“Mamma Mia!” here we go again!
With “The Haunting of Hill House” officially done it was a quick turn around for the auditioners of this year’s spring musical, “Mamma Mia!” coming to Van Nuys in March of 2025.
On Nov 18, 2024 vocal auditions for “Mamma Mia!” began.
With director and theatre teacher Mr. Justin Baldridge leading the panel of judges for auditions, each auditioner went in a group of three and sang the song that corresponded to their role.
Senior Madison Thacker believes that these auditions were stronger than usual because people were working harder.
“I think doing such a popular show has really attracted a lot of new students who bring new skills to an audition room,” Thacker said. “I think that because there are more people auditioning, people worked harder to guarantee their spot in the show causing stronger performances from the auditioners.”
The nerves settled only for another wave to come on Nov. 20 when callbacks began.
Callbacks are a way to let the panel of judges see how everyone up for the leads connect, and for a show like this, the chemistry between each pair and friendship is heavily needed.
Junior Ami Singer was fascinated by the many different choices portrayed in each pairing during callbacks.
“It was really cool to see how scenes could look completely different when different people read for each role,” she said.
The chemistry between the many pairs was so strong that callbacks didn’t just go for one day.
On Nov. 21 callbacks continued.
Thacker said that callbacks were at a very different level compared to past ones as well.
“Callbacks went really, really well,” she said. “I think it was definitely our strongest callback yet .”
With callbacks ending on the 21st, the auditioners eagerly awaited the cast list posted on Friday, Nov. 22.
The cast list came out with two sophomores as the main leads for the show. One of them being Amelia Probst who you may recognize from “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” as Beedle Bamford, and Ellie Steinberg most recognizable for Eleanor’s sister in “ The Haunting of Hill House.”
Make sure to stay tuned for the updates for Van Nuys High School’s production of “Mamma Mia!” coming to the Donna Hubbard auditorium in March of 2025!
