THEATRE PREVIEW
april 2018 | Volume 166
Stephanie Roth and Michelle Bardach. Costume design by Alison Green. Photo by David Cooper
MAMMA MIA!
Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
And some songs with Stig Anderson
Book by Catherine Johnson
Arts Club Theatre Company
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
May 10–Aug. 12
From $29
www.artsclub.com or 604-687-1644
BUY TICKETS
An island paradise in Greece sets the stage for this feel-good show. A daughter’s quest to find her biological father before her wedding brings together three men from her mother’s past: Harry (Jay Hindle), Bill (Warren Kimmel), and Sam (Michael Torontow). While Sophie (Michelle Bardach) works to find out which man is her father, her mother Donna (Stephanie Roth) deals with the emotions brought up by her daughter’s upcoming nuptials and memories from her own past.
Bardach recently starred in the remount of Corey Payette’s musical Children of God at the Citadel Theatre and Western Canada Theatre. Roth, from Ontario, is the recipient of a Tyrone Guthrie Award from the Stratford Festival.
After a 14-year run on Broadway, Mamma Mia! went on to become the eighth longest-running show in London’s West End history. Now, with a 15-week run in Vancouver, it will become the Arts Club’s longest-running production at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Mamma Mia! will also be the first Arts Club production to feature sing-along performances, happening at 2 PM and 8 PM on Saturday, July 28.
Artistic Director Emeritus Bill Millerd says, “Programming a hit musical like Mamma Mia! was an ideal choice for my final season. Helmed by veteran Arts Club director/choreographer Valerie Easton, this high-energy production is sure to have audience members dancing in their seats.”
Easton says, “This show is absolutely a ton of fun—it’s like reading a great summer book that you want to read over and over again.”
Musical director Ken Cormier adds, “The music works so well, especially in a company of talented performers. We get to reconstitute ABBA’s original music, and that’s a lot of fun.”
“Completely uncynical and consistently compelling—it’s the perfect show” —The Guardian
Featuring, in order of appearance: Michelle Bardach (Sophie Sheridan), Shannon Hanbury (Ali), Jennifer Lynch (Lisa), Stephanie Roth (Donna Sheridan), Irene Karas Loeper (Tanya), Cathy Wilmot (Rosie), Stuart Barkley (Sky), Paul Almeida (Pepper), Oliver Castillo (Eddie), Jay Hindle (Harry Bright), Warren Kimmel (Bill Austin), Michael Torontow (Sam Carmichael)
Ensemble: Sierra Brewerton, Jarret Cody, David Cohen, Frankie Cottrell, Maria Fernandes, Julio Fuentes, Brianne Loop, Emily Matchette
Orchestra: Ken Cormier (Keyboards), Sasha Niechoda (Keyboards), Angus Kellett (Keyboards), Michael Creber (Keyboards), Andreas Schuld (Guitar), Martin Fisk (Percussion)
Director/Choreographer Valerie Easton Musical Director Ken Cormier Associate Musical Director Sasha Niechoda Set Designer David Roberts Costume Designer Alison Green Lighting Designer Robert Sondergaard Sound Designer Bradley Danyluk Stage Manager Pamela Jakobs Assistant Stage Manager April Starr Land Apprentice Stage Manager Tanya Schwaerzle
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
May 10–August 12, 2018 (Media opening: May 16)
Tue–Thu at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, Wed at 1:30 pm, and Sat & Sun at 2 pm
(Sing-along performances: July 28 at 2 pm & 8 pm)
Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644
ABOUT THE ARTS CLUB
The Arts Club Theatre Company, founded in 1964, is Canada’s largest not-for-profit urban theatre company. Led by Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran and Executive Director Peter Cathie White, it offers professional theatre at three venues—the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Granville Island Stage, and the Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre—as well as on tour throughout the province.
Website: artsclub.com
Twitter: twitter.com/theArtsClub
Facebook: facebook.com/theArtsClub
Instagram: instagram.com/theartsclub
YouTube: youtube.com/ArtsClubVan
#ACTCMammaMia
get in touch with vancouverplays:
vancouverplays
Vancouver's arts and culture website providing theatre news, previews and reviews