The JHS Drama Club Does it Again
For the past three months the Jena High School (JHS) Drama Club has rehearsed relentlessly to perfect their production of Mamma Mia – in the ballpark of 50 times to be more precise. With a cast of 26 members and a full set built entirely by hand, this might have been the club’s most extravagant project yet, and the high schoolers’ dedication paid off on opening night, Friday, April 17.
The musical starred Sophie Reaves as Sophie Sheridan, Iris Bradford as Donna Sheridan, Callie Davidson as Rosie Mulligan, Raylee Guillory as Tanya Cresham-Leigh, Tanner Boyett as Harry Bright, Greyor Harris as Sam Carmicheal, and Bubba Stevens as Bill Austin. It spanned roughly three hours of nonstop musical numbers, dance routines, and dramatic dialogue.
Supporting cast included Brayden Hood as Sophie’s fiancé, Sky; Zaylee Walker and Lily LaCroix as Sophie’s friends, Ali and Lisa; Arin Ashley and Dalen McDowell as Donna’s employees, Eddie and Pepper; and Sam Cook as Father Alexandrios.
Several students also served as dancers and backup singers for the main cast, including Mallory Courtney, Gabriella Courtney, Ava McGuffee, Olivia Jackson, Allie Wiley, Jesilyn Poole, Emma Poole, Natalie Parrott, Makayla Bradford, Natalie Rollins, Raiden McPherson, Hope Pennington, and Jessica Smith.
The crew included JHS Drama Club Director, Tracy Joy; Technical Director, Blake Joy; Acting Coach, Luke Goudelock; Choreographer and Dance Captain, Jessica Smith; Assistant Choreographer, Raylee Guillory; Student Music Director, Iris Smith; Sound Technician, Blake Joy; Lighting Designer and Technician, Eli Adams; Stage Manager, Jillian Parker; Stage Crew, Haiden Carroll, Ellie Cassels, and Nova Smith; Set Builders Chad Girlinghouse, Blake Joy, and John Joy; and Hair and Makeup Artists, Haiden Carroll and Ellie Cassels.
“They’ve worked their butts off, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” gushed Joy, who shared that everything had gone better than she could’ve hoped for. The biggest bump in the road was with a few costumes, but cast member Bubba Stevens’ mother, Rachel Stevens, swooped in and managed to sew all three outfits from scratch in just two days.
“Rachel has been a lifesaver,” Joy stated of the situation.
JHS Drama Club’s presentation of Mamma Mia would not have been possible without the following sponsors and supporters: Ace Family Hardware, Cliff Williams Memorial Foundation, Gamer’s Pair-a-Dice, Hardtner Medical Center, Jena Pharmacy, Justiss Oil Company, Magnolia Books, The Main Event, Universal Plant Services, Homeland Bank, Southern Heritage Bank, Cousin’s Feed and Seed, First and Mane Salon, Jena Band of Choctaw, KPS Insurance, Lulu’s, Speedy Mac’s, Steve Andrews – LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court, Terry and Michelle Bradford, LaSalle Florist, and Miss B’s Place.
