21 February 2025 · Karmela Hadjioannou
The first ever musical performance featuring the School of the Arts at East Brunswick Magnet School was none other than Mamma Mia!. Middlesex County Magnet Schools made history with this performance in the brand new state of-the-art East Brunswick Magnet School Performing Arts Center.
Featuring two separate casts, students and audience members sang their hearts out and danced along to ABBA-solutely amazing live music provided by the School of the Arts: Music Performance and Technology program. The production ran over the course of four days to a packed house each night, filled with family, friends, teachers, staff, school administrators, and many others.
When the final curtain fell on East Brunswick Magnet Schools’ production of “Mamma Mia!”, the thunderous standing ovation wasn't just for the talented performers on stage: it was a celebration of the extraordinary collaborative efforts made by over 10 career programs that transformed a beloved musical into a showcase of cross-disciplinary education at its finest.
The first ever musical production was a collaborative effort featuring career programs from the School of the Arts: Arts Technology and Design, Dance, Graphic Design, Multimedia Art and Design, Music Performance and Technology, and Theater. Additional career programs included within the overall creation and production of “Mamma Mia!” were Agriscience, Carpentry and Construction Trades, Construction Maintenance and Design, Cosmetology and the Adult Electrical program.
Anything associated with the production came from these programs, ranging from Ms. Naylor’s Agriscience students creating lovely floral arrangements, Mr. Wiseman’s and Mr. Kapcsos’ students building the beautiful stage, Ms. Leonardo’s students providing hair and makeup for the actors and actresses, to Mr. Tiedemann’s and Ms. Sobolewski’s students fashioning multimedia art & graphic design for programs, posters and props. The Adult Education Electrical students from Mr. Drudy’s class even provided assistance with lighting. This musical performance was a true harmony of career and technical education!
Special thanks go to the teachers who put their heart and soul into diligently preparing their students for this musical: Mr. Andy Greatorex, Mr. Brian Homer, Ms. Cleo Mack, and Ms. Lea Anello.
Bravo, and congratulations to every single student and staff associated with the production of Mamma Mia!
