Mamma mia, here we go again. The catchy tunes of ABBA will be highlighted during Center Stage at Southampton Cultural Center’s latest production, Mamma Mia!, a jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the Swedish pop/dance group’s songs.
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Young lovers – Ava Bianchi and Sam Terry. (Photo: Dane Dupuis) |
“Mamma Mia! is pure entertainment,” director Michael Disher said. “With a solid selection of 20 plus well-known pop tunes, it avoids pretense and purpose and delivers a joyful evening.”
Mamma Mia! revolves around young Sophie who invites her mother’s three former lovers to her wedding on the Greek island of Kalokairi – with the goal of figuring out which of the trio is her father. The musical includes several ABBA hits, including Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Lay All Your Love on Me, Money, Money, Money and, Mamma Mia, of course.
“I fully expect people to be singing the tunes as they ENTER the theater,” Disher shared.
The production features Mary Sabo as Donna Sheridan, Ava Bianchi as Donna’s daughter, Sophie, and Tom Rosante, Jack Seabury and Rich Gardini as Donna’s past suitors. Mamma Mia! will also include appearances from Linda Aydinian, Marco Barrila, Julie Crowley, Alyssa Kelly, James Kelly, Katrina Lovett, Michele Marks, Tina Marie Realmuto, Amanda Kyle-Summers, Kristin Teuber, Josephine Wallace, Kristin Whiting and Sam Terry as Sky.
“It is almost impossible to get these songs out of your head,” Disher relayed.
Amanda Jones will serve as musical director, while Alyssa Kelly choreographed the production.
“Some surprisingly haunting ballads appear in Act Two,” Disher added. “Two of these may be my favorite numbers in the show. No surprise, as this is the duo who also composed Chess, one of my favorite musicals.”
Mamma Mia! can be seen Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, March 24 – with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
General admission is $30, while student tickets (under 21 with ID) are $15. There will also be dinner/theatre packages at the Plaza Café and Claude’s, as well as brunch/theatre packages at Edgewater before the Sunday matinees.
Southampton Cultural Center is located at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton. For more information, call 631-287-4377 or visit www.scc-arts.org.
