Laiona Michelle who plays Donna and Stephanie Gomerez playing Sophie talk about the hottest ticket in town – MAMMA MIA! at the Ivoryton Playhouse!
Our thanks to Overabove for providing us with great video clips for each show!
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Cooper Grodin*, Dane Agostinis*, Stephanie Gomerez and Billy Clark Taylor*
Over 60 million people worldwide have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make Mamma Mia! the ultimate feel-good show! Set on a Greek island paradise, the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.
The musical includes such hits as “Super Trouper”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Thank You for the Music”, “Money, Money, Money”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “Voulez-Vous”, “SOS” and the title track. The show has grossed $2 billion worldwide since its 1999 debut. A film adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Stellan Skarsgård and Julie Walters was released in July 2008.
A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!
Saturday matinees added: Saturday, July 6th and July 20th.
Carly Callahan, Laiona Michelle* and Jessie Alagna*
*member of Actors Equity
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Steele
Dane Agostinis* (Bill Austin) Recently originated the role of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast for Disney Cruise Line directed by Connor Gallagher. Nat’l/Int’l Tour: Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Elf (Greenway), …Trailer Park (Duke), also at Edinburgh Fringe. Favorite credits: The Full Monty (Dave)-Henry Award Nomination, Mamma Mia (Bill), Chicago (Amos) Debbie Does Dallas (Rick), Oklahoma! (Jud), Bat Boy! The Musical (Rick/Lorraine), …Spelling Bee (Barfee), and Carousel (Jigger). Commercials/voiceovers for clients such as Florida Lottery, General Motors, Join.Me, Herman Miller, Rolaids, Nutrish. Proud NYU/Tisch School of the Arts graduate. www.DaneAgostinis.com
Jessie Alagna* (Rosie) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Favorite past credits include: Pile of Poo in Emojiland the Musical, (Yup, I was the poop emoji and it was awesome!) Bingo! The Musical (Allison), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Sally), Beehive! (Jessie), The Life, and Jekyll & Hyde. Love to Momma, fam, and her best boy Elmer Mcpooperton (you should follow him on Instagram) Oh! & follow her too! @jessiestella
Evan Benjamin (Male Ensemble) is thrilled to make his Ivoryton debut! He is a rising senior Music Theatre major at the Hartt School. Credits there include: Sweet Charity (Oscar Lindquist) and All Shook Up (Dean Hyde). Other credits include: Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Rent, We Will Rock You (The Barn Theatre); Turn Up the Heat! (RWS Entertainment Group). Much love to Mom, Dad, Ian, friends and family! Instagram: @evanbenjamin
Carly Callahan (Tanya) is delighted to be returning to the Ivoryton Playhouse after playing the role of Bellomy in The Fantasticks. Other recent credits include: An Ivoryton Playhouse Christmas Hour with David Pittsinger and Friends, Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s Phantom (Carlotta), Ivoryton Playhouse’s Playhouse on the Shore (Director/Performer), Opera Theater of Connecticut’s Madama Butterfly (Kate Pinkerton), Romeo & Juliet, In Verse & Music (Lady Capulet) and Die Fledermaus (Sally). Other favorites: Evita (Eva), A Little Night Music (Desiree). National tour: Victor Victoria. Regional: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Sally) and Mikado (Pitti-Sing). Edinburgh Fringe: Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie). Upcoming: Ragtime: In Concert (Emma Goldman) and the Sanibel Music Festival. carlycallahan.com
Kelley Davies (Female Ensemble/Young Tanya) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Some favorite regional credits include: Austen’s Pride (ACT of CT/Lyda), The Graduate (Penobscot Theatre Company/Elaine), Charley’s Aunt (Winnipesaukee Playhouse/Kitty), Mary’s Wedding (Winnipesaukee Playhouse/Mary), The Waltz (World Premier) (Winnipesaukee Playhouse/Camille), Baskerville (Seacoast Repertory Theatre/Sherlock), and All Shook Up (Priscilla Beach Theatre/Sandra). She is a proud Emerson College alum and sends all her love and gratitude to her family and friends! For more on Kelley, visit kelleyjanedavies.com or follow @kelleydavies
Nico DiPrimio (Male Ensemble) is so excited to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut! A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. He was recently seen in the National Tour of A Charlie Brown Christmas. His Regional credits include: Guys and Dolls, The Light in the Piazza and Hair. He would like to thank his family for their endless amount of love and support! Enjoy the show! @nicoo_d
Mark Gilchrist (Father Alexandrios) is excited to be returning to the Ivoryton Playhouse, having previously appeared as Misha in Coney Island Christmas and Larry in I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Other local credits include: Harvey (Elwood P. Dowd), Barefoot in the Park (Victor Velasco), Noises Off (Frederick Fellowes), Once upon a Mattress (Minstrel), The Music Man (Harold Hill), The Producers (Max Bialystock), Carousel: A Concert (Bascombe/Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon), Mary Poppins (George Banks), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp) and Annie (Daddy Warbucks). Regional credits include: West Side Story; Shenandoah; Play It Again, Sam; Godspell; The Fantasticks; and On Shiloh Hill at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie Gomerez (Sophie) is thrilled to be debuting at Ivoryton Playhouse as well as the role of Sophie! Since graduating from Binghamton University, Stephanie has played the role of Vanessa in a co-production of In The Heights, performed in the original, off-Broadway musical Green Card, and originated the role of Posey in a new musical, The Human Incubator. She has also worked on shows such as Power, Younger, Orange is the New Black and more. She wants to thank the cast, crew and production team for this amazing experience, as well as her family and friends for their undying support! Theatre is life and life is colorful!
Nicholas Gonzalez (Pepper) is so incredibly stoked to be doing one of his all-time favorite shows with such an amazing cast and crew at Ivoryton Playhouse! Regional credits: Pirelli in Sweeney Todd at Connecticut Repertory Theatre. He was most recently seen as Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show at the Hartt School, where he graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre this past May. Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Lynn for all their support! Insta: nicholasjgonzalez
Cooper Grodin* (Sam Carmichael) is thrilled to make his Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Title role in Phantom Of The Opera National Tour, Les Miserables National Tour, The Bands Visit Lab directed by Hal Prince, Shakespeare In The Parks Into The Woods, Title role in the Carbonell winning Best Musical Sunday In The Park With George, Drama Desk Nominated The Golden Land, ABC’s Deception. Cooper’s original album “It’s The Little Things” is available on iTunes. The Price Group. @CooperGrodinOfficial
Nigel Hall* (Asst. Choreographer/Dance Captain/Eddie) is elated to be making his Ivoryton debut! Regional: Beauty And The Beast, Newsies (Music Theatre Wichita); Hello Dolly, Wizard of Oz (Casa Manana); Pippin (Greenbrier Valley Theatre); After Midnight (Norwegian Cruise Lines). He would like to thank his cast and crew, as well as J.R. Bruno for allowing him this opportunity.
Aliah James (Female Ensemble) was born and raised in metro Atlanta, Georgia where she received dance training from N-Motion Dance, Price Performing Arts Center, and Mount Zion’s Magnet Program. Aliah also attributes her dance training to Point Park University’s Dance Conservatory, where she received her BFA in Modern Dance. She trained with The Metropolitan School of Ballet and The Joffrey Contemporary/Jazz Summer Programs, as well as The American Dance Festival in New York and at Duke University. Aliah feels privileged to have performed in repertory works by Bill T. Jones, Pam Tanowitz, and Doug Bentz, to name a few. She performed as a principle, in the production of After Midnight, on the Norwegian Escape, and had recently concluded performing in Newsies, as JoJo as well as Meddas’ Cover, at The Westchester Broadway Theatre. Aliah is ecstatic to making her debut at the Ivoryton Playhouse performing in Mamma Mia!
Jack Kay (Sky) A recent graduate of the Juilliard School, Jack Kay is very excited to playing Sky in Mamma Mia! Jack was seen most recently in the New York Festival of Song@Juilliard: Kurt Weill’s Berlin. Previous roles include John Styx in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld at the Juilliard School, Anthony in Sweeney Todd at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza at Seagle Music Colony.
Amanda Lupacchino (Female Ensemble) is delighted to be returning to The Ivoryton Playhouse this summer in Mamma Mia and Cabaret! Some of her favorite theater credits include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Memphis, Annie (tour), Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! (tour), Angelina Ballerina Holiday (NYC and tour) and South Pacific. Love and thanks to The Ivoryton Playhouse team. Endless gratitude to her friends and family for their continued support, hugs and cheers! @amanduh_leigh
Laiona Michelle* (Donna Sheridan) Broadway: Nanna in Amazing Grace, The First National Tour of The Book of Mormon. Laiona has performed both regionally and internationally. Most recently she starred as the legendary jazz icon in the world premiere of Little Girl Blue- The Nina Simone Musical. This production introduced Laiona’s work as a book writer at the George Street Playhouse. Her TV/Film credits include: “Crashing” “Sneaky Pete,” “The Blacklist,”“Law and Order CI and SVU,” “All My Children,” “Lift.” Awards include: recipient NAACP for Constant Star, Nominated Helen Hayes 2005 Best Lead Actress in Yellowman at Arena Stage. M.F.A. Brandeis University
Melissa McLean (Female Ensemble) happily returns to Ivoryton, having previously appeared in Man of La Mancha (Housekeeper), I’ll be Home for Christmas (Nana), Memphis, All Shook Up (Mayor Mitilda), Footloose (Lulu), Hairspray (Prudy Pingleton/Matron/Gym teacher), Joseph…, …Forum (Gymnasia), Lettuce and Lovage (Miss Framer), Lost in Yonkers (Aunt Gert) and The Robber Bridegroom. Some other favorites include Heartbeats (Hartford’s Producing Guild), A Little Night Music (Nutmeg Summer Theater) and most recently, The Big Snooze with The Chester Meeting House Players. She holds a BFA from UCONN. Many thanks to Jacqui and JR! Around the world love to Jeff, Jojo, Ian and Caleb.
Ana Yi Puig (Lisa) is a BFA Musical Theatre major at Texas State University and she is overjoyed to be making her professional debut here at Ivoryton Playhouse! Some of her favorite credits include: Speech and Debate (Diwata), …Spelling Bee (Olive), and How To Succeed… (Rosemary). Ana would like to thank her family, Avery, and TXST tribe for their unwavering love and support. Hugs to the entire cast, crew, and creative team… here we go! @anayipuig
Carolina Santos Read* (Female Ensemble Fordham University with Alvin Ailey grad. Regional theater: Evita (ensemble), West Side Story (Rosalia, dance capt.) Chicago (June, dance capt.) South Pacific (assoc. chor., ensemble) Evita (ensemble, dance capt.), The Producers (ensemble), Home for the Holidays (Sarah). Tour: Giffords Circus Yasmine! UK tour (dancer, assoc. chor.), and 50 Shades! The Musical Parody Intn’l Tour (dance capt., Inner Goddess, swing). TV/Film credits include Pan Am, Gossip Girl, Friends With Kids, Beautiful Girls. Thank you to my agents, family, friends and Karim. For concert dance/commercial credits and more: www.carolinasantosread.com. @l1naballer1na
Nathan Russo (Male Ensemble) is thrilled to be returning to the Playhouse once again. Last seen in Grease, Nathan’s recent credits include Allegro and Sweet Charity at Columbia College Chicago. Endless love to my family, friends, and teachers, whom I wouldn’t be here without.
Cameron Khalil Stokes (Ali) is a Gender Non-Conforming Houston, Texas native. Cameron was last seen in Alley Theater’s production of Twelfth Night and Queensbury Theater’s production of Elf. Cameron is so excited to perform this amazing show in Connecticut this summer! Thank you to Ivoryton Playhouse for this visibility and the opportunity to play this role. Thank you to my amazing friends and family who support me! Follow Cameron on Instagram @ucancallmesis
Billy Clark Taylor* (Harry Bright) is excited to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut. Billy has worked at theaters across the country including Maine State Music Theatre, the Fulton Theatre, and North Shore Music Theatre. Recent stage credits include Harry in Mamma Mia at Axelrod PAC in Deal, NJ, and the title role in Johnny Guitar at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. Billy can be seen on screen in the short film Carrington’s Rules and the movie Miles, currently streaming on Netflix.
Audrey Wilson (Female Ensemble/Young Rosie) Audrey is so excited to be back at the Ivoryton Playhouse after appearing as Jan in Grease last summer! She is an upcoming Senior Music Theatre major at The Hartt School and is originally from Baldwin, New York. Previous credits include A Little Night Music, 110 In The Shade and Once In A Lifetime (Monomoy Theater) and Nunsense and The Rocky Horror Show (Hartt School). Special thanks to Jacqui, Theresa, and Liz for everything you do! For my family (coast to coast) and for Mom. @_audreywilson
Director: JR Bruno
Musical Director: David Madore
Music Supervisor: Mike Morris
Stage Manager: Theresa Stark*
Assistant Stage Manager: Kayla Gardner*
Scenic Designer: Glenn Bassett
Lighting Designer: Marcus Abbott
Sound Designer: Tate R. Burmeister
Costume Designer: Liz Saylor
* member of Actors Equity
Check back here for photos and video clips!
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The Broadway sensation comes to Ivoryton!
MAMMA MIA!
At the Ivoryton Playhouse
Ivoryton – On June 26th, the Ivoryton Playhouse will transform from an historic New England theatre to a Mediterranean island, filled with the music we have loved for over 40 years! Over 60 million people worldwide have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make Mamma Mia! the ultimate feel-good show! Set on a Greek island paradise, the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.
Stephanie Gomerez and Laiona Michelle*
On the eve of her wedding, Sophie reads her mom’s diary, only to discover that the father she has never met, could be one of three men! The wedding invitation brings Sophie’s three dads to the Greek Isles in search of the life that could have been with Sophie’s mother, Donna. Filled laughter, heart and 22 hit songs including “Super Trouper”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Thank You for the Music”, “Money, Money, Money”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “Voulez-Vous”, “SOS” and the title track.
As of 2018, the show has productions in London’s West End, where it is the seventh longest-running show in West End history, as well as various international productions. Its Broadway incarnation closed in September 2015 after a 14-year run, making it the ninth longest-running show in Broadway history.
Prepare to have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! and take a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!
Get swept away by the infectious music, uplifting story, and dazzling dance numbers that have made Mamma Mia! a worldwide phenomenon.
The production stars Laiona Michelle* as Donna. Laiona was seen on Broadway as Nanna in Amazing Grace and in The First National Tour of The Book of Mormon. Most recently she starred as the legendary jazz icon in the world premiere of Little Girl Blue – The Nina Simone Musical. Joining her as her best buddies and the other 2 members of the band are Jessie Alagna* as Rosie and Carly Callahan as Tanya. Carly was last seen here in THE FANTASTICKS and THE IVORYTON PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS HOUR. This is Jessie’s debut in Ivoryton. Cooper Grodin*, Dane Agostinis* and Billy Clark Taylor* take on the roles of the dads and Stephanie Gomerez and Jack Kay play the young lovers, Sophie and Sky. Evan Benjamin, Kelley Davies, Nico DiPrimio, Mark Gilchrist, Nicholas Gonzalez, Nigel Hall, Aliah James, Amanda Lupacchino, Melissa McLean, Ana Yi Puig, Carolina Santos Read*, Nathan Russo, Cameron Khalil Stokes, and Audrey Wilson complete this talented and energetic cast.
The production is directed and choreographed by J.R. Bruno and musical directed by David Madore with set design by Glenn Bassett, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Elizabeth Saylor.
MAMMA MIA opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse on June 26th and runs through July 28, 2019. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
Additional matinee performances are on Saturday, July 6th and July 20th at 2pm.
Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org
(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Members of the press are welcome at any performance after July 5, 2018
*denotes member of Actors Equity
Looking for something to do? Ivoryton Playhouse has been voted best place to see live theatre by readers of The Shoreline Times for three years in a row. Come to Essex and visit our historic, professional theatre – a Connecticut treasure!