Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Mamma mia, here I go again...

How many times have you gotten an ABBA song stuck in your head? Approximately a bazillion times, right? Fortunately, it's fun music and the Mamma Mia! Musical is delightfully entertaining.

Given the number of people who exchange vows at The Fox Theatre—where Momma Mia! is now on stage—it's pretty awesome to see a musical about a wedding. Mamma Mia! will also bring a tear to your eye—because it's a touching human story—and have you on your feet clapping and dancing for the finale of the performance!

And a brilliant performance it is! I'd seen Mamma Mia! in Washington, DC many, many years ago, and at last night's show, every person I talked with—friends and new friends—had also seen it before...one of them four times! That alone tells you what a fun show this is.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)

I've attempted in vain to identify a specific number as my "favorite" of the show and it's proving an impossibility. If I absolutely had to, it could possibly be "Emotion", "Voulez-vous", or "Money"...and of course "Dancing Queen" is total fun. See...I can't even get it down to two!

The entire cast is brilliant. I particularly loved the mother, Donna—performed by Georgia Kate Haege, and her friends, Tanya—performed by Gabrielle Mirabella, and Rosie—performed by Sarah Smith. Those three were amazing together...you really thought they were reunited best friends. I particularly enjoyed Georgia's singing voice...wonderful!

Of course Chelsea Williams (Sophie) and Eric Presnall (Sky) are amazing. 

I went to the show with my friend Scott, another one who has seen Mamma Mia! before, and we had a blast. After the show we went to Livingston Restaurant + Bar (a Fox Theatre partner restaurant) for a night cap and made some new friends—Sharon and Beth, sisters who had also just seen Mamma Mia! We talked and laughed and laughed some more, until nearly midnight.

That's one of the things that I love about Atlanta. You never know when you're going to make a new friend or where you're going to share your next laugh.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)

I have a confession. I'm an ABBA fan. And that's not something I tell everyone...well, except for the fact that I just did. 

You know how you'll be listening to music on your phone and then you get a call, which mutes the music when you answer it? More than once I've done that and walked into a store where shortly after going in I finished up the call and hang up, only to have ABBA blaring into the store as I frantically look for the off button! They've always been a fun and entertaining group.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)


Some of you may recall my mentioning having lived in Greece for more than two years. You can imagine, being set on a Greek isle, how nostalgic Mamma Mia! is for me. I'd love a vacation to Greece right now! In the meantime, Mamma Mia! was a delightful distraction.

There’s some wonderful Broadway shows coming to Atlanta. The 2014-2015 season includes, among others, The Phantom of the Opera (October 22 – November 2, 2014); Dirty Dancing (November 25 - 30, 2014); and Wicked (February 18 – March 8, 2015).

I saw Phantom at The Fox on Halloween night in 1994...what an evening that was! And I saw Wicked at Oriental Theatre in Chicago...I LOVE that show! I'm anxiously looking forward to seeing it again here in Atlanta.

Consider a season package, which ranges in level—number of shows and perks—from mini to traditional to "Patron Club"!

Mamma Mia! is showing at The Fox Theatre through Sunday, September 28. If you’re seeing it for the first time or the 15th time, you’re in for a toe-tapping-turned-full-on-dancing good time!

@BroadwayAtlanta @MammaMiaMusical @BRAVEprATL

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