‘Mamma Mia!’: Old Colony embraces ABBA in upcoming musical

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School is throwing on their bell bottoms and wedding veils to put on a production of the musical “Mamma Mia!”

Directed by Old Colony English teacher Amber Roderick, the musical is entirely composed of songs by Swedish pop group ABBA. Actors danced, dipped and shimmied across the stage to hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Voulez-Vous,” and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”

“I wanted to make it something fun, like music that everyone knows, both for the kids and audience,” said Roderick.

Senior Abigail Dawicki of Lakeville said she emailed Roderick months ago asking for the spring musical to be “Mamma Mia!” because she wanted to play Donna Sheridan for her final show at Old Colony. Now cast as Donna, Dawicki is living out her dream.

“I wanted to do ‘Mamma Mia!’ because everyone knows ABBA. I don’t know a singular person who’s like, ‘I don’t vibe to an ABBA song,’” she said.

To prepare for the role of Donna, she reached out to a student at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School who previously played Donna in a production of “Mamma Mia!”

“She helped me become one with the character and hit the notes but have emotions,” said Dawicki.

She admires Donna’s character development and strength throughout the show.

“I think that’s really beautiful to see, because it builds so powerfully from singing about being in love with multiple men to basically how she doesn’t need someone else to find her happiness,” said Dawicki.

She stated that the Old Colony Drama Club has grown significantly since her freshman year. 

“We had like 30 people [in the audience] and it was like, ‘Okay, you’re performing to your parents. That’s really it,’” Dawicki said. “Now, like the entire school goes to this and people outside will see the posters in town and they’ll come to it. It’s not just our family, it’s more.”

Dawicki described Old Colony as a “small, tight-knit community” where students are supportive of each other.

“Anytime you’re taking part in an activity at Old Colony, you are making friends no matter what,” she said.

Sophomore Candra Almeida of Acushnet, who plays Sophie Sheridan, said this is her first time participating in an Old Colony production.

“It’s definitely a little stressful, because it’s not something that I’m used to and done for so long,” said Almeida. “But the people here definitely make it a lot more comfortable.”

Dawicki and Almeida are classmates in Old Colony’s culinary program, where they bonded over a mutual passion for singing.

Almeida said the drama club helped her through every challenge she encountered during her first high school musical.

“I just feel like music brings everybody together, and I love that,” said Almeida. “Whether we’re dancing or singing or genuinely just acting, it still feels like a family.”

Attendees can buy tickets at the door, priced at $10 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens and students. Performances will be on Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m.