Everything you need to know about ‘Mamma Mia!’ on Broadway

The beloved musical comedy featuring the songs of ABBA has its first Broadway revival in 2025, returning to the same venue where the original run began.

What’s the name of the game? The fizzy, feel-good jukebox musical Mamma Mia! returns to Broadway this summer to deliver a breezy blast of romance, comedy, and sweet family moments.

Set to the irresistibly catchy hits of the Swedish pop group ABBA, the show by Catherine Johnson (book) and ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (music and lyrics) revolves around a wedding filled with surprises for the mother of the bride.

A film version starring Meryl Streep came out in 2008, and a sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, followed in 2018. But first, Mamma Mia! ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2015, playing 5,733 total performances and becoming the ninth-longest-running show of all time.

This nostalgic summer production reunites the entire original creative team under director Phyllida Lloyd, who also helmed the first movie. With earworms like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “The Name of the Game” about to take the stage again on Broadway, it's the perfect time to catch up on Mamma Mia!

Read all about it, and then dance on over to the Winter Garden Theatre with your Mamma Mia! tickets.

Check back for information on Mamma Mia! tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

What is Mamma Mia! about?

On a picturesque Greek island, bride-to-be Sophie invites three men from her mother Donna’s past in hopes of figuring out which one is her father. In the run-up to the wedding, Donna reunites with her ex-lovers and her old bandmates and experiences a joyful mix of memories and emotions.

Where is Mamma Mia! playing?

Mamma Mia! plays at the Winter Garden Theatre, the same venue where the show debuted on Broadway in 2001. It is located at 1634 Broadway (between 50th and 51st Street).

Designed by architect William Albert Swasey for the Shubert Organization, the Winter Garden Theatre opened on March 10, 1911. It became known for its wide stage and ornate interior.

Plays and musicals that have recently run at the 1526-seat theatre include Good Night, and Good Luck; Back to the Future; The Music Man; and Beetlejuice.

How long is Mamma Mia!?

Mamma Mia! runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission. The typical duration for a Broadway musical is between 90 minutes and 2.5 hours and may include a 15-minute intermission.

What days is Mamma Mia! playing?

Mamma Mia! plays Tuesday through Sunday, with two performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays and no performances on Mondays. The standard schedule is subject to one-off changes, particularly around holidays.

When did Mamma Mia! premiere?

Mamma Mia! debuted in the West End in London in 1999, two years before the show reached Broadway. By then, the show had run in Toronto and played a sold-out North American tour. Check out the full timeline below.

• 1972: In Sweden, the pop group ABBA – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – formed. They released nine studio albums between 1973 and 1981, plus one more in 2021 after a long hiatus.
• Early 1980s: Producer Judy Craymer had the idea to turn ABBA songs into a musical, but it took time to turn that into a reality.
• 1999: On April 6, Mamma Mia! made its world premiere in the West End of London at the Prince Edward Theatre, where it ran for five years before moving to other theatres. It is currently running at the Novello Theatre.
• 2001: The musical premiered on Broadway on October 5 at the Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran until October 19, 2013. That November, the production moved to the Broadhurst Theatre, where it wrapped its run on September 12, 2015.
• 2008: On July 18, the movie adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan was released. The film boosted the musical’s popularity globally. A sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, came out in 2018.
• 2025: Here we go again! Mamma Mia! has its first Broadway revival, returning to its original home at the Winter Garden.

Who wrote Mamma Mia!?

Mamma Mia! was created by British playwright Catherine Johnson, who wrote the book for the show. It features music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the Swedish pop group ABBA.

The idea for the musical was developed by producer Judy Craymer, who brought the team together. Phyllida Lloyd directed both the original production and the revival.

Mamma Mia! characters

Mamma Mia! concerns a mother and her daughter, the mom’s ex-boyfriends, her former band mates, and the groom-to-be. Here’s a look at the main characters.

• Donna Sheridan: An independent, spirited single mother and former singer.
• Sophie Sheridan: Donna’s curious, idealistic daughter determined to discover her real father before her wedding day.
• Tanya Chesham-Leigh: Donna’s wild and fun-loving wealthy friend and former bandmate.
• Rosie Mulligan: Donna’s quirky, practical best friend and former bandmate.
• Sam Carmichael: A successful architect who could be Sophie’s dad.
• Harry Bright: A sweet, shy British banker who’s another one of Donna’s ex-lovers.
• Bill Austin: An adventurous travel writer who’s another potential father.
• Sky: Sophie’s devoted fiancé.

Who is in the cast of Mamma Mia!?

The main Mamma Mia! Broadway cast features Christine Sherrill as Donna, Amy Weaver as Sophie, Jalynn Steele as Tanya, Carly Sakolove as Rosie, Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael, Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Jim Newman as Bill Austin, and Grant Reynolds as Sky.

Including ensemble members, the show features a total of 30 actors, 25 of whom are making their Broadway debuts.

Mamma Mia! songs

The Mamma Mia! songs, all from the ABBA catalogue, cover themes of love, identity, and family with upbeat and nostalgic groove. The vibrant music and feel-good energy of Mamma Mia! celebrate friendship, romance, and life's surprises. Some songs are reprised for impact, while a few fan favorites are reserved for a bonus encore that involves the audience.

Act 1

• "Overture/Prologue"
• "Honey, Honey"
• "Money, Money, Money"
• "Thank You for the Music"
• "Mamma Mia"
• "Chiquitita"
• "Dancing Queen"
• "Lay All Your Love on Me"
• "Super Trouper"
• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
• "The Name of the Game"
• "Voulez-Vous"

Act 2

• Entr’acte
• "Under Attack"
• "One of Us"
• "SOS"
• "Does Your Mother Know"
• "Knowing Me, Knowing You"
• "Our Last Summer"
• "Slipping Through My Fingers"
• "The Winner Takes It All"
• "Take a Chance on Me"
• "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
• "I Have a Dream"
• Encore: “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo”

Major productions of Mamma Mia!

Since its 1999 debut in London's West End, Mamma Mia! has become a global hit that has spawned two movies. The stage musical has been seen in 60 countries and six continents. Here is a review of its most noteworthy runs.

• 1999: On April 6, Mamma Mia! made its world premiere at London's Prince Edward Theatre, where it ran for five years before moving to other theatres. It is currently running at the Novello Theatre and is the fifth-longest-running show in West End history.
• May 2000: The show made its North American debut in Toronto at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, where it played for five years.
• November 2000: The U.S. premiere launched in San Francisco before moving on to Los Angeles and then Chicago, where this run concluded in August 2001.
• 2001: Mamma Mia! premiered on Broadway on October 5 at the Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran until October 19, 2013. In November, the production moved to the Broadhurst Theatre, where it wrapped its run on September 12, 2015.
• 2002: The first North American tour launched in February and played extensively across the U.S. and Canada.
• 2008: On July 18, the movie adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan was released. The film boosted the musical’s popularity globally.
• 2018: The film sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, came out with much of the original cast and some new additions, including Cher.
• 2025: The first Broadway revival of Mamma Mia! begins performances August 2 at the Winter Garden Theatre. The show runs through February 1, 2026.

What awards has Mamma Mia! won?

The winner takes it all! The original West End and Broadway productions of Mamma Mia! received numerous accolades each.

• Olivier Awards: In 2000, the world-premiere London production of Mamma Mia! received nominations for Best Musical, Best Actress, and two for Best Supporting Actress (Jenny Galloway won for the role of Rosie).
• Grammy Awards: The London cast recording got a nomination for Best Musical Theater Album.
• Tony Awards: In 2002, Mamma Mia! on Broadway was nominated for five Tonys: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Leading Actress (Louise Pitre), Best Featured Actress (Judy Kaye), and Best Orchestrations.
• Drama Desk Awards: Pitre, Kaye, and fellow featured actress Karen Mason all earned nominations.

Onscreen adaptations of Mamma Mia!

The Mamma Mia! movie adaptation was released on July 18, 2008. It starred Meryl Streep as Donna, with Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, and Dominic Cooper.

A sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, followed in 2018, exploring the origin of Donna's relationships with each of Sophie's potential fathers. It featured many actors from the first film, plus Lily James, Andy Garcia, and Cher.

Fun facts about Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! is a musical that invites you to be having the time of your life. From a gold anniversary moment to a milestone for women in theatre, here are some fun facts about the show.

• The show’s title song turns 50 in September 2025. “Mamma Mia” is the first track on the group's third album, the self-titled ABBA, released in 1975. The exclamation point was added for the stage show.
• The song that inspired producer Judy Craymer to explore ABBA songs in a musical theatre context was “The Winner Takes It All,” off the group’s seventh album.
• The London production marked one of the first times that three women (producer Judy Craymer, book writer Catherine Johnson, and director Phyllida Lloyd) collaborated as a creative team.
• You can dance; you can jive! No, really. The finale includes a costumed ABBA-style encore medley encouraging the audience to boogie.

Get tickets to Mamma Mia! on Broadway

Mamma Mia! is a joyful musical that spins ABBA hits and heartwarming storytelling into big fun, laughs, and energy. My, my, how can we resist?

Check back for information on Mamma Mia! tickets on New York Theatre Guide.

Photo credit: The current U.S. tour of Mamma Mia! (Photo by Joan Marcus)