MAMMA MIA! Extends Summer Run in Blackpool Through 14 Sept

The producers of the MAMMA MIA! International Tour have announced extra dates at the Blackpool Opera House this summer. The exclusive UK Summer Season was originally due to run from 20 June to 31 August, but, due to a huge demand for tickets, the season has now been extended until 14 September 2014. Blackpool will be the only UK venue outside of London to host the worldwide hit musical this year.

Nick Grace, Associate Producer of the MAMMA MIA! International Tour, said "I am absolutely delighted that Blackpool has already fallen in love with MAMMA MIA!. We always believed the show would be the perfect Summer Season in Blackpool and we are delighted to be adding extra final dates due to the phenomenal demand for tickets."

Councillor Graham Cain, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, said: "It is really exciting news that the Blackpool run of MAMMA MIA! is being extended for a further two weeks, particularly as this takes the show into our Illuminations' season. The Illuminations continue to be a huge draw for visitors so to have the added attraction of two more weeks of MAMMA MIA! is fantastic. This is a real nod of approval from the producers that Blackpool's Summer Season run is going to be a hit and because of Blackpool's wide appeal as a tourist destination we know we can provide the perfect audiences for this huge show."

Currently delighting audiences in Korea and soon to be seen in Basel, Switzerland, the cast of the MAMMA MIA! International Tour is led by real-life husband and wife, Richard Standing and Sara Poyzer, with Sara playing Donna Sheridan and Richard playing Sam Carmichael. The MAMMA MIA! International Tour also stars Geraldine Fitzgerald as Tanya, Sue Devaney as Rosie, Michael Beckley as Bill Austin, Keiron Crook as Harry Bright, Victoria Serra as Sophie Sheridan, Bart Edwards as Sky, Sally Frith as Ali, Jasmin Colangelo as Lisa, Kade Ferriaiolo as Pepper and Ashley Luke Lloyd as Eddie. The role of Donna is played at certain performances by Natalie Langston.

Also in the cast of the MAMMA MIA! International Tour are Craig Anthony-Kelly, Laura Benazaize, Jay Bryce, Matthew Collyer, Frances Dee, James-Royden Lyley, Gemma Lawson, Megan Louch, Scott Mobley, Aaron Ashley Parker, Ashley Russell, Robbie Scotcher, Tom Stanford-Wheatley, Anna Stolli, Lucy Wilkerson, Sarah Wilkie and Jamie Wilkin.

MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer's ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. To date, it has been seen by more than 54 million people in 39 productions in 14 different languages. MAMMA MIA! The Movie is the highest grossing musical film and one in four households in the UK has the DVD, which is now Amazon UK's biggest selling DVD ever.

From West End to global phenomenon, the London production of MAMMA MIA! has now been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK population. It is one of only five musicals to have run for more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End, and in 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Chinese in the People's Republic of China.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

The MAMMA MIA! International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, Stage Entertainment and NGM.