Broadway at the Marcus Center presents: The 25th Anniversary Tour of MAMMA MIA!

By Mary Boyle
 
Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and known as a “jukebox musical” (a musical featuring pop music, as opposed to original music composed for the production), Mamma Mia! is built on the music of the Swedish band ABBA and is named for their 1975 hit song of the same name.   First unveiled in the West End in 1999, the show was an immediate success that went to Broadway in 2001 and ran through 2015, earning its place in the top-ten longest-running Broadway shows.  The musical became a hit movie in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Amanda Seyfried, which then went on to spark a hit sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in 2018, starring those same actors, plus the addition of Cher.  In 2023, a 25th Anniversary North American Tour of MAMMA MIA! began, which has finally made it to Milwaukee as part of the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Broadway at the Marcus Center season, from February 20-25, 2024.

Sophie Sheridan (Alisa Melendez) is only 20 years old, but she is about to get married to Sky (Grant Reynolds), the guy she loves, on the small Greek island she was raised on by her single mother, Donna (Christine Sherrill).  Donna has run a little hotel on the island since Sophie was born and, though Sophie had always wondered, had never revealed any information about Sophie’s father.  Deciding that she didn’t want to have a wedding without her dad, if she could help it, Sophie investigates her mother’s diary from the year before she was born and narrows it down to three men: Harry Bright (Rob Marnell), Bill Austin (Jim Newman), or Sam Carmichael (Victor Wallace).  To lure them to the island, Sophie sends them invitations to the wedding that appear to be from her mother, who has no idea what Sophie is up to; meanwhile, the men arrive with no idea that Sophie exists. Luckily, Donna’s two best friends, Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and Rosie (Carly Sakolove), arrive to help with the wedding and keep Donna from losing her mind when she is suddenly confronted with her past.

My first experience with Mamma Mia! was the 2008 film, which I found to be unbearably cringy, but it clearly found a place in the hearts of my daughter’s generation (I think my niece may have worn out her DVD, she watched it so many times).  Not being a great fan of ABBA didn’t help my opinion.  Nonetheless, when the opportunity to see this tour presented itself, I wanted to see if the live-on-the-stage version made a difference, and it did.  This production is just pure fun the whole way through.  The choreography by Anthony Van Laast is perfection, and the overall design of the show by Mark Thompson is simple, but effective.  While the dialog can feel a bit rushed, at times, the story is driven mainly by the music, and this cast has some incredible vocal talent in the main characters: Melendez as Sophie and Sherrill as Donna; however, Jalynn Steele, who plays Donna’s wealthy and eccentric friend, Tanya, manages to steal the show with both her voice and her spectacular and energetic stage presence.  I would have loved to feel more chemistry between Donna and Sam (who, interestingly, both live in Wisconsin), though they paired well vocally. 

With such a huge fan base, tickets will sell fast for this production; but, even if you aren’t a big fan, Mamma Mia! is a fun way to spend a February evening in Milwaukee, so go ahead and get some Broadway Musical into your life!
 
MAMMA MIA! runs through February 25th at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.MarcusCenter.org, calling 414-273-7206 or by visiting the MPAC Box Office.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207. MAMMA MIA! last played the Marcus Performing Arts Center in the 2014/15 season.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District, as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services.  For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
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Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include & Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: TheMusical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.