Bjorn Ulvaeus News

Mamma Mia brought the audience to their feet at the opening night performance on Friday at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC). Produced by Dream Theatre Productions, the lavish performance of the hit Broadway musical is one of the best you will see with its stunningly talented cast. 

Lakewood Theatre Company will begin its 66th season with six productions on its Mainstage and three productions on its Side Door stage beginning July 6, 2018.  

The 2018/19 Mirvish season will feature six Canadian premieres, one North American premiere, one pre-Broadway engagement and five new productions. A total of 16 shows will play at Mirvish theatres from June 2018 to July 2019. The main subscription season will feature seven shows and the Off-Mirvish season three shows. There will be six bonus shows that will not be on subscription.

A sold-out seven performance production of CHESS in Concert blew the rafters of the roof of the Eisenhower Theater.

Australia's Global Creatures will secure its place as a leading international theatre production company as it celebrates its biggest year ever in 2018.   This year in the UK, the company opens Strictly Ballroom on the West End in April and Walking with Dinosaurs will again roam the globe on a new world tour with August dates confirmed at London's O2 Arena.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the smash hit Broadway musical MAMMA MIA!, opening February 21 and running through April 8, 2018. For ticket information please call 812-288-8281 or visit derbydinner.com.

In the heyday of movies being adapted for the stage, one can't be shocked to see the ABBA infused MURIEL'S WEDDING next up to bat for the musical treatment. Based on the 1994 Australian blockbuster of the same title, MURIEL's WEDDING THE MUSICAL had its world premiere late last year thanks to the Sydney Theatre Company and Global Theatre. Maggie McKenna played the title role of Muriel Heslop. Growing up in Porpoise Spit, our ABBA obsessed protagonist is the outcast who incessantly dreams of the perfect the wedding and groom.

The view looks pretty good from a pair of platform shoes. Heck, even on an idyllic, Greek island resort there's not a moment of stress and strain that can't be cured by breaking into the hits of Sweden's number one pop group, ABBA. If you want to get your groove back to the tune of 'Dancing Queen,' 'Waterloo,' or 'Take A Chance on Me' - along with a boatload of other ABBA tunes - get thee to Riverside Center and - to quote one of the lyrics - ' you'll be having the time of your life.'

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today final principal casting for the 30th Anniversary of the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. One of the most successful stage productions of all-time, the musical will welcome back international stage star and Platinum-selling Swedish recording artist Peter J back to lead the 30th Anniversary.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has spent the past 50 years serving the Houston community from our first performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre to the more than 300 productions TUTS has staged at Miller, The Music Hall, and now at the Hobby Center. With our 50th Season, we will build upon the legacy, of our founder, Frank M. Young, and confidently step forward into the next 50 years!

Today, January 16, marks the beginning of Peter J back's return engagement with The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. He will play a limited run through March 31. J back will be playing the title role when the show reaches its 30th anniversary on January 26. As previously announced, the anniversary will be celebrated two days prior on January 24.

The Kavinoky Theatre, a professional theatre on the campus of D'Youville College, continues its 38th season with Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia! (story by Catherine Johnson).

Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and created by ABBA's former members Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! continues to be one of the chief feel good musicals of our generation, spreading joy and laughter through the auditorium and getting the audience to leave their seats and become their own dancing queens.

The Kavinoky Theatre, a professional theatre on the campus of D'Youville College, continues its 38th season with Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia! (story by Catherine Johnson).

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today final principal casting for the 30th Anniversary of the longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. One of the most successful stage productions of all-time, the musical will welcome back international stage star and Platinum-selling Swedish recording artist Peter J back to lead the 30th Anniversary.

If not for the fact that she is already one on Broadway, it could be said that Rachel Potter's performance in Mamma Mia! - which opened last night at Nashville's historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - was, without doubt or without danger of fulsome exaggeration a "starmaking turn." With a glorious voice and stage presence to spare, Potter's Sophie seized control of the opening night audience from the very first moment she stepped onto the stage, never relinquishing control for one second, even when sharing the stage with the redoubtable Martha Wilkinson, the undisputed queen of musical theatre in Music City.

Drury Lane Theatre has announced the complete lineup of its 2018/2019 season, opening with Tony Award-winning South Pacific.

MAMMA MIA! officially ended it's farewell tour this past weekend, and it was interesting to see the audience reaction to a show I've seen at least six times. But, I'm a critic. The appeal is obvious really, it's a simple story (book by Catherine Johnson) that allows you to enjoy the undeniably catchy Swedish pop of ABBA (music and lyrics of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson). With the length of time that it's been touring, nationally and internationally, there's no doubt that generations will grow up knowing and loving this music, which, at the time, seemed like a passing fad back in the 1970's and 80's, although I'm not ashamed to admit I own their greatest hits vol. 1 and 2, most of which shows up in the score. The touring show that graced the stage of the Fox Theatre this past weekend (July 28-30) put on a splendid production, as engaging and charming as we've come to expect, and brimming with enough good humor to please everyone.

 Gallery Players launches into their second half-century as they announce an exciting 51st Season of Fun and Games.

=Marie-Claire Follett was a teenager in London looking for a singing job when she auditioned for a spot in an ABBA tribute band.