Issaquah High School’s spring musical, “Mamma Mia!” graced the theatre Mar. 13 through 16. The musical, set on the island Kalokairi in the Mediterranean, tells the tale of Sophie Sheridan, played by freshman Jenni Young, who is getting married at her mother’s hotel. In search of her father, Sophie sends wedding invitations to three men who could potentially be the man she is looking for. With the help of her friends, Sophie’s mother, Donna, played by junior Ruby Whelan, prepares for the wedding and is shocked to discover the three faces from her past.

As a fan of the 2008 “Mamma Mia!” film and an avid listener of ABBA, I was very eager to see the musical, and it did not disappoint. The musical opened with Young pouring her heart into “I Have a Dream.” The immediate energy given from Young and her friends, portrayed by senior Reagan Panah and senior Rachel Young, in “Honey Honey,” set the upbeat mood of the musical. The introduction of Harry, Bill and Sam, portrayed by seniors Matthew Bentsen, John Adams and Chris Benis, respectfully, led to several laughs and a tone of nostalgia with “Thank You for the Music.”

With its tasteful combination of humorous moments and emotional songs, the production was captivating from start to finish. Senior Hailey Palm, a member of the ensemble and Aphrodite’s Angels, says, “Being a part of this production was so much fun! I got to sing in the pit with the band for many of the songs, which was a really unique experience. The cast also became very close throughout this process which made the show even better.” My personal favorite songs were “Does Your Mother Know,” where Tanya, played by senior Shona Carter, and Pepper, played by sophomore Cole Voss, gave a  lively performance, and “Take a Chance on Me,” performed by Bill and Rosie, who was played by junior Cameron Zielinski, who gave an entertaining rendition of the song. Freshman spectator Julia Wood says, “The singing was on point and everyone looked like they were having fun!” My favorite performance however was probably Whelan and Benis’ performance of “The Winner Takes it All.” It felt as if the whole theatre was holding its breath during Whelan’s final lines and I was blown away by her vocal talent.

The set design was also beautiful; the backdrop of the Greek island was extremely detailed and eye catching, as well as the accompanying canvases of the beach on the side of the stage. At the end of roughly two hours, I found myself wanting even more as I was hooked throughout the entirety of the performance. Senior spectator Audrey Jacobson describes the musical as “a fantastic experience! It was a super fun environment and the cast and crew were crazy talented. We had a blast!”