By Maggie Beamguard
The long road to “The Great Bright Way” includes a pit stop in Seven Lakes. Caro Daye Attayek spent childhood summers swimming in Lake Auman while visiting her grandparents, Skip and Martha Ragland. Now, she sings on Broadway, six nights a week at the Winter Garden Theatre.
This is her first role on a Broadway stage as an ensemble member of “Mamma Mia!”. Attayek is also understudy for the role of Lisa, a supporting character, best friend and bridesmaid of Sophie, a main character.
The musical, featuring the timeless songs of ABBA, first debuted in the West End – of London – not the Sandhills, in 1999. “Mamma Mia!” debuted on Broadway in 2001 and enjoyed a 14-year run, securing a place as the ninth-longest running Broadway musical.
Creator and producer Judy Craymer is thrilled to bring the musical back to Broadway. The show’s opening night was Aug. 14. The limited engagement will run through Feb. 11.
“With Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ irresistible songs, Catherine Johnson’s wonderful story of a sunny, funny tale of a mother, daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island paradise, Phyllida Lloyd’s brilliant direction and the entire creative team’s exceptional work, returning to Broadway is a celebration for all,” said Craymer.
‘Feeling Like a Number One’
The entire cast, including Attayek, was picked up from the recent North American tour of the show to be in the Broadway production. Attayek believes the rare transition from tour to Broadway with the full company was a testament to their talent, chemistry and spirit of joy.
“‘Mamma Mia!’ Attracts the best sort of people,” she said. “When they took a chance on us they did their homework. They did their research. They really assembled the best cast I’ve ever been a part of not only for talent, but filled with personality and love.”
Going to Broadway after touring together for two years has been a gift beyond words.
Attayek received the news she would join her castmates in the Broadway production last February. The tour brought her to New Orleans, an hour from where her Nana and Papa Ragland grew up, fell in love and raised their family. Her parents, John and Pam, decided to spend some time with her in the place that meant so much to their family and to catch the show.
They were enjoying dinner when the notification came on Attayek’s phone that the whole cast would be receiving offers for the Broadway run.
“I just broke down into tears. My parents thought that someone died because I could not form sentences. I could not form words. I was so overwhelmed with emotion,” she said. “I just got the best news of my life. But the fact that I got to do that and happened to be with my family – it’s so full circle. And now we’re just keeping the party going on Broadway.”
‘The Circle of Life’
Attayek’s mother signed her up for dancing lessons when she was only three after noticing she liked to walk on her tip-toes.
Around the same age she started dancing, Attayek, attended her first Broadway shows, “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.” “I still remember trying to reach out to touch the giraffes in “The Lion King” during ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King,’” she said.
She could not take her eyes off the stage. “Theater, I feel like, was the very first love of my life. And it was always my happy place. That’s where I felt the most accepted and where I felt like I belonged,” she said.
Her family moved from Pennsylvania to Greensboro, where she continued dance lessons and attended Greensboro Day School, participating in the school’s theater program. Theater instructor Sonny Willis was an influential early mentor to Attayek.
“When I was just 8 or 9 years old he truly took me under his wing, believed in me and supported me wholeheartedly. And truly, I got bit by the theater bug.”
Her family nurtured her passion, especially her Papa Ragland who shared a theater background with her and would watch old Broadway musicals with her on her regular visits to Seven Lakes.
‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’
In addition to the GDS productions, Attayek became involved in the Community Theatre of Greensboro and the Dance Center of Greensboro. She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for her senior year of high school and then Elon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre.
She considered going to school in New York, but found her best friends, biggest supporters and her best instructors right here in North Carolina. “Elon is one of the top musical theater programs in the country, which you would never expect from a small town liberal arts college in Burlington,” she said.
“But the experiences I had there and the experiences that I’ve had in North Carolina specifically – I would not trade for anything.”
Her credits include numerous performances while at Elon as well as summer stock theater productions. After graduation she moved to New York City to begin auditioning in professional theater.
She worked in regional productions and television for a period of time until she landed a role in the Broadway road production of “Hairspray,” which was followed by a tour in the Broadway road show of “Aladdin.” It was while working on that production as a swing (a cast member who learns all the parts of everyone on stage to fill in at the drop of a hat), that she first auditioned for the “Mamma Mia!” tour.
She made it to finals. “I had such a good feeling that I was meant to be a part of this show, I found out I didn’t get “Mamma Mia!” — but I told my agent: come hell or high water, I will be a part of that show.”
The Fates worked in her favor and a role on the show opened shortly into its run. Attayek has now performed over 500 shows with “Mamma Mia!” on the tour and on Broadway. “The whole process was just a dream come true, and I’m still on cloud nine about it every day. I come to work and I cannot believe that this is my life,” she said.
Attayek has now been working professionally for 10 years.
‘See that Girl, Watch that Scene’
Before “Mamma Mia!” opened Aug. 14, there was a preview performance on Aug. 2 for the New York audience. Her parents and her Nana and Papa Ragland flew up from North Carolina.
“It was so emotional for so many reasons to have the people who have loved and supported me through everything to be there for that night, and I was just a bawling mess of happy tears,” she said. “Seeing my Nana at the stage door made me burst into tears. They’ve never missed a show of mine, so to have them there for my Broadway debut meant the absolute world to me.
By the time opening night rolled around, it was time to celebrate one of the best days of her life and to enjoy the red carpet. “We’re celebrating this major achievement with the people who created the story. The London creative team came to help us put the show back on its feet. And we’ve worked with them and as well as our team that’s based in the U.S., and even though we’ve been doing this show for almost 2 years now, they’re so open and willing to keep the show fresh.”
“Mamma Mia!” is truly a special show, says Attayek, who hopes anyone visiting NYC from North Carolina between now and February will join the audience. “You’ll be dancing in your seats, laughing and singing along and maybe even shed a tear or two. This show is so full of life and joy and exactly what we need in the world right now!” She promises you won’t be disappointed.
She admits to getting a little misty on stage sometimes, especially during her favorite song. “My favorite number is ‘Super Trouper.’ It’s pure joy. Its sisterhood and chosen family in one song,” she said. “I feel the power of these strong women surrounding me.”
‘Somewhere in the Crowd There’s You’
Her Broadway dreams realized, Attayek is practicing pacing herself. She loves to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. “But with the energy we expend every day, and all of the exciting events we have lined up, taking care of yourself has to be your number one priority,” she said.
“Our bodies are our instruments and our livelihoods as performers, so making sure to get lots of rest, stay active, drink lots of water, eat well and fuel yourself in ways outside of the show is a full time job.”
One of those events included a special performance with the company on NBC’s “TODAY” show. Viewers from North Carolina may have caught a glimpse of her sparkling smile and effervescent performance on Sept. 18.
Attayek encourages young people with big dreams like hers to start local, getting involved however they can through school choir or dance classes or community theatre. Embrace hometown support and mentors. And be yourself.
“Don’t try to be anyone else. Foster your own instrument. Be uniquely yourself,” she said. “Nobody else brings your life experience to the story — and that’s your magic.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
