Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, based on the songs of ABBA, will play its final performance at Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Tickets for the final performance go on sale this Friday, September 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
After nearly six years on The Strip, MAMMA MIA! prepares to end its record-breaking engagement after celebrating more than 2,100 performances and two million guests to date.
MAMMA MIA! set the precedent for musicals in Las Vegas, as no other full-length Broadway show has ever enjoyed such enduring success on The Strip.
"I am so grateful to the audiences who have supported MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas over six record-breaking years," said global producer
Judy Craymer. "I am proud that the popularity of the production in Las Vegas has opened the doors for other musicals to play on The Strip. This has been an extraordinary year for MAMMA MIA!, with the worldwide history-making success of the movie, as well as a glorious finish to a triumphant run at Mandalay Bay. We are leaving on such a high."
MAMMA MIA! premiered at Mandalay Bay Theatre on February 13, 2003. With an unforgettable musical score and irresistible story, the show earned a loyal fan base of locals and tourists alike and will be missed when the final curtain falls in January 2009.
"MAMMA MIA! has had an amazing run at Mandalay Bay. This success is a reflection of the cast and crew's dedication to the show," said Bill Hornbuckle, president and COO of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. "We are proud to have partnered with the MAMMA MIA! team for nearly six years."
Inspired by the story-telling magic of
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' songs, writer
Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Songs including "Dancing Queen"; "The Winner Takes It All"; "Money, Money, Money" and "Take A Chance on Me" are all featured in this feel-good night of fun and laughter.
The feature film adaptation of MAMMA MIA!, produced by
Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, was released this summer and has become the most successful movie musical of all time around the world, grossing close to $500 million.
Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the movie featuring
Pierce Brosnan,
Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård,
Christine Baranski,
Julie Walters,
Amanda Seyfried and
Dominic Cooper.
With music and lyrics by
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by
Catherine Johnson and directed by
Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has 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.
MAMMA MIA! is produced by
Judy Craymer,
Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.
Seen by over 32 million people worldwide, and with three companies currently playing in North America, MAMMA MIA! has more productions playing around the world than any other current Broadway musical. The phenomenon that syndicated columnist
Liz Smith calls "The most popular musical in the world!," has surpassed a gross of $2 Billion in worldwide box office sales.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning destination resort, is set on 60 lush acres and offers 3,644 rooms and suites including 424 accommodations managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Mandalay Beach, an 11-acre tropical pool environment, features real California sand, a wave pool and lazy river. The property also features the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center, award-winning restaurants, Shark Reef and the 1.5-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center - the largest convention center on the Las Vegas Strip. Mandalay Bay's brands include THEhotel, an all-suite hotel which features 1,117 luxurious one-bedroom suites and the BATHHOUSE Spa, and Mandalay Place, a collection of 41 unique boutiques and restaurants. Mandalay Bay is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM MIRAGE
TM.
The performance schedule for MAMMA MIA! at the Mandalay Bay Theatre is Sunday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. & 10 p.m. There is no performance on Friday.
Tickets for MAMMA MIA! are $110, $82.50 and $49.50, tax inclusive. Tickets are available by calling the Mandalay Bay Box Office at 800-632-7400, Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000 and online at www.mandalaybay.com or www.mamma-mia.com
Since the show premiered in Las Vegas in February 2003...
MAMMA MIA! has used more than 650 yards of spandex and more than 65,000 sequins to create costumes for The Dynamos.
More than 4,000 light bulbs have been replaced in the unique stage since production first began - more than likely due to damage caused by the disco-era platform boots worn by The Dynamos!
The show's signature song, "Mamma Mia," has been sung more than 4,300 times over the lifetime of the show.
