Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Decade of Dancing Queen, Spandex & Mega-Mixes: Mamma Mia! Turns 10!


  Memphis isn't the only show celebrating big things on Broadway this week.  One of my favorite fun shows (read guilty pleasures) turned a decade old on October 18.  I'm speaking, of course, of Mamma Mia!, which looks to be permanently in residence at the Winter Garden Theatre.  (I hope I'm not jinxing it - they said the exact same thing about Cats.)

October 18 was a busy one for Donna and the Dynamos (Lisa Brescia, Judy McLane and Jennifer Perry) plus one dynamic producer, Judy Craymer.  The day started with a trip to another New York landmark, the Empire State Building.  The gals lit the skyscraper in Mamma Mia blue, white and pink.  Lobby display opened and speeches delivered, it was off to the Winter Garden Theatre for the show.

 At the show, Craymer spoke and introduced Mayor Bloomberg, who proclaimed the day officially to be Mamma Mia Day.  Following the show, the cast gave an outdoor concert of the "mega-mix finale," complete with a laser show and fireworks!  And then they partied to the wee hours...

According to the Internet Broadway Data Base (http://www.ibdb.com/) over the past 10 years (and 4,144 performances), Broadway's 10th longest-running show has had 16 Donna Sheridans, 16 Sophie Sheridans and 16 Skys! 


The Broadway Originals: Karen Mason, Louise Pitre and Judy Kaye

Sophie loves Sky!  Broadway Original Cast members
Tina Maddigan and Joe Machota

Among the more famous Donnas are Louise Pitre (Broadway's first), Carolee Carmello, Beth Level and Michelle Pawk.  Some of the Sophies include Tina Maddigan (Broadway's first), Brandi Burkhardt, Carrie Manalakos and Jenny Fellner.  And a Sky or two includes the Broadway original, Joe Machota, Andy Kelso, and Eric William Morris.
(Production Photos by Joan Marcus)

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Jeff
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