Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' Mamma Mia! celebrated five years on Broadway on Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cadillac Winter Garden Theatre with all proceeds benefiting the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative of The Actors' Fund of America, a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals – both performers and those behind the scenes – in performing arts and entertainment.
Ulvaeus, as well as bookwriter Catherine Johnson, attended the spectacular event. They celebrated 5 years on Broadway, as well as October 18th having recently been proclaimed Mamma Mia! Day by Mayor Bloomberg.
There are currently 11 productions of Mamma Mia! running around the world (9 resident productions and 2 tours). With three productions playing in North America alone, the musical has more productions playing around the world than any other current Broadway musical and can be experienced in seven different languages globally (English, Swedish, Spanish, German, Japanese and Russian). It has earned a worldwide gross of over $1.6 billion and been seen by audiences of over 27 million people worldwide.
The show is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. With music and lyrics by Andersson and Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
For more information about Mamma Mia! around the world, visit www.mamma-mia.com.
Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA outside the Winter Garden Theatre
Cast members
Mamma Mia!'s men
Mamma Mia!'s women
The cast
Andy Kelso and Carey Anderson
Carolee Carmello
David McDonald and Carolee Carmello
Judy McLane, Carolee Carmello and Lori Haley Fox
Mark Montgomery and Lorey Haley Fox
Carolee Carmello and cast bring Björn Ulvaeus onstage
Björn Ulvaeus receives a standing ovation from cast and audience alike
David McDonald and Carolee Carmello
Cast and Björn Ulvaeus look on as Catherine Johnson addresses the crowd
Phyllis Newman applauds the proclamation of October 18th being named Mamma Mia! day by Mayor Bloomberg's office
Björn Ulvaeus holding the proclamation as everyone alike cheers
Björn Ulvaeus and Catherine Johnson with principal cast members backstage
Björn Ulvaeus, Catherine Johnson and cast
Björn Ulvaeus and the girls having a laugh
Björn Ulvaeus arrives at Bar American after party
Catherine Johnson
Tennis legend Martina Navratalova
Tina Maddigan
Carolee Carmello and David Beach
Judy McLane, Carolee Carmello and Lori Haley Fox
Carey Anderson
Michael Winther and David Beach
Judy McLane
Andy Kelso
Tina Maddigan and Carey Anderson
Joe Machota and Andy Kelso
