Highlighting HDO's 19th Season with 4 showings of MAMMA MIA!
Back to show business!
High Desert Opera battled tighter budgets, covid-19 difficulties, and shorter timelines in bringing the fun-filled MAMMA MIA! to the Grand Junction stage a second time in its almost 20-year tenure.
The show opened on New Year'sEve, Dec. 31st, 2021 and had a good turnout despite a winter storm that moved through the Grand Valley. The production sold out in its finale performance January 2nd to close the show on a high note.
Accommodating COVID-19 concerns
High Desert Opera opted to follow the "free-to-choose" policy in regards to the virus and virus safety, and encouraged all attendees to be mindful of each other's personal decisions about safe behavior, including distancing and mask-wearing.
Testing and screening was conducted amongst the cast to ensure the safety of performers during the rehearsal process. HDO appreciates the cooperation and patience from the vocalists and ensemble that made MAMMA MIA! possible.
Principal Cast
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Kaitlyn Burns - Ali/Sophie Understudy
Kaitlyn is a senior Acting/Directing major at CMU. You might have seen her as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and you can see her again as Karen in CMU’s SpongeBob the Musical this spring.
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Miriam Deming - Donna
Matthew Doty - Sam Charmichael
Three seasons ago Matt portrayed Sam in MAMMA MIA!, and he is excited to reprise the role. Over the years, he has performed with The Cabaret Dinner Theatre, Empire Theatre, Showtime Productions, Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton, and The Theatre Project.
Luis Gaytan - Pepper/Sky Understudy
Luis is a Senior Business Major at CMU, and is currently working on getting his ABO license for optometry. He is a Grand Junction native and has done many shows on the Western Slope of Colorado.
Juli Jacobson - Tanya
She has had leading roles in Les Miserablés and Guys & Dolls, and is thrilled to reprise her role in Mamma Mia! After graduating from CMU, Juli studied at AMDA in NYC, but has performed all over the U.S. and in Germany.
Blake Leany - Eddie
Nothing comes more easy to Blake than music or talking, making the stage an optimal place for his abilities. Blake got his start in music at the age of 7 and has been performing in various capacities since.
Ryland Mahre - Sky
Ryland is a 2020 CMU graduate, having achieved a BFA in Theatre and a BA in Political Science. He is a 1st year law sudent at Seattle University, and returns to the Grand Valley to reprise the role of Sky in MAMMA MIA!
John Moniz - Father Alexandrios
John, an engineering consultant from Alexandria, VA, has sung liturgical choral music, Gregorian chant and Handel’s Messiah. He is joined yet again by his wife and daughter in the cast.
Christopher McKim - Harry Bright
Dr. McKim is Director of Vocal Studies at CMU. He has extensive performing experience in both classical music and Music Theatre genres. Most recently he appeared as the Traveler in One Bike.
Lana Leigh Rogal - Rosie/Choreographer
Lana, a 3rd generation dance/performance instructor, choreographer, entertainer and featured dancer, has performed and taught across the Midwest for 25+ years. She is proud to direct and perform with the “dynamic outreach” performance troupe Lana Leigh &COMPANY and honored to work for local theatre groups and schools.
Abigail Rousseau - Sophie Sheridan
Abigail returns to HDO for a 2nd time, reprising her MAMMA MIA! role. She is a Sight and Sound Conservatory Graduate. Past favorite appearances include Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice (both with Mustard Seeds Productions).
Ray Shirley - Bill Austin
Ray is an accomplished thespian in the Grand Valley for the last decade, however MAMMA MIA! is his HDO debut. He has lived here with his wife Dianna and son Logan since 2000.
Gini Thompson - Lisa
Gini makes her stage debut as the role of Lisa in MAMMA MIA!, and is grateful for the opportunity to perform under the lights. She has always enjoyed singing and dancing, and relishes the challenge and thrill of performing live.
Miriam is thrilled to step into Donna’s shoes (and overalls) for a 2nd time. Her BA in Vocal Performance & Music Education from CMU has paid off in numerous ways - including recent performances in All Together Now (The Theatre Project) and the operetta/folk musical One Bike.
Supporting Cast
- Bryanna Alvarado - Ensemble
- Solomon Brown - Ensemble/Pepper Understudy
- Traci Chinn - Ensemble
- Jill Davis - Ensemble/Donna Understudy
- Kelly Doheny - Ensemble
- Brielle Farrell - Ensemble/Tanya Understudy
- Sienna Hayes - Ensemble/Lisa Understudy
- Mary Krasnow - Ensemble
- Roxanna “Roxie” Madsen - Ensemble
- Roxanna Madsen - Ensemble
- Annastasia Moniz - Ensemble/Allie Understudy
- Karen Moniz - Ensemble
- Abarim Morrow - Ensemble
- Lisa Nilsen - Ensemble
- Rick Peterson - Ensemble
- Lynn Robinson - Ensemble
- Jaeda Rogal - Ensemble
- Dianna Shirley - Bartender/Rosie Understudy
- Aubrie Swezey - Ensemble
- Laura Trusty - Ensemble
- Sabrina Zachary - Ensemble
Orchestra
- Scott Betts - Conductor
Scott earned his Bachelors in Music Education with an instrumental emphasis in 1977 and a Masters in Music Education in 1984 at UNC. He then moved to the Grand Valley, where he taught at local middle and high schools for 30 years. In the spring of 2014 he retired from teaching orchestra and choir at Redlands Middle School. Scott performs as a trumpeter with numerous groups in the area, and sings and plays the guitar with his jazz quartet, Hot Tub Jazz. He continues his stalwart tenure as a conductor with HDO, now in his 13th year. Let’s not forget that Mr. Betts directed One Bike in August 2021, incorporating many of the performers you will see in this show.
- Douglas Morrow - Keyboard 1
- Adrian Herrera-Escobar - Keyboard 2
- Sandy Sundstrom - Keyboard 3
- Raisha Quinn - Keyboard 4
- Javier De Los Santos - Guitar 1
- Steve Easterday-McPadden - Guitar 2
- Tim Emmons - Bass
- Nolan Quin - Drums
- Rob Labig - Percussion
Mamma Mia! story synopsis
On a small Greek island, Sophie dreams of a perfect wedding — one which includes her father giving her away. The problem? Sophie doesn’t know who he is! Her mother Donna, the former lead singer of the 1970s pop group Donna and the Dynamos, refuses to talk about the past, so Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands. Sneaking a peek in her mother’s old diaries, she discovers three possible fathers: Sam, Bill, and Harry.
She secretly invites all three to the wedding, convinced that she’ll know her father when she sees him. But when all three turn up, it may not be as clear as she thought! Told through the legendary music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! has become a worldwide sensation that has audiences everywhere dancing. ~ Stage Agent
Mamma Mia! feedback from patrons
- "Such a great way to usher in the New Year, loved the show!" ~ Anonymous patron
- "Thank you for the hard work you and the cast put into making such outstanding shows." ~ Anonymous patron
Thank you to WCCF
High Desert Opera would like to express its gratitude to the Western Colorado Community Foundation and the Evelyn & Glen Haley Fund for the Arts.
Support for MAMMA MIA!
The generous grant from WCCF helped make HDO's 19th Season show possible, and helps fuel continued efforts in bringing high-quality musical theater to the Grand Valley.
Want to be in HDO's next production?
If you would like to be involved either on or off the stage in HDO's upcoming staged efforts:
- Email: highdesertopera@yahoo.com
- Call: 970-523-9605
- Take a look at previous shows
