Benny Andersson News

'We are excited to have the audience open its eyes to some sunshine. [Artistic Director] Curt Dale Clark and I were just saying this morning that this has been an intense season so far, and Fiddler on the Roof and Evita cannot let in much sun. But we stream that light in Mamma Mia, and we hope it will provide a chance to breathe in the joy of the Greek Isles. If we do it right, we will all feel an uplift.' Director/choreographer Mark Martino is waxing eloquent about his latest project and one which constitutes his Maine State Music Theatre debut: a new production of the 2001 Broadway smash it musical Mamma Mia, based on the songs of ABBA. Martino has what he calls 'a very short history' with the show, having mounted a production for the first time in June of this year at the Theatre Aspen. 'The two will be staged very differently,' he explains. 'Aspen is a 200-seat thrust stage, and here they have a 600-seat proscenium theatre. The Pickard Theater gives me an opportunity to expand the show. Our cast at MSMT is about one third larger than in Colorado - some twenty-seven actors - which is even a bit larger than the twenty-four in the original Broadway production. The production values are going to be large and lavish, and the cast has a huge amount of energy, so for me it is an opportunity to revisit the show and make different pictures and entirely different choreography.'

Continuing a full tilt schedule of summer entertainment, Weston Playhouse will present one of Broadway's longest-running hits and the feel-good musical of the season, Mamma Mia! on its MainStage from August 4th- August 20th.

"Revenge Play" stars Stacy Ross, directed by Tracy Ward, and is a special addition to Custom Made's 2016/17 season.

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in July of 2017! Performances begin on Friday, July 28 and run through Sunday, July 30 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103.

Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 33rd season today. The Hurst Theatre opens with the regional premiere of the megahit musical MAMMA MIA!, running in repertory with the one man comedy Buyer and Cellar and the musical Dear Edwina. The organization also announced the return of the Aspen Theatre Festival for new work at the end of August.

? Theatre Aspen announced casting for the organization's upcoming season of summer shows, which includes MAMMA MIA!, Buyer & Cellar and Dear Edwina.

Tim Rice, weltberuhmt durch seine Arbeiten mit Andrew Lloyd Webber, fing dieses atemlose Zeitgefuhl ein, verwandelte es gemeinsam mit den Songschreibern Benny Andersson und Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA) mit CHESS in ein Stuck Musicalgeschichte. Ein Politthriller entstand, in dem Liebe, Eifersucht und Neid das Spiel genauso beeinflussen wie der Kalte Krieg. Ab 15. Oktober kann man CHESS in der Inzenierung der Theater Chemnitz nun an der Oper Graz mit einer hochkaratigen Besetzung erleben. Auf der Buhne stehen unter anderem Marc Lamberty, Annemieke Van Dam, Nikolaj A. Brucker und Matthias Otte. Vorstellungen werden bis Marz 2017 gespielt. WEST SIDE STORY wird als Wiederaufnahme ebenfalls wieder in Graz zu sehen sein.

THE FIRST UK tour of Mamma Mia! comes to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next year.

MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will hold an open call casting search for the roles of Donna and Sam as it embarks on its National Farewell Tour. If you love ABBA and travel (and sequins!) then 'take a chance' to join the cast of MAMMA MIA! as the show hits the road one final time.

Happy Birthday, Judy Kuhn! Kuhn made her Broadway debut was in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She then played Cosette in the 1987 multiple award winning Broadway production of Les Miserables brought her the first Tony Award nomination. The following year, Kuhn took on a transfer from London's West End, playing one of the main roles (Florence Vassy) in the Trevor Nunn-directed Chess, with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (formerly of ABBA) and lyrics by Tim Rice. Later in 1993, Kuhn played the role of Betty Schaefer in the U.S premier production of Sunset Boulevard at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles. Kuhn sang the title role in the 1995 Disney animated film, Pocahontas, the film included her rendition of the song Colors of the Wind, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for its composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. On October 23, 2007, Kuhn returned to the Broadway Production of Les Miserables after 20 years, but this time assuming the role of Fantine.

Theatre Aspen today announced that single tickets for its summer season are now on sale. Full season passes with exclusive access to booking seats, no fees and other benefits, are among an array of available options, including specially priced preview passes and the popular Local's Pass for valley residents, offered through June 1. Tickets and passes are available through the organization's website at theatreaspen.org, where complete schedules and pricing are found.

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will embark on a final farewell tour in the 2016-17 season, which also marks its 15th year on the road.

Presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Bass Performance Hall for a limited engagement May 20-22! Tickets start at $55 and are on sale now!

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Chess, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. Porchlight Revisits Chess is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 3 through Thursday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Dreamgirls (previews begin April 8) on nights when there are no performances at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Chess are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the performance. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multi-media presentation, created and hosted by Weber, that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, juicy backstage gossip and more. Single tickets to Chess are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

Broadway In Boston announced today that Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will return to Boston for one week only. Performances at the Boston Opera House May 30 - June 4, 2017. MAMMA MIA! is a Season special and part of the 2016/2017 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season.

'Magic ABBA in association with MAMMA MIA!' is set to hit the airwaves at midday on Thursday 5th May.

CHESS, Porchlight Musical Theatre's final staged reading in the third season of its 'lost' musicals-as- staged-concert series manages to present the show's glorious, pop opera score in all its glory and nearly succeeds in covering up the fault lines that run through the book.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber present the final production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISITS CHESS, music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus and book by Tim Rice, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music direction by Jimmy Morehead. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The world's leading ABBA show, Bjorn Again, is returning to its home town, Melbourne, on June 18 AT The Palms at Crown, with a spectacular new show, Arrival Tour 2016.

Today in 1988, Chess opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 68 performances. Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other; all in the context of a Cold War struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, during which both countries wanted to win international chess tournaments for propaganda purposes.