From the moment you step into the theater, Hurricane Theatrical invites you not just to watch Mamma Mia!, but to join the celebration. Before the curtain even rose, the atmosphere was already electric. This is a testament to the thoughtful work of the production team (Kyle Myrick, director, and Courtney Pearce, assistant director). There’s something especially delightful about walking into a theater where the pre-show playlist sets the tone. Here, audiences were welcomed by a lineup of iconic ’70s hits that felt perfectly in sync with the spirit of Mamma Mia!. From “Gloria” to “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Fernando,” “We Are Family,” and “Le Freak,” the music invited audience members not just to listen, but to participate. And participate they did! The community fully understood the assignment, arriving in feather boas (I counted at least seven!) and flowing boho-chic skirts and peasant tops. Before the show had even begun, people were dancing in the aisles, creating a joyful, immersive energy that blurred the line between audience and performance. It’s this kind of vibrant, communal atmosphere that makes attending a Hurricane Theatrical production feel less like simply watching a show and more like stepping into an event designed to celebrate music, nostalgia, and connection. I love seeing attendees of all ages at a show. Mamma Mia! is a show that resonates with multiple generations, and the audience that shows up is evidence of that.
Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, Mamma Mia! follows the spirited and independent Sophie, a young woman on the brink of marriage who is hoping to learn more about herself by discovering who her father is. After secretly inviting three men from her mother’s past to her wedding, Sophie sets in motion a cascade of surprises that bring her mother, Donna, face-to-face with memories she thought she had left behind. What unfolds is a joyful, glam-rock story about love, friendship, and the beautiful complexity of family, all told through the iconic music of ABBA.
At the heart of the story is Sophie, brought to life by Averi Jackson, who captures both the character’s youthful optimism and her self-determination. Opposite her, Jill Bearden shines as Donna, balancing humor and vulnerability as a mother forced to confront her past while supporting her daughter’s future. Donna’s strong vocals in the first number, “Money, Money, Money,” is a perfect fit to encapsulate the financial difficulties a single mother and entrepreneur faces. The choreography (by Sammy Myrick) communicates the feelings of desperation and frustration.
Donna’s longtime friends and former bandmates, Rosie and Tanya, add both comedic spark and heartfelt camaraderie. Grace Wells’ Rosie is boisterous brilliance is matched only by her fully-loaded, fabulously flashy fanny pack. She is prepared for practically any possible predicament. With effortless poise, Paige Kennedy’s Tanya is a svelte, glamorous standout, her sassy confidence and flirtatious flair offering a perfect counterpoint to the trio. Rosie and Tanya are the best friends and bandmates that everyone needs in their lives. The performance of “Chiquitita” shows how much Rosie and Tanya stabilize Donna and bring her back to herself with the command “Grow back down!” And the number we’ve all been waiting for, “Dancing Queen,” shows Donna fully returning to herself, reliving some of her happiest days with her best friends. The trio’s retro-glam, bell-bottomed jumpsuits by costumer Sammy Myrick do not disappoint!
The arrival of Sophie’s three potential fathers (Sam, Bill, and Harry) introduces both humor and intrigue. Sam (Mike Bearden) carries a grounded sincerity, Bill (Tony Piersanti) exudes an adventurous spirit, and Harry (Jared Washburn) offers a sweet, endearing presence that rounds out the trio. There are clues all along the way that point to the possibility that each man could be Sophie’s father. The number “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” is a moment when all three men are dancing with the female ensemble. If audience members are trying to determine paternity based on “dad moves,” this ensemble number will keep you guessing! All three men exhibit delightfully dorky dad moves in the best way. We see them showing up for Sophie (rather than for her young friends).
Meanwhile, Sophie’s fiancé, swoon-worthy Sky, played by Devin Neilson, provides a steady, heartfelt counterpart, while supporting characters like Ali and Lisa (Annie Bearden and Britnee Rodgers) bring warmth and energy to the story’s central friendships. The entire ensemble brings humor and flirtatious energy to every scene. Pepper and Eddie (Mattix Espinoza and Talon Pace) will keep audience members in stitches. Grace Palfreyman, Penny Ricks, Avree Eardley, Damon Eriksen, Luke Burton, Johan LaVelle, and Jaiden Scott round out the ensemble vocally with the help of music director Nicole Kimzey. From flippers to gogo boots and wetsuits to sequins, this ensemble tackles every choreography challenge with youthful energy and good humor.
The scenic and technical design of this production is nothing short of inspired, transforming the stage into a dynamic and transportive Greek island escape. Scenic designer Kyle Myrick, alongside scenic construction by Nathan Merrill, makes ingenious use of space with two primary structures—the taverna/Sophie’s room and Donna’s apartment with its balcony, each set on large turntables that rotate a full 360 degrees. This clever design allows scenes to shift seamlessly while revealing new perspectives, from cozy loft bedrooms to sunlit balconies, creating a sense of depth and movement that keeps the visual storytelling engaging. The aesthetic is unmistakably Aegean, with stucco textures, cobalt-blue shutters and doors, and winding bougainvillea vines, beautifully realized through scenic painting by Courtney Pearce and Myrick’s cohesive vision. Complementing the set, the lighting design (Kyle Myrick, with light board operator Millie Dunlavy) consistently enhances the mood of each moment, whether warm and nostalgic or bright and celebratory. And of course, the spotlight operators, Adi Manganaro and Riley Alldredge, deserve special recognition for their precision and timing, always ready to highlight the “diva” of any given moment and ensure no standout performance goes unnoticed.
Mamma Mia! is a celebration of love in all its forms: romantic, familial, and lifelong friendship. You won’t want to miss this vibrant cast whose performances make the journey as meaningful as it is entertaining.
Hurricane Theatrical presents Mamma Mia! Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson. Book by Catherine Johnson.
Hurricane City Fine Arts Building, 63 S 100 W, Hurricane, UT 84737
April 3 – May 9, Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 PM and Saturday Matinees at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $10-20
Contact: 435-668-9753
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