The Mountain Play Presents MAMMA MIA! Featuring The Music Of ABBA
By: A.A. Cristi May. 15, 2018
The Mountain Play, the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience is proud to present Mamma Mia! for its 105th Season. Directed by Jay Manley, Musical Direction by Jon Gallo, and Choreography by Nicole Helfer and Zoë Swenson-Graham.
This Broadway smash hit musical, featuring the jubilant songs of Abba, is a story of love, music, strong women, and family. Set on a magical Greek island, Mamma Mia! traces the tale of Sophie, a young girl about to get married and create her dream life...but there is just one hitch, she has never met her father. She invites all three potential dads to the wedding so she can finally solve the mystery and have him walk her down the aisle.
On Saturday, June 9, Mountain Play hosts its first ever sing-along, encouraging the audience to join in with the cast in singing the buoyant Abba tunes such as: "Honey Honey," "Does Your Mother Know," "Dancing Queen," and "Take a Chance."
The cast features Dyan McBride (Donna Sheridan), Tyler McKenna (Sam Carmichael), Carrie Lyn Brandon (Sophie Sheridan), Susan Zelinsky (Tanya Cresham), and Jennifer McGeorge (Rosie Mulligan).
The cast also includes Sean O'Brien (Harry Bright), David Schiller (Bill Austin), Jake Gale (Sky), Zachary Isen (Pepper), Cindy Head (Lisa), Julia Ludwig (Ali), and Anthony Maglio (Eddie). The ensemble includes Joseph Alvarado, Jennifer Boynton, Skylar Collins, Bella Cvengros, Sophie De Morelos, Emily Dwyer, Ana Marie Hansen, Elizabeth Jones, Jeremy Kaplan, Larissa Kelloway, Daniela Myers, Daniel Quezada, Carl Robinett, Johann Santos, Madison Scarbrough and Katie Wickes.
Preshow Entertainment
In addition to the headline show, preshow activities and musical acts provide entertainment for the whole family. Each day has a theme with special preshow entertainment at 12:30pm.
- Opening Day (May 20) - preshow entertainment by the Marin Girls Chorus
- Arts Appreciation Day (May 27) - preshow entertainment by 'Til Dawn
- OUTdoors at the Theatre LGBT Day (June 3) - preshow entertainment by Shelley Doty
- Sing-along Saturday (June 9) - we encourage you to sing-along with the regular production.
- Mount Tamalpais Appreciation Day (June 10) - preshow entertainment by Natalia Betzler
- Father's Day Picnic Contest (June 17) - with Celebrity Judge Chef Roland Passot
Public Information: General Seating tickets range from $20-$45 Children age 3 and under are always free. Group discounts are available online for 10-24 people, call 415-383-1100 for 25 or above. Reserved Seating provides four levels of special packages including premium cushioned seating in both the shade and the sun. Reserved levels are: Club Circle (sun) $60; Orchestra Sun Circle $65; Director Circle (shade) $100; and Patron Circle (shade) $175 with Dining in the Woods - a gourmet lunch served with fine wines seated in a peaceful madrone grove, and a VIP parking pass for every four tickets sold. Visit mountainplay.org/2018-season for more info on tickets.
Parking on the mountain is limited, patrons are encouraged to hike, bike, carpool (purchase reserved parking in the Air Force lot on top of Mt. Tam), or use our $5 shuttle to the venue from the free parking lots at Tamalpais High School or the Manzanita Park & Ride. Visit mountainplay.org/plan-your-visit for more info on getting to the Mountain Play.
ASL Interpreter Catherine Pyne will perform and sign for the hearing impaired at three performances - May 20, June 3 and June 10.
For more information visit www.mountainplay.org, info@MountainPlay.org or call (415) 383-1100.
Inspired by the music of Abba, Catherine Johnson's book for Mamma Mia! is a non-stop, energetic romp rich with laughs, life, love and the explosive music and lyrics of Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson. You'll fall in love all over again with the characters and songs like "Dancing Queen," "Does Your Mother Know," "Thank You for the Music," and the title song "Mamma Mia."
Mamma Mia! was originally produced in London by Judy Cramer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. Additional Materials & Arrangements by Martin Koch. Music Published by Universal Music Publishing Group and EMI Grove Park Music Inc. and EMI Waterford Music Inc. Mamma Mia! Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Dining at the Mountain Play
The Mountain Play isn't just a wonderful theatre and outdoor experience - it can also be an incredible dining experience. There are a few different options.
Pack a picnic from Whole Foods! When you purchase a ticket for a Mamma Mia! performance, you'll receive a coupon for a handy cooler picnic bag. Visit any Whole Foods in Marin County, pick up your bag, and pack your picnic.
Starting April 1, as part of their Nickels for Nonprofits program, Whole Foods will donate ten cents per reusable bag to Mountain Play for every bag you bring to one of the Marin County locations.
Enjoy the rustic elegance of fine wines and gourmet lunch with Dining in the Woods as part of the Patron Circle Reserved Seating package. Dining in the Woods wines are generously donated by Poppy Bank and lunch is prepared by Debbie Ghiringhelli Catering.
Partake in a variety of delectable foods at the Mountain Play Café.
Purchase Barefoot Wines and Lagunitas Brewing Company at the Tamalpais Tavern booth.
Amphitheatre Shade Structure
With the generous support of donors, the Mountain Play has provided shade structures for the amphitheatre that shade seating for over 500 General Seating patrons and 300 Reserved Seating patrons. Please arrive early for a seat in the General shaded area as seating is on a first come, first served basis. Shaded Reserved Seating in the Patron and Director Circle is available by calling (415) 383-1100.
Meet Members of The Cast
Following each performance meet members of the cast in front row of the amphitheatre.
Reserved Parking
We encourage reserving space in advance as the mountain parking lots fill up quickly. $15 parking by online reservation ($25 at the lot gate) in the Air Force Parking Lot. Carpooling is encouraged.
About the Staff
Jay Manley
Jay returns to helm the Mountain Play for the fourth time, having directed the 100th Anniversary The Sound of Music, West Side Story and last year's Bay Area Theatre Critics Outstanding Musical-nominee, Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He is an award-winning director whose musicals and plays throughout the Bay Area have garnered praise and numerous awards from the Theatre Critics Circle and Dean Goodman "Choice" Awards. He founded Foothill Music Theatre in Los Altos, to present classic and new musicals. He was the recipient of a special citation from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle "...in recognition of his distinguished career as founder and artistic director of Foothill Music Theatre." In addition to The Mountain Play, Jay works as a free-lance director throughout the Bay Area. For the last 30 years, with his spouse Vance Martin, Jay has led popular theatre tours to New York, Ashland, London, and other major theatre production centers, through their company, New York Theatre Tour: www.nytheatretour.com
Jon Gallo
Jon Gallo is a music director and pianist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he studied piano performance under Dr. W. Terrance Spiller. Jon is a founding member and the resident music director of Bay Area Musicals, which is currently enjoying its third season of shows in San Francisco. He has also worked as music director for the Performing Arts Academy of Marin for the past 6 years. In addition to a busy rehearsal and performance schedule, he serves as choir director for Trinity Music Ministry in Oakland and is a music teacher at Mount Tamalpais School. Some of his favorite music director credits include, but are not limited to The Wedding Singer, Into The Woods, 42nd Street, Assassins, Legally Blonde, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, La Cage aux Folles, and Hair. Later this summer, you can find him leading the San Francisco premier of The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Bay Area Musicals. He is thrilled that his musical adventures have led him to his Mountain Play debut with Mamma Mia!
Nicole Helfer
Nicole is a Bay Area native and a graduate of San Francisco State University. Choreography credits include: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan and West Side Story for Mountain Play, In the Heights for Broadway By The Bay (Theatre Bay Area Award-winner), Dogfight for OMG Productions, Tarzan for Contra Costa Musical Theater (Shellie Award nominee), Rent for Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre Company, Measure for Measure for San Francisco State University, 8 Track: The Sounds of the 70s, Six Women With Brain Death, and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Shellie Award nominee) for Willows Theatre Company. She has also choreographed Click Clack Moo and the very successful Pinkalicious for Bay Area Children's Theater. In addition to performing regularly in regional musical theatre productions, she has taught dance and theatre classes for Young REP, Kid Stock, Inc., Dance Mission Theatre, Marilyn Izdebski Productions, YMCA and Spindrift School of Performing Arts. Currently, Nicole is happily teaching a variety of dance classes at the Ballet School in Walnut Creek and is theatre faculty at Oakland School for the Arts. She is so honored to be working with such an amazing creative team.
ZoëSwenson-Graham
Zoë returned to the states in 2015 after living in London for nearly 7 years, where she worked as an actor, dancer, and trained as a stage combat instructor and fight choreographer. She is thrilled to be returning to the Mountain Play, after choreographing HAIR & the fights for West Side Story and Peter Pan. Before leaving London, she was the leading role in the English Premiere of Neil LaBute's Autobahn at The Kings Head Theatre, London. Other acting credits include: Our Town (Emily). The Trojan Women (Helen), The Toll (Edinburgh Festival), and Twelfth Night (Viola). She received an Off-West End Best Actress nomination for At the Broken Places, a new American play that premiered in London. She has served as a stage combat choreographer and teacher around the UK, including the Royal Opera House, Soho Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Southwark Playhouse and the British American Drama Academy. Since returning to the Bay, Zoe has choreographed for and taught with The American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, Oakland School of the Arts, Sierra Repertory Theatre Company, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Ross Valley Players, YMTC, Palo Alto Children's Theatre, and Stapleton School of the Arts.
Ms. McBride is thrilled to make her debut on the mountain! Dyan has worked as an actor or director with notable companies such as 42nd St. Moon (24 seasons), Woodminster, Lucky Penny (artistic associate), Center Repertory Theatre, Diablo Theatre Company, Sacramento Theatre Company, Ray of Light, Marin Theatre Company, Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Broadway by the Bay, Utah Musical Theatre and Performance Riverside. Multimedia work includes companies like Yahoo, Nintendo, Progressive Auto Insurance, Coremark, and Comcast. She is featured in the web series Lien on Me, the rock documentary, Springsteen and I and the new short film, Generations. Ms. McBride is an adjunct professor of theatre arts at Solano Community College, Las Positas College, Academy of Art, and is Director of Education for 42nd St. Moon. Awards/Nominations: TBA, BATCC, Shellie, Arty, Dean Goodman, Broadway World and Irene Ryan/Kennedy Center. BA -Cal. State Fullerton (Musical Theatre). MFA -UC Davis (Acting). Member-SAG/AFTRA and AEA. Represented by Boom Models and Talent. She is the dog mom of Violet, married to the awesome Dennis O'Brien, and has a terrific family and lovely friends. She likes to read, garden and rock out. Check out her upcoming projects at www.dyanmcbride.com
Tyler McKenna is happy to be back on the mountain where past roles include Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Claude in Hair, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Freddy in My Fair Lady. Recent credits include Non-Player Character (Feldrick) at San Francisco Playhouse, The Rainmaker (Bill Starbuck) with Sonoma Arts Live, Beauty and the Beast (Beast) at Berkeley Playhouse, and Moments of Truth (Gerald Browne) with 3Girls Theatre Company for which he was nominated for Best Principal Actor in a Musical by the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. Other work includes productions with 42nd Street Moon, Symmetry Theatre Company, Marin Shakespeare Company, and American Conservatory Theater. Tyler is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater MFA program.
*Appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Mountain Play
Rooted in more than a century of theatrical tradition, the Mountain Play Association provides enriching live performances that stimulate creativity, engage our community and foster a lifelong enjoyment of the arts.
Our signature event is a spectacular outdoor production that celebrates musical theatre and nurtures respect for the unique natural beauty of Mount Tamalpais. www.MountainPlay.org
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