Director Jacqlyn Giordano and the North Haven High School Drama Club are busy putting the finishing touches on this year’s spring musical, Mamma Mia!, which will take the stage with four performances Thursday to Sunday, March 3 to 6. This year’s production is even more special after in-person performances were halted due to COVID.

“Everyone is simply happy to be back together in person and feel each others’ energies,” said Giordano. “The actors can’t wait to have a live audience to perform for.”

North Haven High School was one of the only local schools that held its 2020 production prior to the COVID shutdown with performances of Phantom of the Opera. In 2021, the spring musical The Theory of Relativity was held virtually. Now returning to live theater, Giordano is excited to bring Mamma Mia! to the community.

“This show is the show that we all need right now—it is full of fun, feel-good music that most people know and love to sing along to,” said Giordano. “After such a turbulent year of navigating through a pandemic, we all just want to have fun and that is exactly what Mamma Mia! enables us to do. Our main goal is for the audience to leave with smiles on their faces and exuding positive energy.”

Audiences will have four opportunities to take in the show with a performance at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3; 7 p.m. shows on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5; and a 2 p.m. curtain on Sunday, March 6. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through www.vancoevents.com/BBYE. Tickets can also be purchased at the door with box office sales opening 30 minutes before showtimes.

There are 38 cast members and about 20 crew members involved in Mamma Mia! Auditions were held before Thanksgiving break with rehearsals starting just after the break.

“Rehearsals have been fabulous,” said Giordano. “Teachers, students, and parents involved with the show have loved getting back to in-person rehearsals after a year of wonky rehearsals during COVID.”

In addition to the cast and crew, Giordano has seen a host of parent and staff volunteers step up to help. Chris Johnson is facilitating the building of the set and monitoring students, who do most of the work with many parents constructing, painting, or decorating smaller pieces of the set. Kathryn Speeg, a teacher, leads a student team for the costume crew and Kevin Liftig is the lighting designer. Christina Karasinski, a parent volunteer, oversees the backstage crew, ensuring set pieces are moved on time and props are placed where they belong.

“Thank you to all the community members who have donated props and supplies for the show,” said Giordano. “It truly has been a community effort this year and is much appreciated. Theater is nothing without all of the behind-the-scenes effort and we certainly have had many people volunteer their time and belongings to benefit the show this year.”

While Giordano is directing the show, she has not only seen support from her creative team, but from the administration as well. She thanks Superintendent of Schools Patrick Stirk and Jenn Kozniewski, the IT director, for “helping us navigate theater during the pandemic and supporting the arts.” Creatively, Giordano’s team includes Vocal Director Sarah Iadarola, Music Director Susan Oakley, and choreographers Jared Andrew Brown and Patrick Brown.

“It’s honestly such a blessing to work with such a talented team,” said Giordano. “We can’t wait to welcome you back to the theater for a wonderful evening and we all hope to see you there.”

For information and updates, see “North Haven High School’s Mamma Mia” on Facebook.