Broadway at TPAC
Mamma Mia!
It was quite the packed night at TPAC. On March 18, 2025 at 7:15 pm, the air was both alive and electrified. In my time as a music journalist, I don’t believe I’d ever seen TPAC so busy. I took my seat—K3, all the way to the right of the building—and I was surrounded by a sea of voices, as eager for what was to come as I. Strangers, mostly women of all ages, made easy conversation with one another; from what I could eavesdrop, about weekend activities, church, and, of course, Mamma Mia.
The lights dimmed, and the performance began softly, with Sophie (Amy Weaver) confessing to her best friends that she’d invited her three potential fathers to her upcoming wedding, without her mother’s knowledge. Her lyric soprano voice carried beautifully over strings and woodwinds, especially through the seamless set transitions; they bled into each other so well it was as if I were watching the movie. Sophie’s vocals were beautifully contrasted with her mother Donna Sheridan (Christine Sherrill’s) much deeper, richer alto voice as she sung of her former flings all returning for her daughter’s wedding.
As someone who admittedly hadn’t seen a Mamma Mia production in years before this night, I had very little prior knowledge on what I was walking into. But from the beginning, with this performance, it was made clear this would be a non-issue. All characters and their relationships to one another were introduced with clarity, and the storyline remained easy to follow. Among classic ABBA tunes like “Dancing Queen,” “Honey Honey,” and “Voulez-Vous,” the cast blew their way through the musical in an astonishingly rich and deeply humorous fashion. Tanya (Jalynn Steele) was my personal favorite. Her rich alto voice and acting truly stole the show; she’s both the fierce independent woman I can relate to, yet also running away from every man who chases her.
If I had to praise one aspect of the show above all others, it would absolutely be costume design. All the outfits, from Sophie’s wedding dress, to Tanya’s glamorous sunglasses and scarves, to the fathers’ suits, camping gear and much more, were all spot-on. They sparked a 70s atmosphere to the stage, while keeping it contemporary at the same time. It’s one of those rare, beautiful timeless aspects to an art that are difficult to come by, but was done so perfectly here at this packed TPAC night.
Mamma Mia shone its timelessness, in the audience, voices, setting and costumes. I highly recommend the show, and while their time at TPAC is over, you can find out more about their tour here.
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Geneviève graduated from MTSU class of 2021 with a major in Music Composition and a minor in Criminal Justice. She currently works in music industry royalties. Geneviève has played the cello for 17 years and applies her compositional studies to the role it plays in contemporary music. Outside of work, she is a painter and published author.
