AS the curtains close on Horsham Arts Council's Rock of Ages, cast and crew members have already started gearing up for the group's next show, Mamma Mia!.
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Eight shows of Rock of Ages were performed at the Horsham Town Hall over the past fortnight, with closing night going off with a bang on Saturday.
Council president Simon Dandy said the last three shows were sold out.
"It was a great way to finish and we heard nothing but positive things. We always tell people to buy tickets early; a lot of people have said they were disappointed that they missed out on tickets," he said.
He said the show had attracted people who wouldn't normally attend the council's shows.
"I think it was because of the 80s music. Of course not every show is going to be everyone's cup of tea, but when they do come along they know they will get a really good quality product," he said.
The council has already started plans for its next production, Mamma Mia!, which will be staged in October.
"It's a fun musical and it's certainly different to Rock of Ages. But once again, people will know all the songs," Mr Dandy said.
Set at a hotel in the Greek Islands, Mamma Mia! follows the story of soon-to-be-married Sophie who secretly invites three men from her mother's past hoping to meeting her real father.
The musical features a variety of songs from Swedish pop superstars ABBA, including Dancing Queen, Waterloo, SOS and the eponymous Mamma Mia.
It was adapted into a film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnon, Amanda Seyfried and Colin Firth. A sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, was released last year.
The rights for amateur productions to stage Mamma Mia! only became available this year.
Maddi Ostapiw will take on the role of director, while Loucas Vettos will be assistant director. It will be Ms Ostapiw's first time as director.
"It has been a dream show for Loucas and myself for a long time and I'm really excited. It is our first time directing, but Loucas and I work amazingly together and have supported the council in assistant roles in the past," she said.
"Mamma Mia! is such a popular production; it has been all over the world and spawned two hit movies. We're hoping it will really engage Horsham audiences."
Horsham Arts Council will hold an information night for Mamma Mia! on May 26 at 5pm at HAC House, 19 Hamilton Road, Horsham.
Rock of Ages featured nine cast members who were new to the arts council. Ms Ostapiw said she hoped to see many new faces in Mamma Mia! too.
"We're really hoping to retain our beautiful arts council family and also have new people come out and try. We're not some exclusive little club and we want as many people to join us in the excitement of putting on a show," she said.
"We're also looking for a different demographic for this show, and are looking for people to play the dads and Donna and the Dynamos. We would love to see people aged between 35 and 55 to audition, especially men."
She said people could email mostapiw@gmail.com for more information or if they couldn't make the session.
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