‘Mamma Mia’ singing, dancing musical coming to Arlington

ARLINGTON – The Arlington High School drama department will bring jukebox hummable fun next month when they present the hit musical, “Mamma Mia!”

The play is based on the popular 1996 feel-good musical and 2008 movie featuring the music of world-famous 1970s Swedish pop supergroup ABBA.

“The best part of the show is merging my past with my students’ love for ABBA’s music,” AHS drama director Scott Moberly said. “It seems everyone knows the lyrics and story and can appreciate the predicament the characters find themselves facing.”

British writer Catherine Johnson penned the play, titled after the songs that gave ABBA their first big break in the music industry.

The modern tale of love follows the story of Sophie who on the eve of her marriage has secretly invited three men from her mother Donna’s past to her wedding on an exquisite Greek island paradise, in a quest to identify her father.

The men don’t know why they’re there, but they attend, and the “Who’s You Daddy” games begin.

Mamma Mia! is a fast-paced, dance-filled musical theater extravaganza.

The dances are ebullient and fun, while the cleverly simple songs relate the feelings of joy and gloom, sprinkled with comic belief, that drive the story.

The movie version starred Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellen Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters.

Popular ABBA songs in the show include the title track, the ever popular “Dancing Queen,” “SOS,” “Take a Chance of Me,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Lay All Your Love On Me,” “I Have a Dream” and “The Winner Takes it All.”

Performances will be held March 1-2 and March 8-9 at 7 p.m.

There will also be a matinee show on March 9 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for senior citizens and students and $10 for other adults.

Tickets can be purchased at https://arlingtonsd16.revtrak.net/high-schools/Arlington-High-School-Fees/mamma-mia-tickets/#/list