Mamma Mia! celebrates its 10th anniversary

Mamma Mia! celebrates its 10th anniversary The Broadway musical Mamma Mia!, currently the 10th longest running show in Broadway history, celebrates its 10th anniversary on Tue 18 Oct 2011. The musical opened at Broadway's Winter Garden on 18 Oct 2001, following previews from 5 Oct 2001, where it is currently booking period through to 1 Apr 2012. Producer Judy Craymer said, "New York audiences embraced us when we arrived on Broadway and gave us the encouragement and support to not only send the show around the world, but to brave Hollywood and the movies. The global success would never have happened without the energy of New York City. Mamma Mia!'s 10th anniversary is like a homecoming and a very special moment for everyone involved in the show." Seen by over 50 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia!, is celebrating over 4,000 performances in its tenth smash hit year at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre and remains among Broadway's top selling musicals. The current North American Tour has played over 3,700 performances in over 150 cities with 145 repeat visits. The original West End production of Mamma Mia! is now in its thirteenth year and has celebrated over 5,000 performances in London and the international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities and been seen by over 4 million people. The blockbuster feature film adaptation of Mamma Mia!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide. Mamma Mia! is inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs, Tony Award nominated writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolds on a tiny Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited twenty years ago. Songs including "Dancing Queen"; "The Winner Takes It All"; "Money, Money, Money" and "Take A Chance on Me" are all featured. Mamma Mia! currently features Lisa Brescia (Donna Sheridan), John Hemphill (Sam Carmichael), Jennifer Perry (Rosie), Judy McLane (Tanya), Liana Hunt (Sophie Sheridan), Jordan Dean (Sky), Halle Mores (Lisa), Traci Victoria (Ali), Jacob Pinion (Pepper), David Beach (Harry Bright) and Patrick Boll (Bill Austin). Mamma Mia! has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with book by Catherine Johnson. The musical is directed by Phyllida Lloyd and has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, set design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch. The show is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.