Chagiga, (“celebration” in Hebrew), is a much-anticipated annual highlight of the academic year at Atlanta Jewish Academy (AJA). Each year’s Chagiga is written, directed, acted, staged, choreographed, costumed, and produced entirely by high school girls. Students oversee the off-stage aspects of the show as well, including set design, backstage responsibilities, props, and lights.
The 2024 Chagiga, “Mamma Mia!” opened Thursday evening, Feb. 1, with a second show on Sunday, Feb. 4, under the rubric “a play by women, for women.”
This year’s show was written and directed by senior, Leora Frank, who used songs by the group ABBA to infuse her story with the familiar music she set to original lyrics. Over the years, the Chagiga has established itself as an event that draws women from all sectors of the Jewish community who know that the evening will be an entertaining showcase for the creativity and skills of AJA teens.
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As one mother put it, “There was so much talent on the stage; Leora wrote a great script and cast it perfectly.”
This year’s show was written and directed by senior, Leora Frank, who used songs by the group ABBA to infuse her story with the familiar music she set to original lyrics.
Another member of the audience stated, “The girls were so natural on stage, so confident, and it was clear that the girls were enjoying themselves.”
The play was peppered with humorous moments that hit home. Many women in the audience related to actions in the play typical of today’s teens, including a moment when the girls “spontaneously” took a selfie on stage (it was in the script).
In one scene, the top of a brightly decorated graduation cap was modeled: selfies and decorated “mortar boards” succinctly characterized today’s adolescents. The cast of 12 included Hila Ben-Yaacov, Natalie Borochov, Birdie Freedman, Avigail Gadelov, Ayelet Hearshen,…
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