Drayton Entertainment to Present MAMMA MIA! in 2016

Mamma Mia! My, my, how can we resist the international musical sensation based on the beloved songs of ABBA? Drayton Entertainment's Artistic Director Alex Mustakas today announced Mamma Mia! as the award-winning theatre organization's flagship production for the upcoming 2016 Season.

The production will play at the Drayton Festival Theatre, Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, Huron Country Playhouse, and King's Wharf Theatre.

Drayton Entertainment is part of an extremely elite group of several regional theatre companies throughout North America granted the rights to the coveted hit musical.

The coup is the result of Mustakas trying for the last decade to secure what is arguably considered the world's most highly sought-after theatre production, which finishes its epic 14-year run on Broadway run in September.

"Mamma Mia! is going to be a landmark production for our organization and is certainly one of the most prestigious productions to ever take centre stage," says Mustakas. "We are excited to have the opportunity to produce our own version of this iconic musical and share it with enthusiastic audiences throughout the province."

The breaking news comes in the midst of a critically and commercially successful 25th Anniversary Season for the Drayton Festival Theatre, which also marks Mustakas' 25th year as Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment.

Mustakas made similar waves throughout the theatre industry in 2013 when he secured the rights to premiere the first regional production of Disney's Mary Poppins, which he followed up in 2014 with LES MISERABLES and Disney's The Little Mermaid. The company also notably produced the Canadian premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in 2008, which went on to tour North America the following year.

"We are thrilled that Drayton Entertainment has been chosen as one of the first companies in Canada to produce Mamma Mia!," says John Green, President of Drayton Entertainment's Board of Directors. "The show has universal appeal - it's fun and upbeat and sure to entertain audiences of all ages. It also has the necessary popularity to attract bus tours, day trippers, and overnight travellers, which will bolster tourism in the areas immediately servicing and surrounding our theatres."

The production is a bona fide global phenomenon, seen by over 54 million people around the world. The original West End production is now in its 16th year and has celebrated over 6,000 performances in London. The international tour has visited more than 74 foreign cities in 35 countries, thrilling over 4.3 million fans. The blockbuster feature film adaptation of Mamma Mia! starring Meryl Streep is the most successful movie musical of all time, grossing over $600 million worldwide.

Employing the chart-topping catalogue of Swedish super-group ABBA, Mamma Mia! tells the story of Donna, an independent, single mother on an idyllic Greek island who is preparing for her daughter Sophie's wedding. The guest list includes two lifelong girlfriends 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, Sophie has arranged for three men from Donna's past to make a trip to paradise, where over the next 24 hectic hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on a tropical island full of possibilities.

Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family. In addition to the iconic title song, the show includes ABBA's hits "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes It All," "Lay All Your Love on Me," "Money, Money, Money," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "SOS," "Take a Chance on Me" and more.

The 2016 performance schedule will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for Mamma Mia!, as well as the other 2016 Season productions, will go on sale exclusively to Members of Drayton Entertainment this fall. Members make an annual donation to the not-for-profit charitable organization in exchange for several noteworthy benefits, including advance booking privileges before the general public.

To jump to the front of the line and become a Member of Drayton Entertainment, contact the Box Office toll free at 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).