MaMa Mia!

reviewed by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Maybe because it reflects my initials, but I love double MM. I loved Micky Mouse, Marilyn Monroe, chocolate M&Ms and MaMaMia!

I first saw Mama Mia in Las Vegas, a couple of years ago. That was before the movie and Meryl Streep and I instantly knew it was a winner.

I am so glad it is coming back to Dallas for

THE GLOBAL SMASH HIT WILL RETURN TO DALLAS
FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY AUGUST 18-30!

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals as it returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park August 18-30, 2009.

Seen by over 40 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! is celebrating seven sold-out years at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway, and is currently playing a record-breaking engagement on its National Tour in the United States.

The original West End production has played more than 4,000 performances, an international tour has played in more than 40 foreign cities, and the blockbuster feature film adaptation, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The national touring company’s cast
includes the following performers:

MICHELLE DAWSON (Donna Sheridan).;LIANA HUNT (Sophie Sheridan); KITTRA Wynn COOMER (Rosie); RACHEL TYLER (Tanya); JOHN HEMPHILL (Sam Carmichael); MARTIN KILDARE (Bill Austin); MICHAEL AARON LINDNER (Harry Bright); ADAM JACOBS (Sky); ADAM MICHAEL KAOKEPT (Pepper); NICOLE LAURENZI (Lisa); MONETTE MCKAY (Ali); KATY BLAKE (Ensemble); Sara Braslow (Dance Captain, Swing); DONELL JAMES FOREMAN (Ensemble); RACHEL FRANKENTHAL (Swing); NATALIE GALLO (Ensemble); KEVIN THOMAS GARCIA (Swing); ERIC GIANCOLA (Assistant Dance Captain, Swing);

NATHAN ALAN JOHNSON (Ensemble); LEAH JOSEPH (Ensemble); WHITNEY CLAIRE KAUFMAN (Ensemble); IAN KNAUER (Ensemble); STEPHANIE LYNGE (Ensemble); CARLA MAGNUSON (Ensemble); JENNIFER NOTH (Ensemble); AYME OLIVO (Ensemble); DAVID REISER (Ensemble). DAMIEN DESHAUN SMITH (Ensemble); ROBERT TOWNSEND (Ensemble); and Bradley Whitfield (Ensemble).

The performance schedule for MAMMA MIA!
at the Music Hall at Fair Park is:

Tuesday August 18 8 p.m.
Wednesday August 19 8 p.m.
Thursday August 20 8 p.m.
Friday August 21 8 p.m.
Saturday August 22 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday August 23 2 and 8 p.m.
Monday August 24 Dark
Tuesday August 25 8 p.m.
Wednesday August 26 8 p.m.
Thursday August 27 2 and 8 p.m.
Friday August 28 8 p.m.
Saturday August 29 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday August 30 2 p.m.

The special edition cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway. For information about MAMMA MIA! around the world, go to www.mamma-mia.com.

Tickets for MAMMA MIA! are priced from $20-$85 and are available through The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster location including The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm Street. Tickets are also available to charge by phone at 214-631-ARTS (2787) or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more should call 214-426-GROUP.

The DSM summer season at the Music Hall at Fair Park continues with Disney’s Mary Poppins as the State Fair musical September 24-October 18, 2009.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 69th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works.

Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park and the historic Majestic Theatre. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please visit their website at www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loved Mama Mia! Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeAtlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com