Stage Review - Mamma Mia (Bremerton Community Theatre)
Stage Review - Mamma Mia
Presented By: Bremerton Community Theatre - Bremerton, WA
Show Run: April 03 - May 03, 2026
Date Reviewed: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Run Time: 2 Hours, 25 Minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Reviewed by: Breanne Jensen
Almost everyone in the world knows and loves the music of ABBA. In fact, the beloved band has so many famous songs that the group earned themselves a musical. I may not remember the first time that I heard an ABBA song, but I know how their hit song, “Dancing Queen” makes me feel from the age of a child, teen and now adult, and luckily that feeling never gets old! “Mamma Mia” premiered in London in 1999 and later took over the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 2001 and ran until 2013, making itself the ninth longest running musical of all time as of late.
The musical, its latest iteration running on stage at Bremerton Community Theatre through May 3 in a production directed by Trina Williamson, follows single mother Donna Sheridan, who is a former popstar in a girl group with her two best friends Rosie and Tanya. Donna finds herself in her twenties on a Greek island for a Summer and ends up falling in love…. three times. When our story begins, Sophie (Donna’s daughter) is now twenty herself, getting married and in search of her Father. Thanks to her mom’s diary from twenty years ago, she narrows it down to the three loves from that Summer long ago, Sam, Harry and Bill, and decides to throw passion and longing into the wind and invite all of them to her big day (without her mom’s permission or knowledge) in hopes she will find her missing piece of her story. Sophie, like her mother, has two best friends, Ali and Lisa, who are determined to help her find her father and size up her husband to be, Sky. As I am sure you can imagine, chaos ensues, laughter is imminent and the music will have you wanting to sing along from start to finish.
Set in Greece, “Mamma Mia” is known for its musical production and both successful movies (my car is named Fernando thanks to Cher’s rendition in the second one), for looking like a postcard from Santorini and BCT’s set did not disappoint! Designed/decorated by Rana Teresa Tan (as well as set construction by Rana Teresa Tan and Eric Spencer did a wonderful job with the colors), the stage has been turned into a two story structure, iconic blue shutters, Grecian floor design and more. This set is stunning to look at, cleverly spaced and transports the audience to a little Santorini pocket. Wonderful job to light/sound engineer Kevin Matthew, light engineers Dale and Karen Borer, sound engineer David Whitemarsh, costume designer Kristin Bradberry, stage manager Ta’Mara Bale, stage crew Jaylin Zeitler, intimacy coordinator Annika Nelson and production assistant Palmer Scheuztow. The choreography led by Stephanie Clarke and assistant choreographer Emma Turnquist is fun and playful and enjoyable all around. Director Trina Williamson does a wonderful job conveying this treasured story and brings it to life in a warm and charming way!
Donna Sheridan, played by Nicole Bird, is done poignantly with one of the most beautiful voices in our area. Bird brings tenderness, sarcasm, wit, beauty and power to her role. Sophie Sheridan, played by Shelby Skinner, is picture perfect and does a great job carrying such a large leading part at a young age and doesn’t miss a beat. Sophie’s friends Ali (Played by Shannon Leigh) and Lisa (Played by Megan Whitemarsh) are the best, loyal and supportive friends who both do a great job with their characters and deliver some great one-liners! Tanya, Donna’s sassy best friend, played by Danielle Adana Priest, is boy crazy, loves her fashion and is a true diva through and through. Priest does justice bringing spicy Tanya to the stage! Donna’s other trio partner, Rosie, played by Elizabeth Dangelo, is a secret weapon in this show. Rosie finds herself always the supportive bridesmaid but never the bride, until she meets unexpected love on the island and then all bets are off! Dangelo is confident, comfortable and radiant on stage as Rosie, bringing nonstop laughs and physicality and vocally this is the best role I have heard her sing in, she needs to play this role again, many times!
Bill Austin, one of Sophie’s potential fathers, is excellently played by Gary Fetterplace. Fetterplace, a veteran to the stage as well as to BCT, never disappoints. Every character he embodies is his own and he leaves himself behind. Fetterplace is a hard worker, dedicated community member, avid volunteer and one of the most underrated talents in our state for over the last twenty plus years. If you ever have the chance to catch him on stage (I have been lucky enough to do so since 2010), do not miss the opportunity. Sophie’s other two “dads” are Sam Carmichael played by Adrian DeGroot and Harry Bright played by Isaak Hammers. Degroot and Hammers both bring gentility, optimism, vocal ability and adorable dad humor to their characters leaving you wanting to give them a hug. This one is for you Harry the Head Banger! Sophie’s husband to be, Sky, played by Jesse Ellis, brings the naïve supportive fiancé trope to the stage, leaving nothing but wanting to hear more of his vocal performance. Congratulations to the rest of the cast, crew and volunteers on a wonderful job and for supporting one another in every step of the way!
The cast of “Mamma Mia” was hit hard with an illness last weekend, leaving one of their leading roles out of show with three hours’ notice until curtain. An ensemble member (Charis Ifland) stepped into this role for the evening’s performance and did so with grace! I did not review this performance, but I did hear from audience members that were there that evening, and I felt it was worth mentioning!
Community is literally in this theatre’s name and that is what it is all about! “Mamma Mia” is a story about community, love, friendship, real life, loyalty and unconditional understanding. The cast, the crew, the design and the volunteers encompass all these themes and then some, leaving you wanting to be part of the fun. In fact, the night I attended, there was an audience member in the front row who couldn’t stop moving in her seat and when the audience was able to stand up at curtain call and sing along, this patron stood up with pure glee, and it brought joy to all of us around her. No matter the age, the relationship, whether it is your first time seeing the show or your one hundredth, “Mamma Mia” never fails to bring a smile to your heart. I would say run to get your tickets; however, the four-weekend run is completely sold out, with standing room only and/or a waitlist available. Check out their website and social media for more information!
The Bremerton Community Theatre production of Mamma Mia runs on stage through May 3. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://bctshows.com/.
Photo credit: Kathy Berg
