'Mamma Mia!' Celebrates 5 Years in Las Vegas Tonight

Mamma Mia! sets yet another benchmark for Broadway musicals in Las Vegas as the show celebrates its fifth anniversary at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on February 13, 2008.  Due to popular demand Mamma Mia!, which was previously scheduled to end in August after more than 2,300 performances, recently announced it will now play through January 4, 2009.

With more than 1,900 performances and two million guests to date, Mamma Mia! sets the precedent for musicals in Las Vegas as no other full-length Broadway show has ever enjoyed such enduring success on The Strip.  Adored by locals and tourists alike, Mamma Mia! has broken all box office records at the Mandalay Bay Theatre.

Leading the cast is Carol Linnea Johnson as Donna Sheridan, the independent single mother whose carefree past catches up with her on the eve of her daughters wedding. Prior to Mamma Mia!, Johnson's credits include Broadway's Mamma Mia!, The Full Monty and appearances on "Law and Order" and "All My Children" Sophie Sheridan, Donna's daughter, is played by Moriah Angeline and her fiancé Sky is played by Marshal Kennedy Carolan.  Donna's best friends and former back-up band, Rosie and Tanya, are played by Robin Baxter and Vicki Van Tassel (respectively), who reunite on the island for Sophie's wedding.  Victor Wallace (Sam), Ron McClary (Bill) and Don Brewer (Harry) are Sophie's 3 possible dads. The cast also features Jen Sese (Lisa), Alana Simone (Ali), Ronald Duncan (Pepper) and Kevin Greene (Eddie).

The ensemble features Jane Cooke, Kim Craven, Mark Dancewicz, Brad Gray, Russ Thomas Grieve, Elena Gutierrez, Jacquelyn Holland, Colin Israel, Greg Kata, Michelle K. Moore, Lisa Marie Morabito, Rick Pessagno, Nadine Roden, Elizabeth Share, Derrick Trumbly, Tim Tucker, Emily Vasquez and J.R. Whittington.

Seen by over 30 million people worldwide, and with three companies currently playing in North America, Mamma Mia! has more productions playing around the world than any other current Broadway musical.

Inspired by the story-telling magic of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' songs, writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale of family and friendship unfolds on a 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 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.

The feature film adaptation of Mamma Mia!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, will be released in the summer of 2008. Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast featuring Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Mamma Mia! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, 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.

The performance schedule for Mamma Mia! at the Mandalay Bay Theatre is Sunday - Thursday at 7:30PM and Saturday at 6PM & 10PM There is no performance on Friday.

Tickets for Mamma Mia! are $110, $82.50 and $49.50, tax inclusive. Tickets are available by calling the Mandalay Bay Box Office at 800-632-7400, Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000 and online at www.mandalaybay.com or www.mamma-mia.com