, IN – The pandemic stopped the music, but not for long.
Muncie Civic Theatre planned to unleash its inner “Dancing Queen” in April 2020 with the much-anticipated musical “Mamma Mia!”
The musical, which features the hits of 70s Swedish supergroup ABBA, tells the funny, sunny, heart-warming story of a young woman’s search for her birth father before she takes a trip down the aisle on a Greek isle. Songs include “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” “The Name Of The Game,” “SOS,” “Take a Chance On Me” and, of course, “Mamma Mia.”
Rehearsals were in full bell-bottomed swing when the shutdown happened, according to the show’s director Cody Ricks. At that time, 35 people were in the cast.
Months went by and the sequins and shiny boots were tucked away. Would the show ever go on? Would the cast still “take a chance” on it after more than a year?
Yes and yes.
Fifteen of the original cast members returned to start rehearsals again (over Zoom, at first), a handful of new cast members were added, and plans were made to make “Mamma Mia!” the theater’s big return to mainstage performances.
“[The cast has] been so dedicated and patient over the past year and a half!” Ricks said.
Time gave Ricks a chance to appreciate “Mamma Mia!” even more. Sure, he was a big ABBA fan, but he said he had “plenty of time to live with it and fully realize that it is so much more than a jukebox musical.”
“It’s a story of family, friendship, and community which makes it a perfect story to tell being the first large full-scale musical back in the mainstage of Muncie Civic Theatre since the shutdown,” he said.
Ricks said collaborating “with such a fine group of artists has been my favorite part of putting the show together.” “There is a wealth of talent involved in every aspect of the show,” he said. “I’m humbled by the work everyone has put into it, and they have made my job so much easier.”
Ricks, in a bit of a departure from the standard production, uses “the full cast to tell the story.” Many of the songs have background vocals written to be sung offstage,” he said.. “I’ve tried to bring the actors singing these background vocals onstage for as many of those moments as possible, serving as a ‘Greek Chorus.’ They help to further the plot in ways that they may not in other productions of ‘Mamma Mia!’
He hopes audiences are ready to have a great time “rocking out to some ABBA songs while being touched by a sweet story.”
“It seems like we’ve been isolated for long, that the chance to come together to see live theater again will be special for everyone that yearns to connect with the community again. I’m so excited for people to finally see it!”
Muncie Civic will present “Mamma Mia!” July 1-16 at the historic downtown theater. A special concert performance on closing night will be at Canan Commons on July 17. For show times or more information, call (765) 288-PLAY or go to www.munciecivic.org.
Show made possible through support by
Dennis, Wenger and Abrell Attorneys-at-law
Great Deals Savings Magazine
The Loft on Isanogel
The Lodge at River Valley Farm
University Dermatology Center
Urology Associates
Warner Supply
Wilhoite Family Dentistry
WLBC
