Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical built around songs recorded by ABBA, with a book by Catherine Johnson.

Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical built around ABBA songs, with a book by Catherine Johnson. It premiered in London in 1999 and became a global hit, later adapted into a 2008 film.

What it is

Mamma Mia! is a stage musical that uses songs by ABBA as its score, making it a jukebox musical. The title comes from ABBA’s 1975 song “Mamma Mia.” The story follows Sophie and her mother Donna on a Greek island as Sophie tries to discover which of three men is her father before her wedding.

Key details

The musical premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on 6 April 1999. The 2008 film adaptation, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, and Dominic Cooper. The film was released in July 2008 and filmed mainly on the Greek island of Skopelos.

Why it matters

Mamma Mia! helped popularize ABBA’s catalogue for new audiences and became one of the best-known stage jukebox musicals. It also led to a successful film franchise, with both the stage and film versions widely performed and screened in Canada as part of the international ABBA revival.