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This article is about the stage musical. For the film see Mamma Mia! The Movie. For other uses, see Mamma Mia.

Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Music	Björn Ulvaeus Benny Andersson
Lyrics	Björn Ulvaeus Benny Andersson
Book	Catherine Johnson
Basis	ABBA jukebox musical
Productions	1999 West End 2000 Toronto 2000 Boston and D.C. 2001 Broadway 2001 Australasian Tour 2002 U.S. Tour 2003 Las Vegas 2003 Utrecht 2004 Madrid 2006 Antwerp 2006 Moscow 2007 Manchester 2007 Barcelona 2008 Istanbul 2009 Oslo 2009 México Major productions worldwide 2008 Film

Mamma Mia! is a stage musical with a book by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It is an example of a jukebox musical, and is notable for popularising the genre. The plot is adapted from the 1968 film Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell starring Gina Lollobrigida.

Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia, the plot is fictional, not biographical.

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who composed the original music for ABBA, were involved in the development of the show from the beginning. Anni-Frid Lyngstad has been involved financially in the production, while Agnetha Fältskog has not, though she was present at the Swedish premiere and final show.

The musical includes such hits as "Super Trouper", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Thank You for the Music", "Money, Money, Money", "The Winner Takes It All", "Voulez Vous", "I Have a Dream" and "SOS". It had been seen by over ten million people worldwide as of July 2003. Estimates of 2007, is that 30 million have now seen Mamma Mia!. Since its opening in 1999, the production has grossed US$2.0 billion in earnings.

A stage-to-film adaptation, Mamma Mia! The Movie, starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, premiered in July 2008.

History

The Prince Edward Theatre

Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of ABBA. ABBA was a Swedish pop/dance group active from 1972 - 1982 and one of the most internationally popular pop groups of all-time, topping the charts again and again in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. Following the musical premiere in London in 1999, ABBA Gold topped the charts in the United Kingdom again. This musical was the brain child of creative producer, Judy Craymer. She met songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson in 1983 when they were working with Tim Rice on Chess. It was the song "The Winner Takes It All" that suggested to her the great theatrical potential of their pop songs. The songwriters were not enthusiastic, but they were not completely opposed to the idea. In 1997, Craymer commissioned Catherine Johnson to write the book for the musical. In 1998, Phyllida Lloyd became the director for the show. It is very unusual for three women to form the collaborative force behind such a commercial success in musical theatre, and this unusual collaboration is likely responsible for the fact that the story features three strong women.

Synopsis

File:New York Winter Garden Mamma Mia 2003.jpg

Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York

Act I The story takes place on a Greek island. Sophie, a 20-year old girl, is preparing to marry her fiancee, Sky. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle, ("Prologue- I Have A Dream") but doesn't know who he is. Sophie discovers her mother's old diary and finds entries which describe intimate dates with three men (Sam Carmichael, Bill Austin, and Harry Bright) ("Honey, Honey"). Sophie believes that one of these men is her father and, three months prior to the wedding, sends each an invitation to her wedding writing as her mother, Donna, without letting her know.

The day before the wedding, Donna begins receiving guests at her taverna. The first to arrive are her old friends, Tanya, a rich woman who has been married and divorced three times, and Rosie, an unmarried, carefree woman. The trio used to be a singing group named Donna and The Dynamoes. The three women catch up and talk about how their lives have been ("Money, Money, Money").

Later that day, Sophie's three possible fathers arrive: Sam (an American architect), Harry (a British banker), and Bill (an Australian writer). Sophie convinces them not to tell Donna that she invited them ("Thank You For The Music"). Donna walks into the taverna just as Sophie walks out, and is surprised too see her ex-lovers ("Mamma Mia") She runs to her room in tears.

Tanya and Rosie are in their room, unpacking their luggage when Donna comes into the room in hysterics. She explains what's wrong, and they cheer her up, ("Chiquitita"). Tanya and Rosie try to convince Donna that she can still be the girl that she once was ("Dancing Queen").

Sophie had hoped that she would know her father the moment she saw him, but is now only confused. She tries to tell her fiancé, Sky, how she feels without confessing what she has done. Sky tellS her that he will be the only man she ever needs ("Lay All Your Love On Me"). They then part for their respective pre-wedding parties.

At Sophie's hen night, Donna and The Dynamoes don their old costumes and perform a song, ("Super Trouper"). Sam, Bill and Harry accidentally walk in on the party, but the guests persuade them to stay, ("Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)"). Sophie first pulls Sam out of the room to talk to him. After he asks why he is here, she is overcome with guilt, and goes to talk to Harry instead. But Harry asks if Sophie's father is at the party, and she tells him the whole truth. Lastly, she draws Bill aside to talk with him. She learns that Bill has an aunt Sophia who left all her money to Donna's family. Bill learns that Donna built the taverna with money she inherited from a friend she lived with when Sophie was a baby- that friend was Bill. They both realize that he is probably her father.

Sophie finds Bill outside on the boat dock. He says he needed to get some air. Sophie asks him to walk her down the aisle. Bill wants to discuss it first with Donna. This has been her secret after all. But no-one knows yet that even Donna does not know who the father is, because she slept with the three men in such swift succession. Sophie insists that they must not tell Donna anything, ("The Name of the Game") and finally, Bill agrees.

Afterwards, everybody crashes the hen party (including the boys from the stag party). During the dance, Sam pulls Sophie aside and tells her that he has figured out why she invited him. He knows that he is her father, and promises to walk her down the aisle the next day. Sophie is speechless. Then, Harry approaches Sophie apologizing for being so slow on the uptake, and he is also convinced that she's his daughter and promises to walk her down the aisle tomorrow. Sophie leaves the party, hopelessly confused; she doesn't want to turn any of them down ("Voulez-Vous?"). Act II

Mamma Mia! at Broadway On Broadway

(Entr'acte) The 2nd act opens with Sophie having a nightmare that night, involving her three possible fathers all fighting for the right to walk her down the aisle and wakes up despairing ("Under Attack").

Donna finds Sophie in her room. She is upset. Donna assumes that Sophie wants to cancel the wedding and offers to handle all the details. Sophie is offended and vows that her children will not grow up not knowing who their father is. As Sophie storms out of the room, Sam enters and tries to tell Donna that Sophie may not be all she seems, but Donna will not listen, ("One of Us")- she hates Sam- at the end of their affair, she said she never wanted to see him again. But it seems that Sam was the man Donna cared about the most, and both of them wish they could go back to the start, ("S.O.S.").

At the beach, Harry asks Tanya what the father of the bride ought to be doing for Sophie's wedding. Tanya explains that for her part, her father gave her his advice and then paid. Pepper, one of the men who works at Donna's taverna, makes advances to Tanya, but she rebuffs him, ("Does Your Mother Know?").

Sky finds out what Sophie has done in inviting Sam, Harry and Bill to the wedding. He accuses her of wanting a big white wedding only so that she can find out who her father is. He is very hurt that she kept this plan a secret from him. He storms off just as Sam walks in. Sam tries to give Sophie some fatherly advice by describing his failed marriage ("Knowing Me, Knowing You"), but Sophie is not consoled.

Harry finds Donna in Sophie's room and offers to pay for the wedding. They reminisce about their fling ("Our Last Summer"). Sophie arrives and instead of Ali, Lisa and all the other girls, Donna helps her get dressed. She cannot believe her daughter is going to be a bride ("Slipping Through My Fingers"). Donna admits that her own mother disowned her when she learned that she was pregnant. They reconcile and Sophie asks her mother if she will walk her down the aisle. Sam arrives as Sophie leaves the room. He tries to speak to Donna again, but she does not want to see him, and asks him to leave. He refuses, and a bitter confrontation ensues. Donna tells Sam how he broke her heart, presumably when she found out he was engaged ("The Winner Takes It All"). It emerges that the two still love each other dearly, albeit against Donna's better judgement.

Rosie is making final preparations in the taverna when Bill arrives. He's upset because he has received a note that Donna will be walking Sophie down the aisle. Bill reaffirms his commitment to the single life, but Rosie has become attracted to him, and urges him to reconsider ("Take A Chance On Me"). They are about to have sex in the taverna, but the guests arrive, leaving Rosie quite stunned.

The wedding begins, with Donna walking Sophie down the aisle. Before the priest has a chance to begin the ceremonies, Donna acknowledges to everyone that Sophie's father is present. Sophie tells her mother that she knows about her father. Donna realizes that Sophie invited them to the wedding for that very reason. The issue of Sophie's parentage is left unsettled, as none of them have any idea whether they are actually her father; everyone involved agrees that it does not matter which is her biological parent, as Sophie loves all three and they are all happy to be "one-third of a father" and a part of her life at last. Finally, Harry, who has made frequent references to his "other half" throughout the show, is revealed to be in a committed homosexual relationship with a man named Laurence (Nigel or George in some productions and Peter in the Russian version). Suddenly, Sophie calls a halt to the proceedings. She is not ready to get married and Sky agrees with Sophie about not getting married. Sam seizes his chance and proposes to Donna in order to prevent the wedding preparations from going to waste. He explains that he loved her, even when he left to get married. It is revealed that he called off the wedding with his fiance and came back to the island, only to be told that Donna was going out with another man (Bill). He went back, married his fiance and had kids. However,sooner or later, he got divorced. Surprisingly, Donna accepts, ("I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"). In the end, Sam and Donna are married, and at the end of the night, Sophie and Sky depart on a round-the-world tour ("I Have A Dream").

(Finale and bonus). After the usual performers' greetings to the public, the whole cast performs the following songs altogether: "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia". Most people tend to leave the theater and making a huge mistake as the show doesn't end there: the last bonus song is "Waterloo" featuring Donna, Tanya and Rosie in the ABBA 70's colorful costumes, but so do Sam, Harry and Bill enter the stage in the same costumes to perform "Waterloo".

Musical numbers

Act I

• Overture / Prologue
• "Honey, Honey" - Sophie Sheridan, Ali and Lisa
• "Money, Money, Money" - Donna Sheridan, Ali, Rosie, Pepper and Company
• "Thank You for the Music" - Sophie Sheridan, Sam Carmichael, Harry Bright and Bill Austin
• "Mamma Mia" - Donna Sheridan and Company
• "Chiquitita" - Tanya, Rosie and Donna Sheridan
• "Dancing Queen" - Tanya, Rosie and Donna Sheridan
• "Lay All Your Love on Me" - Sky, Sophie Sheridan and Company
• "Super Trouper" - Donna Sheridan, Tanya and Rosie
• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" - Sophie Sheridan, Ali, Lisa and Company
• "The Name of the Game" - Sophie Sheridan and Bill Anderson
• "Voulez-Vous" - Company

Act II

• Entr’acte
• "Under Attack" - Sophie Sheridan and Company
• "One Of Us" - Donna Sheridan
• "S.O.S." - Donna Sheridan and Sam Carmichael
• "Does Your Mother Know" - Tanya, Pepper and Company
• "Knowing Me, Knowing You" - Sam Carmichael
• "Our Last Summer" - Harry Bright and Donna Sheridan
• "Slipping Through My Fingers" - Donna Sheridan and Sophie Sheridan
• "The Winner Takes It All" - Donna Sheridan
• "Take a Chance on Me" - Rosie and Bill Austin
• "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" - Sam Carmichael, Donna Sheridan and Company
• "I Have a Dream" - Sophie Sheridan
• Bonus: "Dancing Queen" - Whole Cast
• Bonus: "Mamma Mia" - Whole Cast
• Bonus: "Waterloo" - Whole Cast

During the preview period in London, the musical had the song "Summer Night City" just after the prologue. The "Summer Night City" scene was a wedding rehearsal and during the song, Ali, Lisa, Tanya and Rosie arrived on the island. Now part of the song is used as underscoring to connect the end of "The Winner Takes It All" and "Take a Chance on Me". You can also hear a couple of lines of "Summer Night City" in the 'Entr'Acte' (the most noticeable line is: 'Time to breathe and time to live').

Donna hums a few lines of "Fernando", when she repairs the doors of the taverna just before she sees her three former lovers, and in the Swedish production, Sky (Tom in Sweden) sang a few lines of "King Kong Song" before starting to sing "Lay All Your Love On Me".

The makers also intended to include "Just Like That", an unreleased ABBA song recorded in 1982. The song was apparently dropped just before the first public previews in March 1999, though it was listed in the programme available during the preview period.

The last three songs performed as a bonus/finale by the whole cast are: "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Waterloo" (Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Sam, Harry and Bill wear the ABBA's 70's colorful and flashy costumes).

Cast Albums

There were several cast albums released. They are available in Dutch, German, English, Korean, Spanish and Swedish

English Cast Album

Main article: Mamma Mia! Original Cast Recording

Dutch Cast Album

Tracks:

• 1. Ouverture / Prologue
• 2. Honey, Honey
• 3. Money, Money, Money
• 4 .Dank Je Voor De Liedjes
• 5. Mamma Mia
• 6. Chiquitita
• 7. Dancing Queen
• 8. Spaar Al Je Liefs Voor Mij
• 9. Super Trouper
• 10. Geef Me Geef Me Geef Me!
• 11. Als 'k Maar Weet Hoe Het Heet
• 12. Voulez-Vous

• 13. Entr'acte
• 14. Een Offensief
• 15. Een Van Ons
• 16. S.O.S.
• 17. Weet Je Moeder Dat
• 18. Zo Ben Ik, Zo Ben Jij
• 19. Onze Zomer
• 20. 't Glipt Me Door Mijn Vingers
• 21. De Winnaar Heeft De Macht
• 22. Pak Je Kans Bij Mij
• 23. Ik Wil, Ik Wil, Ik Wil, Ik Wil, Ik Wil
• 24. Ik Heb Een Droom

This cast album was released in The Netherlands in 2004.

Productions

West End: Prince Edward Theatre	Opening: April 6, 1999	Closing:
Cast: Lisa Stokke (Sophie) Siobhán McCarthy (Donna) Louise Plowright (Tanya) Jenny Galloway (Rosie) Paul Clarkson (Harry) Notes: The West End production moved to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004.
Toronto: Royal Alexandra Theatre	Opening: May 23, 2000	Closed: May 25, 2005
Cast: Louise Pitre (Donna)
U.S. Tour	Opening: November 17, 2000	Closing:
Cast: Louise Pitre (Donna) Notes: San Francisco (November 17, 2000); Los Angeles; Chicago (May 18, 2001); Boston; New York (August 5, 2001)
U.S. Tour 2	Opening: February 28, 2002	Closing:
Cast: Monique Lund (Donna) Kristie Marsden (Sophie) Robin Baxter (Rosie) Ellen Harvey (Tanya) Don Noble (Sam Carmichael) Pearce Bunting (Bill Austin) James Kall (Harry Bright) Notes: Tour originated in Providence, Rhode Island
Broadway: Winter Garden Theatre	Opening: October 18, 2001	Closing:
Cast: Louise Pitre (Donna) Judy Kaye (Rosie) Karen Mason (Tanya) David W. Keeley (Sam Carmichael) Ken Marks (Bill Austin) Dean Nolen (Harry Bright) Tina Maddigan (Sophie) Joe Machota (Sky) Notes: The Broadway premiere was preceded by fourteen (14) previews.
Australian Tour	Opening: June 9, 2001	Closed: June 9, 2005
Original Melbourne cast Anne Wood (Donna Sheridan) Natalie O'Donnell (Sophie) Lara Mulcahy (Rosie) Rhonda Burchmore (Tanya) Alicia Gardiner (Ali) Katrina Talbot (Lisa) Nicholas Eadie (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) Robert Grubb (Harry) Jolyon James (Sky) Shaun Rennie (Pepper) Alan James Davies (Eddie) Original Brisbane cast Anne Wood (Donna Sheridan) Natalie O'Donnell (Sophie) Lara Mulcahy (Rosie) Rhonda Burchmore (Tanya) Nicholas Eadie (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) John O'May (Harry) Jolyon James (Sky) Original Sydney cast Anne Wood (Donna Sheridan) Kellie Rode (Sophie) Lara Mulcahy (Rosie) Rhonda Burchmore (Later Angela Toohey) (Tanya) Sun Park (Ali) Katrina Talbot (Lisa) Bruce Roberts (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) John O'May (Harry) Simon Gleason (Sky) Shaun Rennie (Pepper) Nathan Sheens (Eddie) Final Sydney cast/Original Perth cast Margi Di Ferranti (Donna Sheridan) Kellie Rode (Sophie) Emma Powell (Rosie) Jenny Vuletic (Tanya) Sun Park (Ali) Esther Hannaford (Lisa) Bruce Roberts (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) John O'May (Harry) Christopher Parker (Sky) Aaron Jackson Mendoza (Pepper) Bobby Fox (Eddie) Original Adelaide cast Margi Di Ferranti (Donna Sheridan) Kellie Rode (Sophie) Emma Powell (Rosie) Jenny Vuletic (Tanya) Sun Park (Ali) Esther Hannaford (Lisa) Bruce Roberts (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) John O'May (Harry) Christopher Parker (Sky) Aaron Jackson Mendoza (Pepper) Bobby Fox (Eddie) Final Brisbane And Melbourne cast Silvie Paladino (Donna Sheridan) Kellie Rode (Sophie) Emma Powell (Rosie) Jenny Vuletic (Tanya) Natalie Alexopoulos (Ali) Esther Hannaford (Lisa) Bruce Roberts (Sam) Peter Hardy (Bill) John O'May (Harry) Christopher Parker (Sky) Aaron Jackson Mendoza (Pepper) Bobby Fox (Eddie) Notes: The cast changed as needed as the venues on the Australian tour of the show did.
Las Vegas, Nevada: Mandalay Bay	Opening: February 8, 2003	Closing: January 4, 2009
Notes: In June 2005, Mamma Mia! played its 1000th performance in Las Vegas, becoming the longest running, and most successful Broadway play ever in Las Vegas.
Utrecht, Netherlands:	Opening: November 9, 2003	Closed: February 12, 2006
Cast: Simone Kleinsma (Donna) Celine Purcell (Sophie) Oren Schrijver (Sky) Ellen Evers (Tanja) Doris Baaten (Roos) Hajo Bruins (Sam Korenhof) Jon Van Eerd (Harry Buis) Filip Bolluyt (Bart Oosten) Jeroen Luiten (Eddie) Paul Boereboom (Pepper) Manon Novak (Ellie) Suzanne de Heij (Lisa)
Madrid, Spain: Teatro Lope de Vega	Opening: November 11,2004	Closed: June 3,2007
Cast: Nina (Donna) Marta Valverde (Tania) Paula Sebastián (Rosy) Mariona Castillo (Sofi) Leandro Rivera (Sky) Alberto Vázquez (Samuel Suárez / Sam) Bruno Squarcia (Bruno Bernard / Bill) Nando González (Javi Ruiz / Harry) Mónica Vives (Ali) Mamen Márquez (Lisa) David Ávila (Chili / Pepper) Jaime Zatarain (Edu)
Antwerp, Belgium:	Opening: March 12,2006	Closed: July 2,2006
Cast: Vera Mann (Donna Steveling) Sasha Rosen (Sophie Steveling) Davy Gilles (Sky) Jan Schepens (Sam Kerremans) Marc Coessens (Bart Van Oosterwijck) Mark Thijsmans (Harrie Buis) Myriam Bronzwaar (Tania) Lulu Aertgeerts (Roos) Peter Fenwick (Eddie) Michael Macalintal (Pepper) Hannah Van Meurs (Ellie) Lokke Dieltiens (Lisa)
Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona Teatre Musical	Opening: November 29,2007	Closing:
Cast: Nina (Donna) Muntsa Rius (Tania) Roser Batalla (Rosy) Mariona Castillo (Sofi) Juan Vázquez (Sky) Albert Muntanyola (Sam) Carles Sánchez (Bruno) Xavier Mestres (Javi) Mónica Vives (Ali) Georgina Llauradó (Lisa) Gerard Rifá (Chili) Carles Carrasco (Edi)
Oslo, Norway:	Opening: 2009	Closing:
Hamburg, Germany:	Opening: November 3, 2002	Closing: September 8, 2007
Stuttgart, Germany:	Opening: July 18, 2004	Closing: September 9, 2007

Film adaptation

Main article: Mamma Mia! (film)

On April 19, 2006, it was reported on Playbill.com and Broadway.com that Mamma Mia! would be adapted as a film. Phyllida Lloyd directed with Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson as executive producers. Meryl Streep stars as Donna Sheridan along with Pierce Brosnan as Sam Carmichael. The movie also features Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters. It premiered July 18, 2008 (in the US) with the following principal cast:

• Donna: Meryl Streep
• Rosie: Julie Walters
• Tanya: Christine Baranski
• Sophie: Amanda Seyfried
• Bill: Stellan Skarsgård
• Sam Carmichael: Pierce Brosnan
• Harry Bright: Colin Firth
• Sky: Dominic Cooper
• Lisa: Rachel McDowall
• Ali: Ashley Lilley

Awards and nominations

• 2000 Olivier Awards
  • Best Leading Female Actor In A Musical (Siobhan Macarthy) (nomination)
  • Best Supporting Performance In A Musical
    • Jenny Galloway as Rosie (WINNER)
    • Louise Plowright as Tanya (nomination)
  • Best Musical (nomination)
• 2002 Tony Awards
  • Tony Award for Best Musical (nominated) - Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East, Björn Ulvaeus, Littlestar Ltd.; Produced in association with Universal Music Group
  • Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominated) - Catherine Johnson
  • Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (nominated) - Louise Pitre
  • Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (nominated) - Judy Kaye
  • Tony Award for Best Orchestrations (nominated) - Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Martin Koch
• 2002 Drama Desk Awards
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Louise Pitre
  • Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Judy Kaye, Karen Mason
• 2002 Theatre World Award
  • Theatre World Award - Louise Pitre (WINNER)

Response

Box office and business

On May 15, 2005, Mamma Mia! surpassed the original Broadway runs of The Sound of Music, The King and I, and Damn Yankees with 1,500 performances. As of September 5, 2008, it is the 16th longest running Broadway musical of all time. As of January 2008 "Mamma Mia!" became the longest daily running show in the history of Russian theatre.

Cirkus in Stockholm

As of 2008, the musical has been performed in eleven languages: English, German, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Spanish, a mix between Catalan and Spanish, Swedish and Russian. It has spawned productions around the world including Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Belgian, Dutch, British, Irish, French, Monégasque, Austrian, German, Swiss, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovak, Greek, Canadian, American, Mexican, Russian, Israeli, Lebanese, Qatari, Turkish, Emirati, Chinese, Hong Konger, South Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, Singaporean, South African, Australian, and New Zealander productions.

Lone van Roosendaal has played Donna in three different countries and in three different languages: English, Dutch (understudy) and German.

External links

• Official site
• ​Mamma Mia!​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• 2008 Moment of Thanks video by the cast of Mamma Mia! Las Vegas thanking the US Armed Forces