Chattanooga State Community College alums and current students are involved both on stage and behind the scenes in the Colonnade’s production of the smash-hit disco musical, Mamma Mia!, running from Sept. 12-22 in Ringgold,.
Jennifer Arbogast Wilson, an associate professor of music and theatre at Chattanooga State, is the director for this production.
Current music students featured in the cast include Jordan Pope as “Pepper,” Bryson Myrell as “Eddie,” and Collegiate High student Genna Raborn as “Lisa.”
The Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State, now in its 17th year, is modeled after The New Actors Workshop, a training program in New York City founded by George Morrison, Mike Nichols and Paul Sills. Rex Knowles and Sherry Landrum, who taught and administered the program in New York for 10 years, head the program at ChattState.
PATP graduates and current ChattState theatre staff on Mamma Mia! include Maggie Williams, choreographer and Taylor Williams, scenic designer. PATP graduates include Richard Nichols, assistant director; Landon Carpenter, stage manager; Austin Massey, assistant stage manager; and Mahaley Reed, props master. The two Mamma Mia! leads are played by Gracie Gilbert as Sophie and Joseph Watts as Sky. Current PATP student, Sarah Grayce Crouch plays Ali.
Based on the timeless musical hits of ABBA, Mamma Mia! includes notable songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” Super Trooper,” and “Winner Take All.” Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and book by Catherine Johnson, ran on Broadway from 2001-2015 with 5,773 performances, and was adapted into a movie in 2008.
For more information on Chattanooga State’s programs, call 423-697-2460 – music or 423-697-3246 – theatre or visit https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/humanities-fine-arts.