Test your knowledge of Judy Garland's unforgettable return to the stage with Judy Garland 'At Home at the Palace.' How well do you know the behind-the-scenes moments and performances from this 1951 live show? This page will give you insight into fascinating trivia about Garland's captivating time at the Palace Theatre. Dive in to see just how familiar you are with one of her most iconic concert series.
Adaptations
- A sequel titled Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was released in 2018 focusing on how Donna met Sophie's three potential fathers.
- A film adaptation of the musical was released in 2008, starring Meryl Streep and featuring several other high-profile actors such as Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan.
International Productions
- When Mamma Mia! opened in Russia, it received a very positive response, becoming the longest daily running show in Russian theatre history by January 2008.
- By its premiere in Prague on December 12, 2014, 'Mamma Mia!' had been performed in Czech, marking the seventeenth language for the musical.
- Royal Caribbean cruise ships have hosted the full performance of 'Mamma Mia!', making it a special feature for passengers.
- The Manila performance of 'Mamma Mia!' initially scheduled for a week was extended due to high demand and positive response from the audience.
- The first Chinese production of a contemporary Western musical in Mandarin took place with 'Mamma Mia!' in Shanghai, starting July 11, 2011, and it was seen by 250,000 people across six venues.
- The South African production of 'Mamma Mia!' featured an entirely local cast during its tour stops in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2010.
- Lone van Roosendaal, a Dutch actress, has uniquely played the role of Donna in three different countries: Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
- The musical 'Mamma Mia!' has been translated into 17 languages and dozens of international cities have hosted performances.
- In 2019, East West Players in Los Angeles staged 'Mamma Mia!' with a cast of all artists of color, incorporating Filipino cultural elements into the show.
- There have been numerous international productions of Mamma Mia!, making it a global phenomenon, with shows in over 60 countries across all 6 inhabited continents.
- A unique adaptation of 'Mamma Mia!' in Friulian dialect by the Merybi theatre company in Italy began in 2019, embedding local culture into the musical.
- The French-speaking adaptation of 'Mamma Mia!' in Quebec in 2019 sold over 75,000 tickets during its limited run.
Musical Composition
- A song not used in the original musical, "When All Is Said and Done", was added to the film and performed by major characters.
- "Thank You for the Music" is also used as a hidden track, performed by Amanda Seyfried.
- The title 'Mamma Mia' is derived from ABBA’s 1975 chart-topping song of the same name.
- Mamma Mia! is based on the hit songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and has integrated iconic tracks like 'Dancing Queen' and 'SOS' into its storyline.
- "One of Us" is one of the added songs featured in the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Notable Tours
- In New Zealand, a new set design was introduced for the 'Mamma Mia!' tour, which started in Auckland at the Civic Theatre on March 4, 2014.
- The Hollywood Bowl hosted a star-studded performance of 'Mamma Mia!' from July 28 to 30, 2017, featuring Jennifer Nettles as Donna and Dove Cameron as Sophie.
- The Australian tour of 'Mamma Mia!' starting in November 2017 featured a new non-replica production directed by Gary Young and was nominated for several Helpmann Awards.
Production Facts
- The musical's plot has been compared to the 1968 film 'Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell', a connection denied by Catherine Johnson, the playwright of Mamma Mia!.
- As of 2017, Mamma Mia! held the title of the longest-running jukebox musical in Broadway history.
- The Mamma Mia! Broadway run lasted nearly 14 years, from October 2001 to September 2015, totaling 5,773 performances.
- Donna and her friends Tanya and Rosie were part of a girl group called 'Donna and the Dynamos'.
- During the finale, Donna, Tanya, and Rosie wear ABBA-inspired costumes and invite the audience to participate by clapping, dancing, and singing along.
- The show initially premiered in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on 6 April 1999.
- Although "The Name of the Game" was filmed for the movie, it was cut from the final version but included on the soundtrack.
- An abbreviated version of "The Name of the Game" scene appears on the DVD/Blu-ray release as a supplement.
- ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad was financially involved in the production of Mamma Mia! and appeared at many of its premieres worldwide.
- Mamma Mia! is the fifth longest-running show in London's West End history and was the ninth longest-running on Broadway until its closure in 2015.
- Since its debut in 1999, Mamma Mia! has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide and has grossed more than $4 billion globally.
- The musical was first conceptualized by producer Judy Craymer after being inspired by the ABBA song 'The Winner Takes It All', which she felt had great dramatic potential for a stage production.
