Benny Andersson News

A newly remastered edition of the 1984 international hit concept recording of CHESS by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice is set for release in November according to a new interview with Andersson.

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to the Fox Theatre from September 23-28 as a special to the 2014/2015 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta series.

Niamh Perry plays the role of Sophie in the MAMMA MIA! International Tour when it plays its exclusive UK Summer Season at the Blackpool Opera House now through 14 September 2014. Niamh previously played the role in the West End in 2009, when the musical celebrated its 10th birthday. The production recently held a gala to celebrate the show's opening, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

On Thursday (June, 19 2014) Las Vegas cast members from the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! spent the morning visiting Opportunity Village. During the visit the cast took a tour of the beautiful Engelstad campus and got to meet some of the OVIPs while they were hard at work.

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) will release a new live recording of the first-ever concert performances of Leonard Bernstein's complete score for the musical West Side Story featuring a stellar Broadway cast including Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, today, June 10, 2014.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, West End theatre producer Judy Craymer revealed that she is back at work with her MAMMA MIA! team on a new project. She told the Daily Mail: 'I'm working on something with Bjorn and Benny. Mamma Mia! was such a success and we work very well together.'

Actors' Theatre Grand Rapids (www.atgr.org) is pleased to announce the upcoming productions of their 34th season. Known for providing West Michigan with the best works of contemporary theater, the 2014-15 Season exemplifies this commitment.

Niamh Perry will play the role of Sophie in the MAMMA MIA! International Tour when it plays its exclusive UK Summer Season at the Blackpool Opera House from 20 June to 14 September 2014. Niamh previously played the role in the West End in 2009, when the musical celebrated its 10th birthday.

Following the recent 15th birthday celebrations for MAMMA MIA! in London, there will be major cast changes from Monday 9 June 2014. Rebecca Lock will be joining the cast as Rosie, Alasdair Harvey as Harry, Charles Daish as Bill and Alice Stokoe as Sophie Sheridan and Lloyd Green as Sky. Also joining the cast from 9 June will be Rosanna Bates as Ali, Brodie McBride as Lisa, James Alexander Gibbs as Pepper and James Alan-Evans as Eddie. Dianne Pilkington will continue to star as Donna Sheridan, with Kim Ismay as Tanya and Richard Trinder as Sam. At certain performances, the role of Donna Sheridan will be played by Shona White. Below, check out photos from the new cast in rehearsal!

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.

Beginning today, May 20, West Side Story will be available for an exclusive early download from iTunes.com/SFSymphony where it is now available for pre-order.

On Friday, May 16, 2014, the Las Vegas production of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' global smash-hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrated its grand opening at The New Tropicana Las Vegas in the newly transformed Tropicana Theater.

Making its triumphant return to the Las Vegas Strip, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' global smash-hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrates its grand opening at The New Tropicana Las Vegas tonight, Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at The New Tropicana Las Vegas.

The cast of Broadway's MAMMA MIA capped off 'Best of Broadway' week on NBC's Today this morning with a medley of hits including 'Mamma Mia' and 'Dancing Queen!'

The highly anticipated Las Vegas production of Mamma Mia! begins performances at The New Tropicana resort in Las Vegas tonight, May 8. The talented cast features Mamma Mia! alumni, including all three Dynamos as well as several Las Vegas locals who will join the company.

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.

On Sunday 6 April, the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! celebrated its 15th birthday in London. Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who have rarely performed together since ABBA disbanded in 1982, joined the cast of MAMMA MIA! in a musical finale at this year's Olivier Awards as part of the birthday celebrations. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a clip of the duo singing 'Thank You For The Music' with Emma Crossley from the London cast of MAMMA MIA! at the 2014 Olivier Awards!

Following the recent 15th birthday celebrations for MAMMA MIA! in London, there will be major cast changes from Monday 9 June 2014. Rebecca Lock will be joining the cast as Rosie, Alasdair Harvey as Harry, Charles Daish as Bill and Alice Stokoe as Sophie Sheridan and Lloyd Green as Sky.

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) will release a new live recording of the first-ever concert performances of Leonard Bernstein's complete score for the musical West Side Story featuring a stellar Broadway cast including Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, on June 10, 2014.

Catch the stars at the Oliviers ceremony with the next part of our photo coverage from Sunday's ceremony! The show was presented by Gemma Arterton and Stephen Mangan, and big winners included The Book of Mormon.