Sarah Smith News

It has no huge morally important message to deliver. It won't be stopping wars or fixing societal unrest. But what "Mamma Mia!", currently playing at the Paramount Theatre, does do and has always done is to be fun. A fluffy, bubblegum, rockin' good time and seriously that's enough.

The national tour of MAMMA MIA!, which played at Kingsbury Hall this past weekend, is a crowd-pleasing mix of enjoyable performances, appealing characters, and well-loved pop hits.

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J.

Growing up Father's Day must have been very confusing for Sophie Sheridan, the lead character for MAMMA MIA. The product of a brief love affair, Sophie never knew who her real father was. So on the weeks before her wedding, she sends out invitations to the three chief suspects in hopes of finding out how her real dad is.

Most musical theater ends with a simple curtain call with the audience expressing their appreciation for the performance they had attended. Mamma Mia, though, ends with and explosion of music, bringing the audience to it's feet for an encore where the cast invites the audience to sing and dance along. And, Friday Night at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, we certainly did.

Mamma Mia! Here we go again! The sensational Abba-inspired tour returned to the Gallo Center for the Arts Thursday evening with yet another sold-out run ahead. After more than ten years on Broadway and with numerous International and North America tours, the pop musical heads to Fresno for its next California stop. No doubt, audiences there, too, will find themselves unable to resist the beat and motion of the contagious pop musical. Thursday's audience, young and old, had no trouble dancing in their seats.

"Mamma Mia- here I go again" weren't just familiar song lyrics I was thinking of when I walked into Bass Concert Hall Tuesday night. No, it was also literal thinking going through my head. Why? The opening night of Broadway in Austin's Mamma Mia! was my fifth time seeing the production. From seeing the first national tour back in 2002, to the dragging my dad to the production in Las Vegas, to seeing it twice more through Broadway Across America Houston before sitting in the audience at Bass, here I go again may have been the understatement of the evening.

The one thing I love about theatre, especially musical theatre is that there is always something out there for everyone. There are musicals that can provoke tears or laughs depending on your mood, and there is always that one musical that makes you bounce in your seat. For many, this musical is "MAMMA MIA," which is running this week at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans as part of its Broadway New Orleans series. White wedding dresses and silver sequins more or less sum up the experience, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Sarah Smith, currently touring as Rosie in the Mamma Mia North American tour, joins the cast of Big Thunder Productions' #YesAllWomen Raise Your Voice concert presented by The Tank at 9:30pm Friday November 21st.

The enchanting tale of love, friendship, and the quest to discover the identity of her father comes to the Music Hall in Kansas City when Mamma Mia! takes the stage. Based on the songs of ABBA and written by Catherine Johnson the musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2001, received five Tony Award nominations, two Drama Desk Award nominations, and won the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Stage Performance.

Kitchen Cafe was proud to present the Dallas debut of Jim Caruso's Cast Party on Thursday and Friday, May 22 and 23. The two sold-out evenings celebrated extraordinary talent from the musical theater, jazz and cabaret communities. As always, Caruso hosted, along with musical director/singer/accompanist Billy Stritch at the piano. Scroll down for photos from the concerts!

A dream and a thousand thoughts carefully organized and written became author Pryncess Walton's compelling tale of love, never giving up, and of second chances. 'Shattered Dreams, A Plea for Love' (published by Trafford Publishing) is a treat for all romanticists out there; for the believers of the one true love that is rightfully reserved for each person.

Reportbuyer.com just published a new market research report:

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will present 'Patience' as part of the 2013-2014 Season along with 'Pirates of Penzance.'

Show Palace Entertainment presents 9 to 5: The Musical, now through February 24, 2013.

BARELY LEGAL, a night of new music and budding talent, took place on July 23rd at Le Poisson Rouge at 158 Bleecker Street, New York, NY .

The BAFTA Film Awards Winners were announced today, 12 February, at London's Royal Opera House.

The 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards nominations were announced by Daniel Radcliffe and Holliday Grainger at BAFTA's headquarters in London. The Orange British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday, February 12th at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London. This is the fifteenth year of Orange's sponsorship of the Film Awards. The ceremony will be hosted by Stephen Fry.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, news, radio, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2011 season. The winners will be honored at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.