Bjorn Ulvaeus News

Moscow Broadway has announced the opening of the first Russian production of the legendary musical Chess, created by Tim Rice, Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The musical will premiere on a stage of Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre in May 2019 and will move to Moscow to be daily run in MDM Theatre in September. This is going to be the first time when a Russian state academic opera theatre will make a co-production with a Russian commercial theatre company.

The Russian premiere of the legendary musical CHESS, telling the story of a battle for world chess championship, set against the backdrop of the cold war between two superpowers - USSR and USA, is set to open in Novosibirsk May 2019 with a gala opening in Moscow in October 2019. This is a co-production between Moscow Broadway theatre company and Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (NOVAT).

Torna per la seconda stagione al Teatro Sistina di Roma il musical MAMMA MIA! che prosegue il suo secondo tour nazionale con molte date gia sold out. Dal debutto avvenuto a Londra nel 1999 questo musical e stato tradotto in 26 lingue, rappresentato in 50 paesi ed e stato visto da piu di 60 milioni di spettatori in tutto il mondo.

Jukebox musicals have been quite a trend lately. Owing its origin to Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, which successfully ran on West End from 1989 to 2003, the genre's popularity has been boosted by many others that followed suit, such as Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, featuring the music and life of Carole King. Just recently, Manila had seen the staging of a tribute to one of the country's more enduring musical groups, The Apo Hiking Society, with the successful Eto na! Musikal nAPO! This mid-October, yet another jukebox musical, built around the iconic songs of major karaoke staples provider, Air Supply, beckons.

After nearly 20 years since the show premiered in London's West End in 1999, MAMMA MIA!, the 'Mother of All Jukebox Musicals,' triumphantly opens (and remains a crowd-pleaser) at The Theatre at Solaire in Paranaque City. The show, in a limited engagement, runs now through October 21, 2018.

Many of my readers know my connection with MAMMA MIA! on Broadway (see my bio below). When I saw many months ago that Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia would be presenting it (the professional regional premiere) I knew it would be a money maker and knew, after seeing many Toby productions, it would be done well. Well, not only have they done well, this edition of MAMMA MIA! is just plain superb.

It's safe to say that Natalie Douglas is a little obsessed with Cher. Throughout TRIBUTES: CHER, the latest in her award-winning TRIBUTES series, Douglas made her way through the icon's life from her early career up to the present, both in song and in story. But the real focus of the July 16 show at Birdland wasn't necessarily in identifying with the woman, the myth, the legend that is Cher. (After all, how can anyone fully relate to someone for whom a phrase as simple as "Hi again" is a meme-able moment?)

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Get ready to sing and dance, laugh and love all over again! Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie grossed more than $600 million around the world, you are invited to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Musical theatre is about happy endings: if you like them, see MAMMA MIA!, at Toby's through September 9th. Heather Marie Beck and Maggie Dransfield as mother and daughter Donna and Sophie Sheridan are delightful and heartwarming. Disco, universally accepted as delicious, is the keystone of this show, whether or not you love or have heard of ABBA. In today's tumult, an escape to a tropical paradise where conflict stems from wedding angst and family drama seems a wonderful notion.

Lakewood Theatre Company opens its 66th season with international intrigue, super-power politics and romance in the musical rock opera Chess. The show begins July 6 and continuing through August 12, 2018 on the Headlee Mainstage at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street in Lake Oswego. 

The ACT of Connecticut takes Ridgefield by storm with their amazing debut musical, MAMMA MIA! Excellent singing, dancing, and acting dazzle the audience in this wonderful show!

The Second Street Players are proud to announce the 2019 Season. 2019 will showcase some classic stories along with  some new shows that have not been preformed in the area yet. There will be 5 Main Stage Shows and 3 Children's Theater shows. With this announcement the Second Street Players are also putting out a call to Directors. Anyone that is interested in directing one of the shows should submit a letter of intent by August 31, 2018.

The Mountain Play, the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience is proud to present Mamma Mia! for its 105th Season. Directed by Jay Manley, Musical Direction by Jon Gallo, and Choreography by Nicole Helfer and Zoe Swenson-Graham.

Pioneer Theatre Company has created a truly strong production of MAMMA MIA! that feels effortless and joyful. If you are a fan of MAMMA MIA!, this is a production you won't want to miss!

Producers of The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre have unveiled its new 2018/2019 Season, which will also be the theatre's 25th Silver Anniversary Season. The curtain first rose on Way Off Broadway in 1995 with a production of Let the Good Times Roll. Since then, Way Off Broadway has produced over 100 productions, ranging from classic musicals to regional premieres.

The epic musical love story Chess starring Michael Ball as Anatoly, Alexandra Burke as Svetlana, Cedric Neal as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie, Cassidy Janson as Florence and Phillip Browne as officially opened last night, 1 May 2018, for a strictly limited 5 week season.

Chess, by Tim Rice and ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, hasn't had a major West End revival since its Eighties heyday, but it's back with a bang in a semi-staged production that features aerial silk acrobatics, cheerleading stunts and drunken Cossack dancing. But it's the work that really shines through: period, yes, and distinctly unwieldy, but oddly timely too - and not just because ABBA are reuniting.

According to the BBC, Abba has returned to the studio to record their first new music in over 30 years.