13 Years Later Mamma Mia is Still Sending Tourists to Greece

Sophie Sheridan (Liana Hunt) is about to get married. The twenty year old wants her father to give her away. There is only one problem. She doesn’t know who her father is. Having read her mother’s diary, she discovers that there might be three possibilities and decides to invite all three of them, to a paradisiac Greek island, where she lives. Her mother, an independent woman named Donna (Lisa Brescia) who runs a local tavern, has no idea of the surprise that awaits her.

Based on the book by Catherine Johnson, the show’s writer, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, a British director whose credits also include “The Iron Lady”, ”Mamma, Mia!” is a delightful, fun and uplifting play.

The score, an ultimate “feel good” sound bed that threads the story, delivers a simple yet fast moving plot that brings together over 20 songs by Swedish pop sensation Abba, written by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and in some cases Stig Anderson.  This soundtrack was released in 2008 and has now sold in excess of 6.4 million copies globally.

“Mamma Mia!” which has now become a certified worldwide hit, is a romantic comedy about coming of age and true love. It builds an atmosphere of spontaneity and nuttiness that results in a joyful night of entertainment. A must-see for hopeless romantics and Abba fans alike.

The play, staged in a make believe island of Greece named Kalokairi (summer), opened in London thirteen years ago and has been seen by over 50 million people worldwide. It has grossed 2 billion at the box office, opened in over 325 major cities and is currently running in London, Broadway (USA), Japan, France and Argentina.

“Mamma Mia!” the movie, was actually shot in Skopelos (“Kalokairi”), an island in the Aegean sea, off the coast of mainland Greece, where you can only get to by flying in via Skiathos (some of the scenes where also filmed here) and take an hour long ferry to Skopelos.  Since its release, the “Mamma Mia!” effect has almost tripled the tourism to this island, where some people are looking for the perfect wedding and/or the ultimate romantic getaway.

MAMMA MIA! 

• Book by Catherine Johnson.
• Directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
• Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
• Production designed by Mark Thompson.
• Lighting by Howard Harrison.
• Sound by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken.
• Musical supervisor, by Martin Koch.
• Choreography by Anthony Van Laast.

Presented by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Mr. Ulvaeus, for Littlestar in association with Universal. At the Winter Garden, 1634 Broadway at 50th Street.