Here we go again – Oak Harbor High School is putting on its first musical in five years, featuring plenty of sequins and disco music.

“Mamma Mia!” runs Feb. 16-18 and 23-25 on the high school’s auditorium stage, which has been transformed into a coastal Greek city. The musical was originally planned to run three years ago, but the pandemic delayed the production until now. The show is co-directed by drama teacher Micki Gibson and Eric George, who has volunteered with the drama club for seven years. Darren McCoy, the high school’s choir teacher, is the music director and producer.

“The kids were hungry for it,” George said. “This was something they wanted to do a couple years ago that was taken away.”

“They’ve been a dedicated cast,” Gibson added.

“Mamma Mia!” premiered in 1999 and features the music of Swedish band ABBA. A popular film adaptation was released in 2008. The plot centers around 20-year-old Sophie and her mother Donna, who live together on a Greek island and are preparing for Sophie’s wedding. Sophie invites three of her mother’s past flames to the event, hoping she’ll discover which one is her father. Chaos and much emotional belting ensues.

The cast consists of 35 high school students. Sophomore Dana Rivo stars as Donna, despite only getting involved in theater a year ago. This is her first musical – not that audience members will be able to tell.

Rivo said the most challenging aspect of the role was playing a woman who is decades older than herself.

“She is a very complicated 40-year-old woman who has just lived her life so independently,” she said. “I’ve barely even lived my life, so you just have to put yourself through so many scenarios.”

Her favorite part of the experience has been making friends in the cast.

“I’ve created so many new bonds and friendships that I thought would never happen with people I thought I’d never talk to,” she said. “But this has definitely changed a lot for the better.”

Kincaid Cochran, a junior, is part of the ensemble. She auditioned because she loves the school’s theater department and has loved “Mamma Mia!” since she was a child. She’s seen the musical live five times.

“It feels like an honor to be part of the show,” she said.

Cochran said being part of the musical production has been an intense workload. When the ensemble cast members are not on stage, they are often singing in the background.

“I feel like this cast is just so hyped to do ‘Mamma Mia!’ and we all are putting everything into it,” she said.

Eclipse Garrett, a junior, plays Rosie, Donna’s best friend and a member of Donna’s band Donna and the Dynamos. Garrett said she almost didn’t audition because she feared she didn’t have enough time in her schedule, but Rosie was one of her dream roles. She’s also loved the musical since she was little and said she listened to the soundtrack on repeat during the pandemic.

Garrett has enjoyed playing such a flirtatious character, especially since she is playing opposite Cyrus Amor, a friend who plays the part of Bill. She encouraged middle schoolers to attend the production, especially if they are interested in drama, choir, lighting, sound or theater tech.

“I think there are a lot more opportunities than people realize,” Garrett said. “We’ve had people working the sewing machine day-in, day-out for this show.”

For those who aren’t students anymore, the musical should still have a wide appeal.

“If you like glitter, you should come see the show,” Garrett said.

Ticket information can be found at ohsd.net/Page/10042.

Photo by John Fisken Ka’lmi Nero, who is part of the ensemble of Oak Harbor High School’s production of “Mama Mia,” takes a leap on stage.

Photo by John Fisken From left, Cyrus Amor, Ethan Johnson, Maria Andelmi and Graham Murray. Andelmi stars as Sophie who is meeting three men, one of whom could potentially be her father.

Photo by Rachel Rosen/Whidbey News-Times Maria Andelmi stars as Sophie, who invites three men to her wedding in order to find out which is her father.