This spring, the theater department put on “Mamma Mia!” With three sold out shows the show was a hit. The classic rom com musical was sung by the talented actors and actresses of the school; however, the stage was brought to life by the crew. Student technical director Emma Lyons led a massive crew to create the ambiance which made the audience feel as if they were in Greece. Here is a look into different pieces of the technical elements of “Mamma Mia!”
“The most important part of a set is functionality. If a set isn’t able to be a part of the story or add to it, it takes away from the overall show experience because it wouldn’t make you feel like you’re in the world of the show you’re watching,” Lyons said. “Sets create the landscape and background of the story to put you into the world and it helps your mind connect with characters or places in the show.”
The Mailbox
While little, it is mighty important to the story. Lyons worked on the mailbox which appears throughout the show. She submitted this design for Ohio Jimmy Awards (CAPA), a prestigious theater award contest.
“When I designed the mailbox, I had to think about the color pallet of the show while also considering the scale and use of it. I collaborated with our director, Ms. McReynolds, to understand her vision during my design process and then the set crew heads, Lexi Valenti and Andrew Singer, took my vision and began making it a reality,” said Lyons.
Lyon explained the set crew work on the physical mailbox, and Lyons and the director worked on finial details such as the tiles, which were hand painted. While the team did not get nominated, the mailbox was a beautiful element.
Bar and the buildings
A focal point of the stage is the tavern as a whole. The giant set was designed by Kyle Krygielski, a professional set designer. The set featured the classic Greek white buildings with bright blue shutters. Lexi Valenti, the assistant technical director, worked for months with her team to build the Krygielski design to the stage.
“Bringing Mamma Mia to life on stage through the set was such an amazing and fulfilling experience,” Valenti said.
Lighting and the dock
Instead of the orchestra being in the pit, the program built a dock with blue lights. The performers dance and act on the deck throughout the show. It makes them closer to the audience and allows for depth of the set. But what made the dock feel real was the lighting done by Logan Wolford.
“Lighting takes a lot of hard work, but the result is so rewarding,” said Wolford. “For this show I had to work over spring break.”
The “Mamma Mia!” set and tech was one to go down in the program’s history; it was even being nominated for Outstanding Technical Execution for CAPA. With beautiful blues and lights, the set brought the island to ‘tangy and connected the audience to the story.
