Although the story of the musical has nothing to do with the history of ABBA, the title Mamma Mia is taken directly from the group’s 1975 chart-topping song. The musical, Mamma Mia, includes hits such as “Super Trouper”, “Thank You for the Music”, “SOS”, “The Winner Takes All”, and the ever-popular “Dancing Queen”.
Mamma Mia has been all over the world by more than 10 million individuals since July 2003. As of 2006, it is believed that estimates of about 30 million have seen the musical. Thus, a film version is already being filmed in England at Pinewood Studios. In the United Kingdom, the film is expected to be released in 2008, with Pierce Brosnan and the consummate Meryl Streep in lead roles.
Greek Island Storyline
On a fictional island in Greece, the character Donna manages and owns a tavern, catering to tourists and the Greek locals. Her bright daughter, Sophie, is engaged to Sky, and is curious to find out about her father. However, Donna refuses to discuss the past. In Mamma Mia, Sophie finds an old diary of her mother and discovers entries, which Donna describes dates with three different men.
Sophie now believes she’ll find out her real father among one of the three men. She sends a wedding invitation to each of them without her mother’s knowledge. The three different men arrive in a few weeks. Harry “Head Banger” Bright is a nebbish British banker with a laugh that’s unique; Bill Austin is the typical Australian traveler; and Sam Carmichael is an architect from America that had an affair while engaged to a different woman with Donna. In Mamma Mia, Donna invites two old friends: Tanya, a wealthy three-time divorced woman, and Rosie, a free-spirited unmarried woman. The three women were called “Donna and the Dynamos”, as a singing group.
A Broadway Hit in Las Vegas
Becoming the most successful and longest running Broadway hit in Las Vegas, Mamma Mia played its thousandth performance in June 2005. Mamma Mia premiered on April 6, 1999 at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. The production transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004. On May 23, 2000, Mamma Mia made its North American premiere in Toronto at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
After fourteen production previews, the show premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway on October 18, 2001. Louise Pitre, Judy Kaye and Karen Mason were part of the original Broadway cast. As of 2005, Mamma Mia surpassed The Sound of Music, Damn Yankees and The King and I Broadway runs with 1500 performances. It is the 24th longest running musical on Broadway of all time, as of September 2006.
