Sounds of ABBA coming to WBHS

The music of ABBA is coming to the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School.

The WBHS theatre club is putting on “Mamma Mia” for their 2022 winter musical from Feb. 4-6. The show will take place at the high school at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 and 5 and 2 p.m. Feb. 6. Tickets for the show are $12 for an adult and $10 for a student or senior citizen. Tickets can be purchased online or by emailing chosler@wittbirn.k12.wi.us.

WBHS senior Alison Olson said that Mamma Mia is inspired by pop songs written by ABBA in the 1970s and the ’80s.

“The musical is centered around a young girl who is getting married and doesn’t know who her father is,” Olson said. “She writes out to her mother’s previous boyfriends and asks them to come to the wedding in hopes that one of them can be identified as her father.”

Olson said that auditions and practices began in November, right after the fall play. She said that through these three months of practice, the cast has done a good job to perform a great show.

“I think the community will have a great reaction to the musical,” she said. “The choreography is great, and there is a lot more dancing and singing in this show than most musicals.”

Olson said presenting a show like this to the community takes a lot of time, effort and especially commitment.

“Performing a show in front of an audience gives us the magical feeling of accomplishment that we could come together and make the best of memories,” she said.

As the show times get closer, Olson said, the cast and crew is getting more and more excited to put this on.

“The cast typically feels a little overwhelmed at first,” she said. “Through hard work and lots of practice — the reward of stepping on stage to perform — we all feel pride and confidence in our performance and reap the rewards of entertaining our community.”

She added that “Mamma Mia” was chosen because of its iconic soundtrack and performing a popular musical will help to bring more eyes and ears to the club.

“It is bringing a lot of attention to our school and the theater program,” Olson said. “This performance will help us stand out in the area and show the world that even a very small district is capable of amazing things.”

Olson wanted to thank everyone involved with the musical, including directors Stacy Rocke, Crystal Hosler, Patrick Alcantara and student director Anna Jackan, stage crew, performers, and the staff and student body at WBHS.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com