Mamma Mia! Tour Returns to South Africa, Summer '06

Mamma Mia!, which was a hit in South Africa earlier this year, is set to return for a second run in 2006. Opening at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on June 7, 2006, Mamma Mia! will then head to the State Theatre in Pretoria on July 19. The 2006 South African tour has been booked into other theatres for next year's run, as well.

The English language International Tour of Mamma Mia! recently celebrated its first anniversary following sold-out performances in Dublin, Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Tallinn, Lisbon, Brussels and Paris. The second year opened in Cologne on September 1, 2005 and is touring Germany (Oberhausen, Munich, Erfurt, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Berlin), Switzerland (Zurich) and Austria (Vienna). The International Tour of Mamma Mia! will arrive in Belfast on March 1, 2006 and then returns, after a sell-out season earlier in the year, to Scotland's Edinburgh Playhouse on March 29.

The musical has been seen by over 24 million people in over 115 cities across North America, Australia, Europe and Asia. The British production of Mamma Mia! recently welcomed its 4 millionth patron to the Prince of Wales Theatre and has extended its booking period by 10 months through January 27, 2007.

Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on October 18th, 2001, and has played over 1600 performances in New York. Mamma Mia! takes place on a tiny Greek Island, as a mother and daughter try to settle the girl's paternity before her wedding. The show is set to the songs of ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with hits including "Dancing Queen," "Money, Money, Money" and "The Winner Takes It All." John Dossett and Michele Pawk currently star in the show.

Mamma Mia!'s book is by Catherine Johnson, with direction by Phyllida Lloyd and choreography by Anthony Van Laast. Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the musical features production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.