I had the privilege of playing the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! This was a dream come true for me, and I wanted to capture as many of the special moments as I could.
My first number was Money, Money, Money. Filled with fun choreography and some pretty low notes. In this song, Donna is sharing how hard life is for her and how she dreams of someone coming to her rescue, even though she is an icon of feminine independence.
Next is the title song from the show. Donna is suddenly confronted by three men in her past who turn up unannounced on her private little island. She's a little dumbstruck, to be sure... I loved singing this, as I got to belt a few notes.
Between the last song and this one, I'm missing a few larger group numbers like Dancing Queen and Super Trouper. But this song, in Act 2, reveals Donna's heart that's truly lost in the past. She sings of her love, Sam, who she thought left her for someone else and how hurt she was by his actions.
Poor, prideful Donna. Even when Sam asks her what happened, she can't let her guard down long enough to tell him she misses him. Here, they face off about the past, but can't break down the walls...
Donna does come to terms with portions of her past. She reconnects with Harry, who kindly contributes enough money to "cover four weddings...and a funeral." His gentle way of nudging her heart reveals her vulnerability and starts to open her up again. I loved performing this song. It was fun to sing, and the choreography (and the dress!) made me feel like Ginger Rogers.
Amidst her issues with her daughter's dads, Donna is having to say goodbye to her daughter Sophie, who is getting married. In this sweet moment, she realizes time has passed and Sophie's all grown up. This was a special song for me because my youngest played Little Sophie. And Grown-Up Sophie is a rock star.
My favorite moment in the entire show. At once, this song reveals Donna's strength, her woundedness, and her vulnerability. I got to play with a variety of emotions in this--pain, anger, teasing, regret, uncertainty, longing, questioning.

In this particular video (dress rehearsal), we had a super long intro, which we reduced to a single note for the show itself.
Another take of the same song, this one from a performance. (I prefer the first take.)
All musicals (okay...most...) have a happy ending. Donna gets hers! This video shows Sophie's wedding...which has a fun twist to it. And my co-star rocked it!
If you couldn't tell, I had the best time with this show! Every second of rehearsal and performance was a blessing to me. The cast was amazing. The band was spectacular. The crew was fabulous. The directors were a gift. I'm grateful to everyone involved for making me feel like a celebrity. This will always be a highlight of my life.