'Mamma Mia!' Dances into Beijing

Following its hugely successful 2006 run, the International Tour of Mamma Mia! will come to Beijing from August 7th – 19th, 2007. Over the last two years, the International Tour has played sold out engagements in Dublin, Edinburgh, South Africa, Tallinn, Lisbon, Paris, Brussels, Paris, Germany, Vienna, Zurich, Belfast, Manchester and has already been seen by over 30 million people. Mamma Mia! will be presented to the Beijing audience by China Performance Art Agency (CPAA) at the Poly Theatre beginning August 7th, 2007, which also marks the one-year countdown anniversary leading to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008. 
 
The International tour of Mamma Mia! is currently playing to sold out houses in a limited return engagement at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland through March 17.
 
Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs, writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.  
 
The production features 22 of ABBA's hits including: Chiquitita, Dancing Queen, I Have a Dream, Knowing Me, Knowing You; The Winner Takes It All; Super Trouper; Take a Chance on Me and Voulez-Vous. 
 
The representative of the co-sponsor, CJ Entertainment Company, believes Mamma Mia! will have a successful run in Beijing. CJ Company is the introducer and producer of the Mamma Mia! South Korean company, and its representative Mr. King said that the success of Mamma Mia! in South Korea proved that this romantic musical transcends the cultural boundaries between the West and the East. This engagement also marks the first time CJ Company, the largest entertainment group in South Korea, and the China Performance Art Agency have joined forces to present a world famous musical together. 

Mamma Mia! is the global smash hit with currently 10 productions playing worldwide. In addition to the original London production, which opened in 1999, and the International Tour, Mamma Mia! is also playing on Broadway, Las Vegas, North American Tour, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Madrid, Moscow and Seongnam. 
 
Global Producer Judy Craymer was first inspired to create a musical using the music of ABBA to tell an original story in 1987. Since its stage premiere in 1999, Mamma Mia! has gone on to gross over £155 million at the UK Box Office and over $2 billion worldwide. More than 30 million people have seen the show worldwide. 
 
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. 
 
A legacy of extraordinary songs and worldwide record sales of over 360 million have ensured ABBA a lasting popularity. The group had 9 number one singles in the UK and 9 number one albums. ABBA GOLD, first released in 1992, spent 206 weeks in the album charts. It entered the charts at number one. It was re-issued in 1999, as part of the 25th anniversary year celebrations marking ABBA's Eurovision win, and went back to the top of the charts. It remains one of the biggest selling music albums of all-time. To date, only The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and Madonna have been more successful than ABBA in the UK. 
 
The International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, Stage Entertainment and NGM. 
 
Visit www.mamma-mia.com for further information on Mamma Mia! productions worldwide.
 
Mamma Mia! plays Beijing Tuesday August 7th through Sunday August 19th. Show schedule is Tuesday- Friday at 7:30PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM and 7:30PM. Tickets on sale beginning Wednesday February 14th. Personal callers welcome from 9am, via Ticketmaster on 86-10-8528 2222.