This spring, Palo Alto High School’s theater program put on its rendition of “Mamma Mia,” a 14-year-long Broadway musical, filled with love, joy, struggles of a mother-daughter relationship — and timeless songs written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of the ‘70s supergroup, ABBA. The story follows the independent and spirited Donna Sheridan(Arielle Blumenfeld) and her daughter, Sophie Sheridan(Zoe Hayward) as Sophie prepares for her wedding. The bride-to-be secretly invites three men from her mom’s past, hoping that one is her father, completing the part of her that’s missing for her wedding. While the search for her Dad causes chaos between Sophie and Donna’s relationship, Sophie realizes that she doesn’t need to know who her Dad is because the love her mother provides is enough.

Paly junior Annalise Klenow who plays Tanya in the musical, said she wanted the audience to leave the performance with the feelings of joy and delight that “Mamma Mia” creates.

“I think we all want our lives to be a little bit more like ‘Mamma Mia,’” Klenow said. “We all need a little bit more of that fun dancing in Greece vibe.” 

While Klenow has to step out of her comfort zone to embody this character, she had a lot of fun and was very proud of the cast for putting on such a spectacular show. 

“Tanya is a strong presence, she doesn’t let people walk over her,” Klenow said. “She’s very commanding and I think that sometimes I need to be a little bit more like that.” 

Photos: Cate Graney