MAMMA MIA! Will Embark on 25th Anniversary North American Tour

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:15am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MAMMA-MIA-Will-Embark-on-25th-Anniversary-North-American-Tour-This-Year-20230209

MAMMIA MIA! will embark on a 25th Anniversary North American Tour, launching this Fall. The ultimate feel-good show based on the songs of ABBA will open with The Denver Center for Performing Arts and continue on to play 35+ cities across North America including Baltimore and Minneapolis. Additional tour cities and casting will be announced at a later date.

Stay up to date on all announcements about the tour and upcoming dates at www.mammamiathetour.com.

"For the past 25 years, MAMMA MIA! has entertained audiences around the world from London to Broadway to regional productions and on the big screen," said Craymer. "We could not be more excited for new and returning audiences to experience MAMMA MIA! this upcoming season."

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 10:19am

OOOHHH Nice! Definitely something to add to my list! I would like to see Mamma Mia back in NYC. Years ago, I had a crazy idea about having Mamma Mia back on Broadway and also a stage adaptation of the movie sequel. I don't think that'll EVER happen but that would be CRAZY to have 2 Mamma Mia shows at once. Anyway, I am really excited about this tour!

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 1:12pm

I knew this was happening because my community theatre tried to get licensing rights to do Mamma Mia but were turned down because of the upcoming tour (we're doing Chicago instead)

[Tag]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 1:30pm

I hope they go back to the original design and don't use the scaled-down cheap looking version.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 11/15/23 at 1:27pm

I saw the tour in Los Angeles last night, and it was an ABBAsolutely fabulous night at the Pantages! I have seen the show more than 125 times with a vast majority of that being at the Winter Garden with the original cast. (I was 20 years old, and couldn’t get into bars, so I would just go and see the show every Friday night from standing room.)

The Great:

CHRISTINE SHERRILL as Donna. Wow, she is fantastic! I’ve seen many actresses play the role, and I think Christine is second only to Louise Pitre. She sang with such emotion, and I loved some of the extra notes she added in.

JALYNN STEELE and CARLY SAKOLOVE as Tanya and Rosie. Again 25 years of seeing this show, and these two found new ways to make me laugh and to sing the heck out of their respective songs. Tanya is actually my favorite character in the show, and Jaylynn was perfection! Her “Does Your Mother Know” also got the loudest applause of the night (excluding the end).

VICTOR WALLACE as Sam. Eat your heart out, Pierce Brosnan! Victor was a very vocally strong Sam, and could probably project to the back row without a mic. It was nice to see some different direction for his character from the 2001 beginnings. 

JAMES NEWMAN and ROB MARNELL as Bill and Harry. The trio of Dad’s were possibly my favorite trio I’ve seen! They all were extremely charming and I found myself more invested in all of their moments, than I have in the past. 

The ENSEMBLE was wonderful, and sounded great. I know the show uses sweetener tracks, but I could truly hear them singing over them, which sometimes wasn’t the case on Broadway. 

The LIGHTING looked the best I’ve seen it! Obviously, there have been advancements in intelligent lighting over the years, and (as lighting is my career) I noticed them! All of the saturated colors looked gorgeous on the set.

 

The Good:

ALISA MELENDEZ as Sophie. Perhaps this was some audio problems, but I found her singing to be fairly soft. But her characterization was great and she was very charming. 

 

The Not So Great:

GRANT REYNOLDS as Sky. I hate to be a downer, but dang… Not my favorite. Just like Sophie, there were some audio issues during his big number, and he didn’t grab my attention during any of the group scenes. Perhaps I was spoiled by beefcakes like Joe Machota, but I’ve never seen a loose fitting Speedo on a Sky before. (On the waist, just to be clear, haha!) 

 

The Bad:

The SET. Mark Thompson’s original design at the Winter Garden was so perfect, so the stripped down tour set just doesn’t have the same punch. The proscenium doesn’t have the white frame and is instead just two side panels, and a header. I don’t necessarily mind the more boxy shape of the taverna, but I definitely missed the steps and bridges that would rise up out of the light up floor. If the rumors are true, and this does head to Broadway for a sit down, I hope some splashy elements are added back in.

 

The Worst:

The audio. I am seeing the show again on Saturday, so I’m extremely hopeful that last night just was some opening night problems. But there were multiple times when I couldn’t hear Sophie, and then suddenly a blast of feedback would happen in the house. “Lay All Your Love On Me” was plagued with this issue, and they also advertently muted her mic during the final line of the show.

 

The Excellent: I never thought I would say something like this, but the audience was amazing last night! They were very receptive to the show, including clapping for character entrances, and singing the words to the songs in the Overture. (But no sing-along during the actual show, until the Megamix at the end.)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/15/23 at 1:43pm

They tried the stripped down version after moving out of the Winter Garden and that crashed and burned the show. I don't think they realize audiences want to see their money on stage. The images def looked a little lacking but I'm sure I'll check it out when it's here.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/15/23 at 4:05pm

Isn’t the current West End production the scaled down version? I don’t think we’re going to see the original sets again. I have to agree about Alisa Melendez and Grant Reynolds. I think they were fine individually but they didn’t have much chemistry as a couple. There was no heat. Still had a fun night though and the audience loved it. I hope to see the show back on Broadway soon.

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 11/16/23 at 2:56am

The Worst:

The audio. I am seeing the show again on Saturday, so I’m extremely hopeful that last night just was some opening night problems. But there were multiple times when I couldn’t hear Sophie, and then suddenly a blast of feedback would happen in the house. “Lay All Your Love On Me” was plagued with this issue, and they also advertently muted her mic during the final line of the show.



I hate that this seems to be a common thing for non-eq tours. When I saw the Hairspray tour a few months ago I understood maybe 1/3 sentences of spoken dialogue. The audio was SO BAD. Luckily I was extremely familiar with the material bc duh it's Hairspray. 

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/16/23 at 3:12am

This is an equity tour.

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 11/16/23 at 4:03am

Oh bloop that’s even worse then. I just assumed it was non-eq since the show has been around so many times. 

[evic]

Posted: 11/16/23 at 6:56am

They need to restage that awful nightmare scene that opens Act 2 and Lay All Your Love….scene and song.  This show got good reviews cause it opened right after 9/11 and the critics couldn’t pan it.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/16/23 at 8:08am

evic said: "They need to restage that awful nightmare scene that opens Act 2 and Lay All Your Love….scene and song. This show got good reviews cause it opened right after 9/11 and the critics couldn’t pan it."

If that were the only reason, it would have made the 15 year run a lot more difficult. Not impossible, but far more unlikely.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 12:01am

I’m 25, so roughly the same age as the show and went to see Mamma Mia for the very first time in my life. The show just finished its first of 3 weeks, and it’s selling incredibly compared to Death Becomes Her down the street, here in Chicago.

I’ll keep my review short; Christine Sherrill is a vocal and acting powerhouse. I’d like to request someone to write an original tony award worthy role for her, immediately.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 8:30am

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m 25, so roughly the same age as the show and went to see Mamma Mia for the very first time in my life. The show just finished its first of 3 weeks, and it’s selling incredibly compared to Death Becomes Her down the street, here in Chicago.

I’ll keep my review short; Christine Sherrill is a vocal and acting powerhouse. I’d like to request someone to write an original tony award worthy role for her, immediately."

I felt like she was saving everything for "Winner Takes It All" because wow that was incredible. She is truly a powerhouse 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 8:32am

Well now I have to go. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 10:43am

RippedMan said: "Well now I have to go."

I'm tempted to see it in another city again. I recommend it 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 10:52am

Was my first broadway show ever so holds a dear place in my heart and hearing that this cast is on fire makes me even more excited to revisit. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 5/6/24 at 11:01am

RippedMan said: "Was my first broadway show ever so holds a dear place in my heart and hearing that this cast is on fire makes me even more excited to revisit."

That's how I feel about Beauty and the Beast coming back for a tour. If it comes near me, I'll have to go as it was my first Broadway show