Kittra Wynn Coomer News

Benny Andersson' and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Toronto this month. Performances begin on April 28 and have been extended through June 27 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Toronto this month. Performances begin on April 28 and run through June 6 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Almost ten years to the day, Mamma Mia returns to the city where the show had its North American premiere. It isn't the happiest of homecomings, due to an annoying tendency for the cast to overplay the material. Still the songs are as effervescent as ever and the book cleverly weaves them into a slender story. * * * (out of 5)

Benny Andersson' and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Toronto this month. Performances begin on April 28 and have been extended through June 27 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Toronto this month. Performances begin on April 28 and run through June 6 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, returns to Toronto this month. Performances begin on April 28 and run through June 6 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Featuring the powerhouse vocals of an immensely talented cast, set against the visual artistry of Mark Thompson's production design, it becomes clearer with each performance that Phyllida Lloyd's direction remains relevant and fresh and that Anthony Van Laast's choreography is as clever and imaginative as the first time you saw it onstage. Clearly, this cast is completely committed to their performances - but more importantly, they are committed to ensuring their audiences have a wonderful time. After all these years, you know they could be just phoning it in, but instead they are performing their hearts out, delivering a theatrical experience that audiences can only cheer, their ovations growing ever louder and longer.

It's easy to understand the appeal of a jukebox musical like MAMMA MIA!, especially when you consider just how tuneful the score is, overflowing with a couple dozen of ABBA's greatest hits. And, on a cold evening in February, it's setting in sunny Greece is a warm and welcome alternative to the weather outdoors. The current touring show gracing the stage of the Fox Theatre is a splendid production, as engaging and charming as we've come to expect, and brimming with enough good humor to act as a perfect remedy for the winter blues.

Mamma Mia! Runs at the Hippodrome through Sunday night, Nov. 30

Additional performances for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards® Telecast were announced today. Dolly Parton along with the cast of 9 to 5: The Musical; Elton John with the cast of Billy Elliot, The Musical; Liza Minnelli; Stockard Channing; and the band Poison along with the cast of Rock of Ages, will be taking the stage, joining previously announced performances by this year's Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals, including: Billy Elliot, The Musical; Guys and Dolls; HAIR; Next to Normal; Pal Joey; Rock of Ages; Shrek the Musical; and West Side Story.

The Dramatists Guild of America has issued a stern statement regarding the presumed omission of the 'Best Book of a Musical' award from the Tony Award Ceremony this Sunday. The full statement from the D.G.A. President, noted Composer Stephen Schwartz, is as follows:

Laura Benanti and Brian Stokes Mitchell will host the Creative Arts portion of the 2009 Tony Awards. At 7pm, viewers will be able to login at TonyAwards.com to watch the Creative Arts categories immediately prior to the CBS Broadcast. It is not yet known which awards will fill this segment, however last year's categories included Best Orchestrations and the Design awards.

Enjoy the theater industry's annual celebration of Broadway's best at the Center's fifth annual TONY® AWARDS Party on Sunday, June 7 in the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square (345 N. College Street). Doors to the McGlohon Theatre will open at 7 p.m., with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m.

Additional performances for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards® Telecast were announced today. Dolly Parton along with the cast of 9 to 5: The Musical; Elton John with the cast of Billy Elliot, The Musical; Liza Minnelli; Stockard Channing; and the band Poison along with the cast of Rock of Ages, will be taking the stage, joining previously announced performances by this year's Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals, including: Billy Elliot, The Musical; Guys and Dolls; HAIR; Next to Normal; Pal Joey; Rock of Ages; Shrek the Musical; and West Side Story.

The Broadway smash hit plays PPAC through January 4th

I have news for all you fans of Donna Sheridan: 'Mamma Mia!' isn't about her, it's about her daughter!

Several Chicagoans, including Susie McMonagle (Donna Sheridan), Michael Aaron Lindner (Harry Bright), and Nathan Alan Johnson (Ensemble) will perform in the national touring production set to hit Chicago's stage this fall. Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to present the national tour of MAMMA MIA! for a limited two-week engagement in Chicago September 17 - 28, 2008. The tour continues playing to record breaking houses all across North America.

Dubbed 'The World's Most Popular Musical', the current touring production of Mamma Mia still proves to be raking in the 'Money, Money, Money'.