Benny Andersson News

Most musicals follow the tried and true pattern of being written in a format that it is expected to be examined and redone through a series of readings, rewrites, staged readings, rewrites, previews, more rewrites, and, if lucky, a full-staged production. As the process continues the script and score are improved to attempt to ensure that they are well-integrated.

Mamma Mia! 'Here we go again.' There is now another production in Central New York of this hit jukebox musical based on the songs of ABBA. This time around it is a delightful production at the picturesque Cortland Repertory Theatre in Preble, New York. For a musical that is repeatedly (sometimes too much) performed throughout the country, the Cortland Rep production, directed by Kerby Thompson, is quite fresh, powerful, and exciting.

Executive producer Björn Ulvaeus and producer Ingrid Sutej dropped in at rehearsals for MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, the new immersive theatrical and dining experience opening in a specially adapted venue within The O2 London this summer, with performances beginning on 29 August 2019. See photos from their visit.

Wabash Area Community Theater has a dream, many songs to sing as they present Mamma Mia! Sept. 27-29 at Honeywell Center.

Cortland Repertory Theatre takes audiences on a trip to the Greek Islands, and back to 1970's music, with their next high-energy summer production, the hit musical "Mamma Mia"! Featuring the extremely popular music by the iconic pop group ABBA, the music and lyrics for this show are written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with some songs with Stig Anderson, and the book is written by Catherine Johnson. 

Is it Sam, Bill, or Harry? Who is bride-to-be Sophie's Father? She has 3-choices and even her own rockin' Mamma Donna Sheridan doesn't know for sure! Find out who's her Dad when the international musical sensation MAMMA MIA! comes to the Barn Players stage (for two weeks only), August 22nd through September 1st, 2019, at the Arts Asylum:1000 East 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. Be there and be sure to brace yourself for one riotous, rhythmic trip down the aisle when everyone reunites for Sophie's ceremony!

Due to overwhelming demand, LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is EXTENDING the first show of its 99th season, the perfect romantic comedy to kick off the Summer, ABBA's intoxicating MAMMA MIA!, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson, book by Catherine Johnson, originally conceived by Judy Craymer with musical direction by Ricky Pope and directed & choreographed by Karen Babcock Brassea. Comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard, "We start our 99th season with one of the all-time great feel-good musicals, MAMMA MIA!! Our subscribers and audiences are going to be dancing queens and kings all summer long with this irresistible and euphoric new production!" MAMMA MIA! begins previews on Friday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 7 at 5:30pm and now perform through Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

The highly acclaimed Australian musical produced by Global Creatures, Muriel's Wedding the Musical, opened to a standing ovation and rave reviews at the Sydney at the Lyric Theatre last night. The show returns to Sydney for a strictly limited season and due to demand new tickets will be released and go on sale on Tuesday 9 July 

The Studio Theatre Presents MAMMA MIA!

Mamma Mia follows the story of 20-year-old Sophie on a quest to determine who her father is by inviting her mother Donna's three paramours (Sam, Harry, and Bill) from 20 years go to her Greek Island wedding.  In Donna's hay-day she had a girl group, Donna and the Dynamos, with her friends Lisa and Tanya who also return to the island for the wedding.

Due to overwhelming demand, LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is EXTENDING the first show of its 99th season, the perfect romantic comedy to kick off the Summer, ABBA's intoxicating MAMMA MIA!, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson, book by Catherine Johnson, originally conceived by Judy Craymer with musical direction by Ricky Pope and directed & choreographed by Karen Babcock Brassea.  

 11th Hour Theatre Company has announced an exciting 15th Anniversary season. The only company in the city dedicated to producing all musicals has created a line-up of two Next Step Concerts of rarely produced musicals and a Mainstage musical years in the making. The season kicks off with a concert version of William Finn and James Lapine's Falsettos.  Then the company starts 2020 with a bang and a concert of Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice's Chess. In the Spring, 11th Hour tackles a musical it has been hoping to produce for years: John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's sensation Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 11th Hour is also introducing a new series of Musical Theatre Salons for this upcoming season as well, which are exclusive member's only events featuring intimate conversations with some of Philadelphia's most well-known musical theatre talents. Subscriptions are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone at 267-987-9865.

The global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 20th anniversary in London's West End at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 6 April. Now, in the musical's 21st year, the producers have announced some major cast changes in the London production from Monday 10 June 2019. Mazz Murray, who has previously played Tanya in the London production, will be returning to the musical, but this time as Donna, and Kirsty Hoiles will join her as Tanya. Also new to the musical will be Cameron Burt as Sky, Melissa Nettleford as Ali, Sophie Matthew as Lisa, Taylor Bradshaw as Eddie and Danny Nattrass as Pepper. They will be joining Ricky Butt as Rosie, Richard Trinder as Sam, Neil Moors as Harry, Stephen Beckett as Bill and Lucy May Barker as Sophie. Caroline Deverill continues to play the role of Donna at certain performances.

Is it any wonder that Montreal's Just Pour Rire is capitalizing on this show's popularity? Before the curtain rose on this Franglais production, with French script and English songs, JPR claimed to have pre-sold a whopping 40,000 tickets.

As part of the Lyric Repertory Company's plan to introduce audience members to multiple performance venues, the first Lyric show to be produced in the Morgan Theatre, Mamma Mia!, opens June 21.

The sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! returns to the King's Theatre, Glasgow for a two week run from Tuesday 7 until Saturday 25 April as part of a UK & International Tour celebrating 20 years since MAMMA MIA! premiered in London in April 1999.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents the first show of its 99th season with the perfect romantic comedy to kick off the Summer, ABBA's intoxicating MAMMA MIA!, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus 

San Jose Stage Company presents the final production of The Stage's 36th Anniversary Season, the smash hit ABBA musical MAMMA MIA! Featuring music and lyrics by Benny Anderssonand Bjorn Ulvaeus and a book by Catherine Johnson, MAMMA MIA! will run from May 29 - July 7, 2019 at San Jose Stage Company (490 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA, 95113).

The sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! will return to The Bristol Hippodrome for a three-week run from 2nd - 20th June 2020 as part of a UK & International Tour celebrating 20 years since MAMMA MIA! premiered in London in April 1999.