Apple Hill, Theatre Factory share Trafford stage for ‘Mamma Mia!’ joint production

No one is trying to upstage anyone else as Apple Hill Players and The Theatre Factory prepare for their first joint production.

“It sounds very Brady Bunch-ish, but we all get along really well. There are no divas here,” said Tina Lepidi-Stewart, artistic director for both Apple Hill and “Mamma Mia!,” which opens Friday at the Trafford Performing Arts Center.

In April the two troupes reached an agreement to share a stage, following closure and sale of Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont. They will mount both joint and separate productions in the theater at 325 Cavitt Ave.

While the venue has been renamed, the resident theater group will continue to use The Theatre Factory moniker.

“It was easy for me to fall into working with both companies, because I’ve been doing it for years,” said “Mamma Mia!” director Matt Mlynarski, who is The Theatre Factory artistic director. “There are a lot of people, like me, who have worked with both theaters.”

Though a spirit of cooperation reigns, it still took a while for the groups to agree on a musical to stage.

Each submitted several options, all of which were quickly rejected for being too familiar to audiences or too difficult to produce for a first effort.

When “Mamma Mia!” came up, the problem was solved.

“It wasn’t a show either theater had on our radar to start,” Mlynarski said. “But it works, number one, because it has a large cast, and two, it’s just a fun show that would appeal to audiences — and it’s already doing its job.”

Opening night and a Sunday matinee already are sold out, he said.

Wide appeal

With a soundtrack of music from 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA, the musical appeals to audiences of all ages, Lepidi-Stewart said — and the cast includes people of various age groups, making it easier to include players from both groups.

The plot revolves around Donna, owner of a hotel in Greece, as she prepares to host her daughter’s wedding. Unbeknownst to her, daughter Sophie invites three men from her mother’s past, hoping to discover which one is her biological father and have him walk her down the aisle.

Taking the lead roles are Katie Aiello as Donna, Sarah Hennessey as Sophie and Jim Scriven as Sam, one of the possible dads.

Choreographer is Laura Wurzell, artistic director of Split Stage Productions. Music director Travis Rigby will lead an ensemble featuring keyboards, guitar, bass and drums.

“It’s just exciting to be back,” Lepidi-Stewart said. “The energy is very great around the show.”

Curtain time will be 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Aug. 19-21, and 2 p.m. Sunday. An opening night party is planned for 5-7 p.m. Friday, with food available from Let’s Taco, Sweet Buzz Bean & Bistro and Kona Ice.

Even though opening night is sold out, the party is open to anyone, Lepidi-Steward said.

A ticket is $20, or $15 for Aug. 19. At this point, ticket availability is best for the Saturday evening performances, Mlynarski noted.

Audience members will be required to wear masks.

“Transmission of COVID-19 has reached a level of substantial spread in Westmoreland and surrounding counties. Based on CDC and PA Department of Health guidance, we are asking that all audience members wear a mask when inside the theater regardless of vaccination status,” according to a message on the theater website. “We are happy to provide a complimentary mask for any guest who does not have one.”