On Tuesday, the “super trouper” lights will shine on some dancing queens.
The Performing Arts Series will present the much-awaited Broadway hit musical Mamma Mia! in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
Set to the tunes of Swedish pop group ABBA, the musical follows a woman named Sophie and her journey as she tries to figure out who her father is before her wedding day. The only problem is she has three potential patriarchs and not even her mother, Donna, knows who it could be.
This is the first season Mamma Mia! included a one-night performance option in its tour schedule and Andrew Holzaepfel, senior associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said he had to book it.
“Mamma Mia! is one show we’ve really been waiting for … our audience has been begging for it,” he said.
Because of the town’s smaller population and market, Holzaepfel said the series can only book shows with one-night performance options. However, that hasn’t stopped the people from asking.
In the survey given to students and subscribers, an “add-in” section is included for people to include their own feedback. Since Mamma Mia! has never had a one-night opportunity, it was never listed as an option, but Holzaepfel said the respondents always requested it in their “add-in” section.
“It’s been for the last five or 10 years that we’ve been getting that feedback, but this is the first year we could really do it,” Holzaepfel said.
That continued desire to see the show is what has kept it popular for so long.
Opening on Broadway in 2001, Mamma Mia! has thrived and is the 10th longest-running show on Broadway, according to Playbill’s recent list, and it is still on Broadway. Keeping that party going is one of Neil Starkenberg’s favorite things about the show. Starkenberg has played Pepper in the North American tour for three months, and he said it has been a party the entire time.
“There’s nothing better to say than you’re in a show that makes people smile and dance. … You can’t help but have fun in the show. … It’s empowering and exciting,” Starkenberg said. “We can’t wait to share it with Ohio.”
Even though the show is set for the day before Thanksgiving break begins, Holzaepfel said ticket sales have not been affected and he expects it to be a full house if not sold out by Tuesday morning. As of Monday 1,630 tickets were sold, as the main floor and the first two tiers of the balcony were sold out. Students and community members had purchased tickets equally.
mg986611@ohiou.edu
@buzzlightmeryl
