The Morgan School is putting its twist on the 2008 film, Mamma Mia: The Movie. Based on previous years, The Morgan musical has done small shows that were not known to many of the students at Morgan. Due to a new director and new helping hands, Morgan is putting on a classic movie that many students would call their favorite.

On Monday, November 18th, the hallways of Morgan were rumbling with nerves from the students who were later auditioning for the musical. When the bell rang at 2:10, the chorus room filled with excited students who were ready to show off their best singing, dancing, and acting skills in competition with other students for their role in Mamma Mia. With 55 students auditioning, only 12 will receive a lead role.

Due to Ms. Robinson taking over the musical from the prior director, Mr. Lampe, the audition process looks a little different than it has in years past. In previous years, Lampe would teach all students one song and have them perform it in small groups, usually around five to six. The students auditioning would also learn the choreography and perform in those same small groups. Lampe would never have students sing or dance independently unless directed to by him. Lampe also liked to spend a lot of time rehearsing the songs and the roles during chorus time and at practices. When it came to callbacks, he did not have the

singers sing different songs than they originally did sing. Rather, he just wanted a closer look at them by themselves. 

However, Ms. Robinson’s auditions looked a little different this year. Robinson shared with students via Google Classroom, all the songs they were going to be asked to sing, and videos of Lauren Bauek, the choreographer, and other students performing the choreography they were going to audition with. Robinson had one day of auditions and two different time-waves. On the first day of auditions, no acting was being evaluated, Robinson strictly wanted to see students singing and dancing potential. All of the actors who did not want a featured role are called the ensemble, they had their tryouts at 2:45 p.m. after school. As an ensemble member, students were asked to sing and dance in groups of five to the song “Dancing Queen” composed by ABBA. 

Junior, Eli Barden has had the opportunity to experience both Lampe’s and Robinson’s auditioning process. This year, Barden showed up to auditions with high hopes. After her first day of auditions, she expressed how much she liked Robinson’s process because she “felt way more prepared than she did last year.” Barden shares that having students sing on their own, makes it “easier to determine who has good singing, dancing [and acting] skills” which made it “feel more serious.”

On the other side of things, nerves were high, for senior Aleia Aleman, when she auditioned for her first

Morgan musical. This being her first time, she never had the experience of Lampe’s auditions, so all she knew was what Robinson was putting on. Going into the auditions, Aleman “didn’t want to audition because [she] didn’t feel prepared enough.” On the day of the auditions, Aleman went to Robinson and talked about the whole process. Aleman said that Robinson “made her feel more comfortable and confident that [she] was able to go to the audition even though [she] didn’t fully know the choreography, but knew the song [she] was singing.” After the audition, Aleman “felt great and [she] was a little shaky with nerves but it was over, and [she] was proud of herself for trying something new.”

Students who wanted to push themselves tried out for a lead role later that day at 3:45 p.m. These lead roles included the characters of Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Sophie, the dads, and Sky. For this time frame, students went on stage in groups of four and danced the choreography of “Dancing Queen” together. After that, each student got to perform their specialized song based on the character they hoped to play. Below is a list of the songs each role was asked to perform: 

Donna, Tanya, and Rosie: “Mamma Mia”

Sophie and friends: “Honey, Honey”

Sky: “Lay All Your Love On Me”

Dads: “Knowing me, Knowing you”

Robinson was looking for “commitment, ability, and chemistry when casting auditions.” She wants people who will put their all into every practice and performance, can sing and dance to their fullest potential, and work well together to put on a well-replicated show.

Later that night, actors found out if they got a callback. A callback is when students perform well for their audition and are “called back” for another opportunity to get looked at as a potential lead in the musical. Monday night, students received a Google Doc from Robinson sharing the names of the students who received callbacks and the roles they had the chance to get. If students received a callback, they would perform more songs and choreography after school on Tuesday, November 19th. They would also have the opportunity to show off their acting skills as well as more of their singing and dancing skills. This was each person’s last opportunity to show the casting crew who they are. When students heard back from the callbacks, they were assigned certain roles they would fit. Here is a list of the second songs each auditionee was to perform during callbacks:

Donna: “The Winner Takes It All”

Tanya: “Does Your Mother Know”

Rosie: “Take A Chance On Me”

Sophie: “I Have A Dream”

Sophie’s Friends: “Honey, Honey”

Sky: “Lay All Your Love On Me”

Dads + Pepper and Eddie: “Thank You For The Music”

During callbacks, Robinson focused on what “groups of people looked good with each other.” She wanted students to have the best chance to do well when performing and having people who support them and build them up is a big part of this.

Senior Alyssa Ruthstrom, who is participating in the Morgan Musical for the first time, said that her nerves “got the best of her” when she volunteered to go first, and she feels “she could’ve performed better.” However, it didn’t ruin her performance, and she has another chance to showcase her talent at callbacks. This was proven when she received callbacks for the roles of Donna and Tanya. On Tuesday, she went back to auditions with her head held high and sang “The Winner Takes All” and “Does Your Mother Know” to prove her potential as a lead role. She felt she “sang better at the callbacks” but “is not sure how to feel about the acting.” 

All participants rehearsed many hours to prepare for their audition and to put on their best selves. For now, students will have to anxiously await the cast list being sent out on Google Classroom on Tuesday, November 26th.