MAMMA MIA closes in Toronto (press release)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/18/05 at 3:13am

For Immediate Release: March 17, 2005

Thank You For The Music, Toronto!

MAMMA MIA! To End Record-Breaking Engagement
at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
on May 22, 2005

When MAMMA MIA! had its North American premiere in Toronto on May 23, 2000, the producers hoped that the show would run 26 weeks at the venerable Royal Alexandra Theatre. That would have been a smashing success, considering that most shows run six weeks or less in Toronto, and that the longest run at the Royal Alex was two years.

Now, 2,044 performances later, MAMMA MIA! will close in Toronto as the global phenomenon celebrates it's fifth anniversary in Canada. The final performance will take place on Sunday May 22, 2005.

Producer Judy Craymer said, "I am so proud of the success of MAMMA MIA! in Canada. After the show premiered in London, everyone on the MAMMA MIA! team wanted the first international production to be staged in Toronto. The fact that audiences and critics embraced the show so warmly gave us the confidence to go to Broadway and open productions all over the world. It's been an amazing five years."

"MAMMA MIA! is a phenomenon,” says David Mirvish, co-producer and theatre owner. “There’s never been a show like it in the 98-year history of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and almost all the great shows of the 20th century have played on its stage.

“Audiences fall in love with MAMMA MIA!: they love the music, the story, the characters, everything about it. People come back to see the show again and again. We expect that the show’s Toronto fans will come and see it one or two more last times before the final performance.”

MAMMA MIA!’s long relationship with Toronto has not only pleased theatregoers but also the city in general. By its closing performance the show will have been seen by 2.8 million patrons – that’s approximately 98% of all available seats. The over $200 million in ticket sales has also translated into $1 billion in economic spin-off to the local economy. The show attracted
millions of visitors to the city and generated thousands of jobs in tourism.

The Toronto production has also launched many careers and created
opportunities for actors, musicians, technicians and staff backstage and in front-of-house.

It was from its initial Toronto engagement that MAMMA MIA! went on to conquer North America, eventually having two touring companies crisscrossing the continent, opening a triumphant run on Broadway and a separate sit-down production in Las Vegas, both of which are still packing audiences in.

Worldwide MAMMA MIA! is seen by more people each week than any other theatrical presentation. There are 13 separate MAMMA MIA! companies, from Japan to Stockholm, and more scheduled to open (Milan launches later in 2005).

MAMMA MIA! features music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, book by Catherine Johnson and is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, 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.

“I know that everyone who has seen MAMMA MIA! in Toronto is grateful that the show has played here for as long as it has,” says David Mirvish. “I’d like to especially thank the show’s producers, Judy Craymer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus, for choosing our city and for being such wonderful guests. But most of all, I’d like to thank them for the music and joy MAMMA MIA! has brought to all of us."


MAMMA MIA!
Continues until May 22, 2005
Performances Tues-Sat 8 PM; matinees Wed, Sat & Sun 2 PM
Tickets: $26-$94
Phone TicketKing at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333
Online sales: www.mirvish.com

Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, Toronto

Official website: www.mamma-mia.com



THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, TORONTO!
SOME FACTS AND FIGURES

€ MAMMA MIA! will play its final performance on Sunday, May 22nd at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre.

€ Originally booked for a 26-week limited engagement, MAMMA MIA! will have played 2,044 performances in Toronto, making it the longest running musical in The Royal Alexandra Theatre’s 96 year history.

€ MAMMA MIA! opened in Toronto on May 23rd, 2000, just one year after the London world premiere and marked the first international engagement of the now global phenomenon. Currently, MAMMA MIA! has more productions playing around the world than any other Broadway musical and can be seen in 13 productions in six different languages.


€ The Toronto production has grossed over $200 million (Canadian) at the box office during the run and has been seen by over 2.8 million people.

€ Four actresses have played the role of Donna during the Toronto engagement, including Louise Pitre, Camilla Scott, Kim Huffman and Blythe Wilson.

€ The “Donna and the Dynamos” threesome have gone through 26 pairs of 4” high platform boots during the run. “Rosie” has used 127 disposable cameras during the wedding scene at the end of the musical. “Tanya” has been crowned with 11 tiaras since the 2000 opening of MAMMA MIA! The MAMMA MIA! ensemble has donned 135 pairs of scuba flippers during the Toronto run. Over 65,000 triple AAA batteries have been used to keep MAMMA MIA! microphones running over the last 5 years.

€ The Toronto company has gone through 70 jumpsuits made up of over 700 yards of spandex and stitched with more than a half million sequins and jewels.

€ In March 2002, MAMMA MIA! became the highest grossing show in North America, grossing $3.7 million in a single week. In 2004 alone, North American productions of MAMMA MIA! in Toronto, Las Vegas, on tour and on Broadway grossed close to $200. Million US.

€ The Original Cast Recording of MAMMA MIA! has been the best-selling cast album in North America for the past three years and has gone Double Platinum in Canada.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/18/05 at 3:14am

Might I add: FINALLY.

[Urban]

Posted: 3/18/05 at 7:03am

And I'll add "Thank Jeebus".

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 3/18/05 at 12:24pm

Maybe Broadway won't be far behind? I know, wishful thinking...