By sheer coincidence, “Mamma Mia!” is returning to the Tri-Lakes high school theatre scene, this time in Tupper Lake.

On the (dancing) heels of Saranac Lake High School’s production a couple of weeks ago, the Tupper Lake Red & Black Players are putting on their own unique version of the hit musical later last week in three performances: March 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and March 29 at 2 p.m.

These all take place at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School Auditorium, 25 Chaney Ave. Tickets are available at the door and cost $10 for adults or $7 for students and senior citizens. Children ages five and under are admitted for free.

In its 20th year of presenting theater in Tupper Lake, the Red & Black Players are leaving nothing in the tank. This starts with the foundation, literally. This year’s set includes a Mediterranean-style pair of two-story buildings, a stairway crossing in between and a first-floor on-stage hideaway for the production’s live band.

The Red & Black Players sing during a dress rehearsal for “Mamma Mia!” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School on Tuesday. From left, Caydence Flagg as“Rosie, Haylee Callaghan as Donna Sheridan, and Lacey Pickering as Tanya. (Enterprise — Chris Gaige)

It’s the most elaborate stage, the theater group says, they’ve built in their two decades of performances. It required months of behind-the-scenes, careful and complex building and testing, with the final coating of paint put down earlier this week.

It was designed and built by tech director Dave Naone, with the invaluable help of a cadre of community volunteers, including Marvin Pickering, Maurice Fortune, Breanna Trombley and Jay Granata. Also pitching in were Jessica Norton, Kim Pickering and Carrie Richer.

The cast features Haylee Callaghan as Donna Sheridan, Aubrey Nadeau as Sophie Sheridan, Lacey Pickering as Tanya, Caydence Flagg as Rosie, Bryce Richer as Sam Carmichael, John Fallon as Harry Bright, Jack Dukette as Bill Austin, Sean Wood as Sky, Ava Facteau as Lisa, Eliza Bujold as Ali, Ghost Switzer as Pepper, Oliver Roberts as Eddie and Noah Switzer as Father Alexandrios.

Noah is also a member of the ensemble, along with Claire Snye, Ash Barber, Clem Sears, Maria Martinez-Gates, Lance Schaffer, Isabelle Sauvageau and Victoria Hudak.

Stage crew for “Mamma Mia!” are Hannah Callaghan, Alison Richer, Morgan Lohr and Joelle Bedore, with Rain Skiff and Patricia Tallman on lights.

The Red & Black Players rehearse for “Mamma Mia!” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School on Tuesday. (Enterprise — Chris Gaige)

Stage director George Cordes and music director Elizabeth Cordes again are joined by their own intrepid team: lighting and tech director David Naone, assistant director Danielle Gillette, and choreographer Kendall Davison. They are assisted with this production by Samuel Brown. This production again features a live band, including a lineup of musicians who will be on stage this year with the performers.

Haylee Callaghan, a senior who has been with the Red & Black Players since eighth grade, said the energy and flair of “Mamma Mia!” made it a show that students there have wanted to do for quite some time, and she lobbied the directors to choose it.

When the decision was made, not only were the students ecstatic, Callaghan said, but in her five years with the theater group, this year’s group of students brought the perfect energy for the production. As new students join and seniors graduate, Callaghan said no two productions are the same, and that’s one of the things that she enjoys about theater.

“It’s really fun to get to experience it with new people every year,” she said. “I’ve never had a cast that was the same. I kind of like that because it creates a different aspect to each show that we do, not even only with the show itself, but with the people who are in it, and it really grows. It grew me as a person to meet so many different people and make connections with them.”

In her role as Donna, Callaghan said it requires a lot of expression, which has been a joy to learn.

Sean Wood as “Sky” and Aubrey Nadeau as “Sophie Sheridan,” rehearse for “Mamma Mia!” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School on Tuesday. (Enterprise — Chris Gaige)

“The most fun part is just getting into the role of how sassy, fierce and independent her character is,” she said. “The most challenging part has probably been singing all of her songs. She has a lot of songs that she sings, and they go into a lot of different ranges.”

Nadeau said the sheer volume of singing, dancing and dramatic acting as Sophie has been a lot to learn. It was made even more challenging, while simultaneously rewarding, by the myriad of quick changes between scenes that she said was probably the most fast-paced play she’s done since joining the Red & Black Players in eighth grade. It’s taught her a lot.

“The first lesson I learned, and this was in the auditioning process, is if you feel stupid, you’re doing something right,” she said. “And that, I will keep with me forever in theater because it helped me so much to get into my character and really just get into theater.”

Feeling silly on stage, she said, is all part of the process, something she’s grown into with more performances under her belt.

“There’s always a wall of embarrassment that you feel when people are looking at you in the audience,” she said. “A lot of people are scared of what others think of them, but I feel like theatre is a way to express yourself in a way that you haven’t before — and it’s really amazing. You can just be yourself or be a stupid person on stage, and it’s awesome.”

Sam Carmichael proposes to Donna Sheridan as Father Alexandrios, played by Noah Switzer, looks on during a dress rehearsal for “Mamma Mia!” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School on Tuesday. (Enterprise — Chris Gaige)

Callaghan said a group of Red & Black Players made the trip to Saranac Lake to watch their rendition, and it was as good a way as any to pick up insights on their own version, watching what they did well, as well as differences between the two productions.

“It was the closest way to watch our own performance,” she said. “I really, really liked how they did it. I liked their takeaway on it, I liked all of their costuming and their set design was very nice.”

“ABBA’s hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman’s search for her birth father,” the Red & Black Players press release states. “This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

“The storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show,” the statement reads. “Non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make ‘Mamma Mia!’ a guaranteed smash hit. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!”

The Red & Black players note that, similar to previous productions, the play is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International, and all authorized materials are supplied by the organization

The Red & Black Players rehearse for “Mamma Mia” at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School on Tuesday. (Enterprise — Chris Gaige)

It follows the Red & Black Players’ 2025 production of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” their 2024 production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” and their 2023 production of “Seussical, The Musical.” Previous shows also include Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast JR,” “Footloose: The Musical,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Godspell,” “Anything Goes,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “All Night Strut: A Jumpin’, Jivin’, Jam!,” “Back to the 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” “Annie,” “The Boy Friend” and “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

Besides the students having fun, Callaghan thinks there’s something for everyone in watching this play, a throwback of sorts.

“I feel like a lot of people just love ABBA,” she said. “A lot of people grew up with ABBA and I think that’s their version of my childhood boy band, in a way.”

Fallon, a junior, is hoping for a full house. Not only did this play take a lot of work from everyone on stage, but he said there is a lot of unsung, or at least behind-the-scenes effort that went into making it possible, that he hopes people in attendance will appreciate.

Nadeau’s pitch for people to attend was simple.

“We’ve given so much new life into the show,” she said. “I’ve seen thousands of different versions of this show on YouTube and on stage. I love their renditions, but I think that we — everyone in the cast — really connected with their character this year, and it just makes so much sense. You really just fall in love with the story as you watch, and it’s just amazing.”