Kamehameha Schools Hawaii is ready to take the stage the next three nights for its fall musical, the ultimate feel-good show, “Mamma Mia!”
The theater department was ready to perform a fan-favorite musical after spending a portion of the summer performing its spring ho‘ike, “Pai‘ea, A Rock Opera,” in the Edinburge Festival Fringe in Scotland.
“We wanted to do something exciting and invigorating, with a static background, after coming back from performing … in Scotland,” said director ‘Alohi De Lima. “The students have been having a good time with the show and are doing a great job with every rehearsal.”
“Mamma Mia!” utilizes the timeless songs from ABBA, which propel the story of a young woman’s search for her birth father.
On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
Senior Tehani Kekuawela will take on the lead role of Donna Sheridan, popularized by Meryl Streep in the films. Sophomore Elena Dinkel plays her daughter, Sophie Sheridan.
Seniors Loheauokalani Boshard as Sam Carmichael, Ikaika Stone as Harry Bright and junior Jhayden Mata as Bill Austin play the three possible dads. Donna’s lifelong friends, the Dynamos, are played by seniors ‘Ailani Martinson as Rosie and Ka‘oiwi Jeong as Tanya.
“This show has been super fun for them to do, and they have been really excited about their performances,” De Lima said. “I think it will be great to see it all come together.”
Audiences will have three chances to see “Mamma Mia!” with shows beginning at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday in the William Charles Lunalilo Center on campus in Keaau.
General admission tickets are $10, and VIP early admission pass tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Go Fan page.
Ticket proceeds help alleviate the cost for the student actors to participate in enrichment opportunities around the world, including performances like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Broadway workshops over the summer.
For cast and show information and a link to purchase tickets, audiences can visit bit.ly/kshmammamia.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.