Mamma Mia! Returns to Broadway Amidst Mixed Reviews and Enduring Fan Interest
The hit ABBA musical "Mamma Mia!" is back on Broadway for a limited six-month run, drawing on strong U.S. audience nostalgia despite receiving some critical feedback on its production.
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Overview
- The ABBA musical "Mamma Mia!" has returned to Broadway for a limited six-month engagement, featuring a touring production of the popular show.
- Previously, "Mamma Mia!" ran on Broadway for 14 years, opening shortly after the Towers fell, and is recognized as the ninth-longest running Broadway show of all time.
- U.S. audiences continue to show significant interest in the "Mamma Mia!" brand, fueled by a strong sense of nostalgia for disco music and vinyl records.
- The current Broadway production has received mixed reviews, with some praising its timelessness and the addition of live musicians, while others criticize its sound, staging, energy, and choreography.
- Despite ABBA's potential for even greater U.S. success, "Mamma Mia!" has consistently maintained strong American interest, proving its lasting appeal.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by presenting Mamma Mia! as a production with significant artistic flaws that primarily appeals to its established fanbase. They use evaluative language to critique the show's book, direction, and choreography, while acknowledging its popular appeal and the cast's energy. The collective editorial choice emphasizes the show's shortcomings despite its commercial success.
"“Mamma Mia!” has the youth POV (well, it did) and also lots of songs of parental regret (“Slipping Through My Fingers” and so on)."
Chicago Tribune"The flaws – and they are not inconsiderable – remain."
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FAQ
The original Broadway production of Mamma Mia! opened on October 18, 2001, and ran for 14 years, closing on September 12, 2015, making it the ninth-longest running Broadway show of all time.
The current revival is a limited six-month engagement running from August 14, 2025, through February 1, 2026, at the Winter Garden Theatre, where the show originally debuted on Broadway.
The revival has received mixed reviews, with praise for its timeless appeal and live musicians, but criticism on sound, staging, energy, and choreography. Nonetheless, it continues to attract strong audience interest fueled by nostalgia for ABBA’s music.
Mamma Mia! centers on a daughter's quest to discover her father's identity on the eve of her wedding on a Greek island, featuring iconic ABBA songs like 'Dancing Queen,' 'The Winner Takes It All,' and 'Take a Chance on Me.'
The current cast includes Christine Sherrill as Donna, Amy Weaver as Sophie, Carly Sakolove as Rosie, Jalynn Steele as Tanya, Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Jim Newman as Bill Austin, Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael, and Grant Reynolds as Sky.
History
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