The “Mamma Mia!” main cast gathers together on the musical’s set in the Clarke Central High School E.B. Mell Auditorium on March 20. Part of the motivation to continue to collaborate on joint performances was the rivalry between the schools that has been encouraged by school sports. “By combining, we’re showing that we can work together and that we’re aiming towards the same goal,” CCHS drama department teacher and co-director Kayla Griffin said. “Sports (teams) are (competing against) each other, (but) with art, it’s just double the amount of people trying to make one good show together.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer
The CCHS and Cedar Shoals High School drama programs are joining for the third time to bring their production of “Mamma Mia!” to the CCHS E.B. Mell Auditorium in April.
Buses load up with students heading to their “rival” school.
The tapping of hammers sounds through the Clarke Central High School E.B. Mell Auditorium as set designers work side-by-side, learning each other’s names.
Actors from different drama programs gather on the same stage for the first time in 11 years.
The CCHS and Cedar Shoals High School drama programs are preparing to perform the hit musical, “Mamma Mia!”, from April 17-20.
This joint production was first announced to the CCHS drama program at a drama banquet on May 11, 2024. Despite both co-directors — CCHS fine arts department teacher Kayla Griffin and CSHS fine arts department teacher Rosemary Milsap — , sensing initial uncertainty from their students about sharing a space, their programs have since embraced the collaboration.
“Everybody here is so talented, (and) it’s really incredible to see all the talent come together in (Athens-Clarke) County.”
— Ava Massey,
CSHS sophomore
“It creates a whole different culture, dynamic and feeling when you’re not your little home group anymore. You’re part of this bigger community,” Milsap said. “I knew, ultimately, that my students would expand and grow from that experience.”
“Mamma Mia!” will be the third CCHS and CSHS collaboration after “Chicago” in 2005 and “Les Misérables” in 2014. For Milsap, who has co-directed every joint performance, the rivalry between the schools is part of why she enjoys them.
Cedar Shoals High School sophomore Ava Massey reads the script for “Mamma Mia!” in the Clarke Central High School E.B. Mell Auditorium on Feb. 12. Massey was excited to play her dream role in the performances: main character Sophie Sheridan. “It sounds like a lot of people are gonna come to see (the performances) and even seeing the posters in the hallway, I got so excited,” Massey said. “This is really a dream for me to be able to perform (‘Mamma Mia!’) for so many people.” Photo by Grady Dunston
“I don’t think it serves our students to create (the) fake rivalry that exists between the schools. The adults very much promote that rivalry, and it does more harm than good,” Milsap said. “We should be finding multiple ways to create a sense of friendship (and) goodwill between the students at the two schools.”
As the collaborations only happen around every 10 years, the current drama program members haven’t had many chances to work side-by-side and learn about each other. This is something co-lead Nate St. Onge, the CCHS junior who will play love interest Sky Ramand, has observed.
“I’ve interacted (with CSHS), because I’ve seen some of their shows (and) I have some friends there, but (I’m) not there everyday,” St. Onge said. “(I’m looking forward) to getting to know the Cedar kids a little bit better.”
Previous collaborations were also created as a way for the drama programs to support each other, which is the case for “Mamma Mia!” CSHS’ Larry G. McLure Fine Arts Building is undergoing renovations, meaning that the production is rehearsed largely at CCHS. The arrangement allows the CSHS drama department to still put on a production, despite all four performances of “Mamma Mia!” being held in the E.B. Mell Auditorium.
That spirit of crosstown unity is how the first collaborative production was put on – in 2005, the joint production allowed Milsap to sponsor a spring play after the birth of her son.
“It’s two schools instead of one, so we’re trying to find a balance of making sure everything feels fair (and) that we equally spend our time between (CCHS) and (CSHS) to make sure that everyone feels comfortable,” Griffin said.
Despite some technical difficulties with transportation between schools and scripts and set design plans delivered on time, CSHS sophomore Ava Massey, who will play co-lead Sophie Sheridan, has enjoyed rehearsing on a stage again with other student actors.
The “Mamma Mia!” cast members look through the musical’s script in the Clarke Central High School E.B. Mell Auditorium on Feb. 12. The first drama collaboration between CCHS and Cedar Shoals High School was partially created to help CSHS co-director and drama department teacher Rosemary Milsap put a spring play together after her son’s birth. “My son was born right after our fall play, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to give (the spring play) the kind of focus that a large play requires,” Milsap said. “(Former CCHS drama department teacher Harriet Anderson) really generously said, ‘We can do this together, and I can pick up where you’re not able to do everything.’” Photo by Grady Dunston
“(Collaborating has) been so much fun. Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming already,” Massey said. “Everybody here is so talented, (and) it’s really incredible to see all the talent come together in (Athens-Clarke) County.”
People outside of the drama programs have also seen the benefits of a collaboration between rival schools, including CCHS Associate Principal Dr. Summer Smith, who believes CCHS and CSHS will thrive because of the performances.
“I love that we’re doing this to bring both schools together. If both schools are succeeding, then Clarke County as a whole is succeeding,” Smith said. “It is fun to have (a) counter school, but I really want both schools to excel and do their best.”
During rehearsals, Milsap has observed the CCHS and CSHS drama programs’ growth and skill, and wants more people outside of the programs to recognize the talent within ACC.
“We have students who are able to give time, work really hard, put themselves out of their comfort zone, gain skills, put (those skills) up in front of people and give it their all,” Milsap said. “I think the community at large isn’t particularly aware that (the drama programs) are capable of doing things that are worth people coming to see, so the big thing is: come see the show. Come see what our kids can do.”
