PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 2/27/2019

Contact: Andrew Rothman
From: Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44122
Phone: 440-247-8955
E-mail: cvlt@cvlt.org
Website: www.CVLT.org
PRINT-RESOLUTION PHOTOS: www.CVLT.org/promo

CVLT to premiere the hit ABBA musical "MAMMA MIA!" in March

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio - One could be forgiven for not realizing that the Swedish pop group ABBA called it quits nearly 40 years ago. The songs of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are still in the rotation for radio stations and wedding DJs alike. In 1999, producer Judy Craymer approached the duo, along with playwright Catherine Johnson, about turning their chart-toppers into a 'jukebox musical.'

The result was the international smash MAMMA MIA!, which opens a 10-performance run at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre on March 22. Performances will be Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM through April 13, with Sunday matinees at 2 PM on March 31 and April 14.

The popular 2008 film adaptation and last year's sequel (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) raised the musical's profile beyond the Broadway crowd, and CVLT is proud to be one of the Cleveland area's first community theatres to present it. The show is helmed by director Fred Sternfeld with music director David Anthony Williams and choreographer Bebe Weinberg Katz.

The plot follows Sophie (Vanessa Kolbosky), who is making plans for her wedding on the small Greek island she calls home. She really wants her father give her away, but she doesn’t know who he is! Her mother, Donna (Trinidad Snider), refuses to talk about the past, in which she was the lead singer of a 70s female pop trio. Sophie takes matters (and her mother's diary) into her own hands and invites three likely fathers to the wedding: Sam (Brint Learned), Bill (Steven R. Tiderman), and Harry (Michael Dempsey). But when all three turn up, nothing turns out as she expects it to!

The storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, including Dancing Queen, SOS, Take a Chance on Me, and over a dozen more, propel this enchanting tale of love and friendship through non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers.

The cast also includes Abby Zerull, Ashley Foster, Katie Gibson-Zarecki, Greta Rothman, Eric Mortensen, Nate Summers, Carson Strnisa, Sean Cahill, Frankie Ashkettle, Julia Ashkettle, Emmie Ferguson, Halle Fromson, Celia Hawk, John Hickman, Madison Higgins, Nathan Hoty, Elliot Lebediker, Tricia Lebediker, Elliot Lebediker, Raleigh Orosz-Hayes, Jonathan Orosz, Elisabeth Roter, Samuel Roter, Jen Salkin, Hannah Schmidt, and Nanami Tachikawa.

Tickets are $21 ($4 student/senior discount) at CVLT.org, by phone at 440-247-8955, or at the Box Office at 40 River Street 1-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Advance reservations and arrival are recommended.

CVLT is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and is supported by the Ohio Arts Council. CVLT is a proud member of the American Association of Community Theatre.

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