A decade after ABBA’s greatest hits were first introduced to the grand Broadway stage, “Mamma Mia!” dances its way to The Fabulous Fox Theater from Nov. 22 through 27, as the latest installment in the theater’s U.S. Bank Broadway Series.
The musical chronicles the story of a young girl’s desire for her long-lost father to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. The every-minute obstacle of not knowing which of three men holds that paternal title forms the basis of the production, supported by a humorous and occasionally provocative cast. As daughter, Sophie, invites the three unsuspecting men to her wedding, without her eccentric mother’s knowledge, in an attempt to determine who provided that mysterious chromosome, a story of old love, current love and new love unfolds.
Christian Wheelan, who currently plays uninformed potential father Sam, recalls the ABBA-filled days of his youth and said that his current involvement with the show is “a dream come true.”
“I grew up with an 8-track tape of ABBA that I would listen to when I would drive to high school. Now, being a part of it is just exhilarating,” Wheelan said.
On Oct. 18, 2001, the renowned musical opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. It has since been seen by more than 50 million people, receiving worldwide acclaim and securing its spot as one of the most-loved musicals of the modern era.
Freshman Corinne Halsted said she is looking forward to the production’s reprise at the Fox.
“I’ve never actually seen it on stage,” Halsted said. “I’ve only seen the movie, but I love it. My friends and I are planning on going to it when it comes here.”
With the white sand and clear waters of Greece as a backdrop, the production has become a staple among theater-goers for its selection of songs, sure to be sung for hours after the final scene, as well as a cast full of likable characters.
“The chemistry of the grouping of people they have managed to put together has been enough to guide the tour with the strongest version of storytelling,” Wheelan said.
The story will be new to several audience members, including Saint Louis University sophomore Becca Davis.
“All I know is that it’s about a girl trying to figure out who her father is,” Davis said. “I’ve never seen it, but it definitely seems interesting.”
Despite countless remakes in both stage and film versions of the story, the relative newness of the musical has yet to allow the same fame that shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera” or “Les Misérables” have seen. “Mamma Mia!” has already shown the potential to one day top the list of longest- running Broadway shows, though, bringing a fresh plot to the stage with characters that the audience can’t help but love.
“[‘Mamma Mia!’] will absolutely be celebrating a 20th anniversary,” Wheelan said. “It has the popularity and draw of identifiable character.”
With catchy pop songs and indubitable lightheartedness, the goal is more than possible, with “Mamma Mia!” already holding its place as the 10th longest-running show on Broadway. In the cutthroat entertainment world, maintaining a meaningful residual thought in the audience can be difficult. “Mamma Mia!” is the exception, though, with the cast hoping the audience will leave with a message of love, above all else.
“Love doesn’t go away,” Wheelan said. “You can harbor a true love in your heart, even if you make the wrong choices.”
To purchase tickets for “Mamma Mia!” visit the Fox Theatre’s website at fabulousfox.com, or call the box office at (314) 534-1111.
