Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad, the original members of ABBA, made a rare group appearance last night at the opening of an ABBA-inspired restaurant, Mamma Mia! The Party, in Stockholm. Although the group did not perform, they greeted audience members who attended the premiere. "We are here to party," Ulvaeus told reporters, according to Billboard. The group has no plans to reunite musically. Check out video from last night's reunion below!
For "Mamma Mia! The Party," the Stockholm beer hall was converted into a Mediterranean restaurant to recreate the tavern 'Skopelos' from the show and film adaptation. If the 'experiment' proves to be successful, Ulvaeus, who produces the project, plans to bring the experience to other cities.
Last September, the global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! ended its historic, record-breaking run on Broadway following 5,765 performances. In 2008, the musical was adapted for the big screen in a film starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfreid.
MAMMA MIA! opened at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre on October 18, 2001, following the meteoric success of the London premiere which debuted in 1999 and continues to play to packed houses at the The Novello Theatre in the West End.
Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer's vision of writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolding on a tiny Greek island. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to THE ISLAND they had last visited 20 years ago. Songs including "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes It All," "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me" are all featured in this feel-good night of fun and laughter.
With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! is choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, with production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.
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