STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTO BY KEVIN WADE

Feeling a nip in the air? No worries.

You can head to the Greek isles this week as the Sun Valley Community School Players present the feel-good show “Mamma Mia!”

More than 30 Upper School students are presenting the show at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9, at the Sun Valley Community School Theater.

“In a world that often feels heavy, ‘Mamma Mia’ offers a lighthearted escape, filled with laughter, catchy tunes, and heartwarming moments,” said Director Kevin Wade.

Ida Belle Gorby will play Sophie, a young woman searching for her birth father on the eve of her wedding. Her quest brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The hilarious smash musical features such classic hits as ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” “Fernando,” “Take a Chance on Me” and, of course, “Mamma Mia.” The jukebox musical romantic comedy was based on ABBA’s music and translated into a film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep as Sophie’s hotelier mother.

“This beloved musical is not just a celebration of ABBA’s timeless hits; it’s a story about love, friendship, and the joy of living life to the fullest,” said Wade. “It invites our talented students to explore the complexities of relationships through a colorful lens, showcasing their ability to connect with the audience in a profound way. By choosing this musical, we aim to foster a sense of community, encourage creativity, and give our students the opportunity to shine on stage.”

Elyse Duffield will play Sophie’s mother. Ingrid Pratt and Sydney Lovering play the mother’s good friends Ali and Lisa, while Evan Dittami, Ben Kashen and Hoken Johnson play the potential birthfathers.

Additional cast members include Phoebe Everett Williams, Lizzie Loving, Steven Serva-Gonzales, Aster Pitts, Moxxie Tellez, Bridger McBee, Gertie Pitts, Aila Pettit, Amarah Wesley, Annabel Stangelini, Ava Murphy, Callan Duke, Lexie Lovering, Lidia Kaminer, Mikayla Wesley, Torin Vandenburgh, Riley Siegel, Addie Featherman, and Hanna Bailey.

Students behind the scenes include Reed Fowler, Angus Ramsay, Renata De Luna, Luke Stevenson, Moi Bicas-Dolgen, and Sam Walker. Ben Larroquette ‘05 serves as Music Director, Megan Mahoney-Hegewald as Choreographer, Sara Gorby as Costume Designer, Natalie Battistone as Scenic Designer and Elle Lucas as Props Designer.

Tickets are $8 for students and $12 for adult, available online at https://www.communityschool.org or https://ci.ovationtix.com/36066/production/1216333.