Casting is Announced for Mamma Mia! Tour in Manchester

The international tour of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' musical, Mamma Mia! has announced casting for its upcoming 12 week run at Manchester's Palace Theatre (Oxford St., Manchester, M1 6FT).

Performances will begin on November 7 and run through January 27, 2007. Over 70 percent of the tickets have already been sold. The tour has already performed in South Africa, Tallinn (Estonia), Lisbon (Portugal), Brussels (Belgium), Paris (France), throughout Germany, Vienna (Austria) and Zurich (Switzerland).

Inspired by ABBA's music, writer Catherine Johnson's "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 three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago."

Craig Adams joins the cast as "Sky," Katie Brayben plays his fiancé "Sophie Sheridan," actress, comedienne, writer and presenter Jackie Clune (Taboo, Vagina Monologues) plays the lead female part of "Donna Sheridan," Sophie's mother. Morag Siller and Joan Walker play Donna's best friends and former back up band, "Rosie" and "Tanya." The three men from Donna's past will be played by Cameron Blakely as "Sam Carmichael," William Brand as "Harry Bright" and Jeffrey Harmer as "Bill Austin."

The tour cast will also feature Helen Siveter (Ali), Kellie Ryan (Lisa), Gregg Lowe (Pepper), Alex Jessop (Eddie) and Antony Reed (Father Alexandrios); and the ensemble: Nicky Adams, Richard Alliston, Josh Capper, Claire Cassidy, Caroline Deverill, Portia Emare, Ross Furlong, Amy Hathaway, Michael Instone, Sally O'Brien, Darragh O'Leary (Dance Captain), Steven Paling (Artistic Co-Ordinator), Matt Robinson, Leanne Rogers, Nicola Sneddon, Paul Spicer, Alistair James Taylor and Lindsey Tierney.

The original London production of Mamma Mia! opened in 1999 and there are currently 11 global productions, which generate over $8 million a week in ticket sales. As well as London and the International Tour, Mamma Mia! is currently playing Broadway, Las Vegas, North American Tour, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Madrid, Stockholm, Osaka and a Russian-language production recently opened in Moscow.  Since its 1999 stage premiere, Mamma Mia! has gone on to gross over £1.6 billion at the box office and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (also for Chess), Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Mamma Mia! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast (choreographed Bombay Dreams), production design by Mark Thompson (also for Bombay Dreams), lighting design by Howard Harrison (lighting done for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Mary Poppins), sound design by Andrew Bruce (sound design for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Les Miserables) and Bobby Aitken (designer for Lennon), and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, Stage Entertainment and NGM.

Tickets are available from the Palace Theatre Box Office, 0870 401 3000 and Ticketmaster outlets.  Visit www.getlive.co.uk/manchester for tickets and more information.