Members of the Cayman Youth Choir channelled Queen and ABBA in a sold-out, show-stopping showcase of ‘Mamma Mia!’ at Harquail Theatre on Wednesday night, 12 June.
Led by enthusiastic choir director Naomi Allnutt, close to 80 children and teens, ages 4 to 18, delighted the audience with their captivating voices in singing popular pop classics such as ‘Thank You for the Music’, ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Super Trouper’, ’Radio Gaga’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘We Are the Champions’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Under Pressure’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and ‘Mamma Mia’.
As the performances began, audience members were surprised to learn that they would not just be spectators of the show but would be singing along with the choir. Attendees were seen clapping, dancing in their seats and singing along as the choir and its band took ownership of musical lines and choreography with delight.
The ABBA-inspired show set featured a dazzling disco ball hung over centre stage, alongside bright, dazzling lights, a colourful backdrop, and costumes inspired by 70s fashion trends.
The choir pulled off the music extravaganza, lasting an hour and a half, with only nine practices to prepare.
“Our ‘Mamma Mia!’ concert was a perfect opportunity for the community to see the amazing talent and energy we have at Cayman Youth Choir,” Allnutt told the Cayman Compass.
“We wanted the event to be a real celebration of our wonderfully unique, diverse and inclusive choirs. To see young singers on the stage, performing with total joy and delight to a packed theatre was awe-inspiring. Our audience was encouraged to join in with our singalong items, where they learnt the harmonies of the songs and became the choir.”
Allnutt said the experience of a theatre-wide singalong was unforgettable and a testament to the vibrancy of Cayman Youth Choir.
The performers received a standing ovation following its final performance of the 1975 chart-topper ‘Mamma Mia’.
The Cayman Youth Choir, a Cayman Arts Festival programme, is an inclusive and diverse group of choirs open to any young person in Cayman with a passion for singing.
The choir has nearly 100 members from over 30 local schools, including home school students, and represents nearly all island districts.
The choir is free to join and doesn’t require an audition. The next Cayman Youth Choir event is scheduled for October.
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