You don’t have to be an ABBA fan to love ‘Mamma Mia!’
Before closing on Broadway in 2015, Mamma Mia! spawned eagerly-anticipated shows in more than 440 cities around the globe. It’s now Fort Myers’ turn when the hit musical opens at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre on February 15.
Against the backdrop of music created by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the comical storyline revolves around a resort owner by the name of Donna Sheridan and her 20-year-old daughter Sophie, who is about to get married on a beautiful Greek island. Sophie wants her dad to walk her down the aisle but she doesn’t know who her biological father is. After a hot read of her mother’s diary reveals three candidates, she secretly invites the putative pops to the wedding, forcing her mother in the uncomfortable posture of being suddenly re-united with all three ex-boyfriends on the eve of her daughter’s wedding. What ensues is an enchanting tale of love, laughter, family and friendship set to ABBA classics that include Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, SOS and, of course, the title song Mamma Mia!
But as audiences from Broadway to West End learned over the musical’s nearly 15 year run (the musical has been seen by more than 60 million people worldwide so far), you don’t have to be a fan of the Swedish pop group to get swept away by this show. Mamma Mia! is way more than a rock concert. From the energetic Act One finale, Voulez-Vous, to the powerhouse mega-mix finale, there’s just the right amount of high-energy choreography necessary to cajole even the most bashful audiences to their feet to dance along with the cast during the show’s uproarious final five minutes.
In fact, that’s reason enough to see this production. But from lighting and set to the actors, ensemble and the orchestra, Broadway Palm never disappoints. So Take a Chance … and make plans now to attend the wedding of a lifetime at Broadway Palm.
About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.