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Chrys Weedon<\/strong> | Entertainment Editor<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are actually the third high school in the country to do (\u201cMamma Mia\u201d),\u201d said Central High School\u2019s production director Jeff Witt, \u201cthe other two are east of Texas, so we\u2019re the west coast high school premier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In May of 2018, Jeff Witt \u2014 the vocal and music director at Central High School \u2014 teamed up with co-director Wendy Boyack to make their vision a reality. The theater program was originally planning on showcasing an entirely different musical, \u201cTuck Everlasting,\u201d until they were notified that the rights to the musical had been restricted. That same day, Witt was made aware that \u201cMamma Mia!\u201d was available. <\/span><\/p>\n Witt sent in the school\u2019s royalty application \u2014 which cost $3,000 \u2014 and received the good news that Central High would be putting on the first production of \u201cMamma Mia\u201d on the west coast. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c(The students) would not stop screaming,\u201d Witt chuckled as he recalled the moment he revealed the decision to his students.<\/span><\/p>\n Rehearsals started in mid-August of this year. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re here every Saturday, sometimes Sunday, putting that set together,\u201d Witt said as he pointed to the looming 24-foot revolve nestled on stage left. The theater department was able to acquire the same walls used in Broadway Rose\u2019s production of \u201cMamma Mia\u201d in Portland; the walls sit atop the revolving base and forms three separate scenes that can be changed via the attached motor. The program spent an additional $8,000 on new microphones for the show.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c(\u2018Mamma Mia!\u2019) fits the kids that I have. I always look for a show that fits the kids that I have, and when that happens they have a good time doing it,\u201d director Witt commented. <\/span><\/p>\n The leading actors, Lillian Boyack as Sophie; Monique Eschette as Donna; and Seth Dickson as Sam Carmichael, definitely commanded the crowd\u2019s attention. Each showed promising vocal skill and stage presence. <\/span><\/p>\n The secondary and tertiary characters also gave lighthearted, confident performances and cultivated an easy-going, fun-loving environment. The excitement of the whole cast throughout the show was palpable from the audience.<\/span><\/p>\n The production included disco choreography that is symbolic of ABBA\u2019s career. There were a surprising amount of tender, teary-eyed moments along with the more frequent laughable ones.<\/span><\/p>\n There were a couple snafu’s and off-key moments, but considering that this show is a high school production, the performance was entertaining and proved to be a crowd-pleaser. <\/span><\/p>\n