Mamma Mia to end on Broadway

MANILA, Philippines - Before Meryl Streep delighted audiences on the big screen as single mom Donna Sheridan in the musical romantic-comedy, Mamma Mia (shown in 2008), there was the stage version of the well-loved musical. First seen at West End in 1999, the play later smashed the Broadway stage in 2001 and continues to attract audiences.

Mamma Mia weaves a mother-daughter story that strings the chart-topping hits of the ’70s  Swedish pop group, ABBA. The memorable line-up includes such upbeat pop classics as Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Voulez Vous, Take a Chance On Me, The Winner Takes It All, Thank You for the Music, Money, Money, Money, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Honey, Honey, Chiquitita and the title track, Mamma Mia.

Having been bonded to these familiar classics, we were inevitably enjoined to stand up, sing and dance when we watched Mamma Mia in 2001, the first year it was staged in Broadway, originally at the Winter Garden Theater. The musical premiered in October that year, merely a month after the 9-11 attacks that caused the World Trade Center to collapse.

The beat of the songs was catchy and the energy onstage was contagious, the audience couldn’t help but dance. The script was light and funny, the dialogue was simple but perky.

Even if you are not an ABBA fan, you will certainly enjoy Mamma Mia. Even teenagers were able to relate to the dance tunes. No wonder, the musical stands as the eighth longest running show in Broadway to date.

In 2002, Mamma Mia was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Orchestration, plus two Drama Desk Awards. That same year, stage actress Louise Pitre won the Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Stage Performance as Donna Sheridan in 2002.

However, news came out early this year that the Broadway version would take its final bow after 14 years. So on September 5, the curtains will close one last time on Mamma Mia at the Broadhurst Theater, where it is being seen since 2013.

The musical will definitely live on. Former ABBA member Bjorn Ulvaeus (who wrote the songs with Benny Andersson) said in an earlier interview about the musical leaving Broadway, that he hopes to transfer the show’s dancing in the aisles party atmosphere to a Greek taverna set to open January next year in Stockholm.

The idea is to have musicians and actors interacting with waiters and guests who will be invited to sing and dance with the familiar tunes of ABBA. Certainly, the dancing will relive the Mamma Mia music and provide entertainment all over again.

Aside from Broadway and London, Mamma Mia was also staged in Spain, Germany, Finland, Turkey, The Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea, Italy, Denmark, Pakistan, Norway and South Africa. The show has played in more than 400 cities and translated into 16 languages worldwide.