Will Andersson and Ulvaeus' 'Kristina' Make it to Bway?

By: Mar. 02, 2007
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A court case involving script rights for the Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical Kristina från Duvemåla will determine the musical's Broadway future.

The dispute is between Andersson and Ulvaeus and Carl-Johan Seth, who wrote the musical's original libretto.  The ABBA legends claim that a new script was written by director Lars Rudolfsson and dramatist Jan Mark before the premiere in Malmö, Sweden under a year from being asked to.

A decision will be made by a judge on March 23rd.  If Anderssen and Ulvaeus lose, the show will only be allowed to be performed in concert productions.  If they win, they hope to try the show out in Minneapolis this fall with a Spring 2008 Broadway opening.

Kristina Från Duvemåla, an epic musical about Swedish immigrants and their new life in North America, based on a series of novels by Vilhelm Moberg, premiered in Malmö, Sweden on October 7th, 1995.  "In all, it is reported than in a country of just over 9 million inhabitants, more than 1 million saw Kristina during its performances in Malmö, Göteborg and Stockholm," according to the Anderssen and Ulvaeus fan website.  In 1996, the show was presented in concert form in Minnesota.

Known worldwide for their hits with the pop group ABBA, Anderssen and Ulvaeus also co-wrote the musical Chess.  Their songs for ABBA can be heard in the hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia!.

Visit www.icethesite.com for more information on the court case about Kristina, as well as for more information on the musical and on Andersson and Ulvaeus.

Photo - Helen Sjöholm and Åsa Bergh in Kristina från Duvemåla



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