BWW Reviews: MAMMA MIA! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit Through Nov 10

You already know you're going to love Mamma Mia! now on stage at the Fisher Theatre, through November 10. The wildly popular musical takes the massive worldwide hits from ABBA and weaves them into a compelling story about life, love and dreams.

This musical is my all-time favorite; I can watch it over and over, just like seeing The Wizard of Oz or It's a Wonderful Life. I never tire of the music, indelibly etched into my teenage memories - as well as other top hits of 1977, like Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet, Love Theme (From "A Star Is Born") by Barbra Streisand, and Hotel California by The Eagles. It took a while for the American audiences to cotton on ABBA, but I adored them from day one, starting with Waterloo. ABBA's signature song, "Dancing Queen" saw its first Swedish performance at the Royal Swedish Opera on 18 June 1976, during an all-star live gala in honor of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his future queen, Silvia Sommerlath, who were to be married the next day.

Mamma Mia! is the story of a wedding too, one that spanned two decades in the making. Sometimes it takes years to find your soul mate - I was 44 when I found mine. Some things are definitely worth waiting for.

Fisher's Mamma Mia! is a touring production currently playing throughout the Midwest. The cast does a wonderful job with the singing, acting and dancing. You can't go wrong with this show, it's really THAT GOOD!

Tickets and info are available at http://www.broadwayindetroit.com.

CAST BIOS

GEORGIA KATE HAEGE (Donna) hails from the stunning harbour city of Sydney, Australia, where she studied at the Sydney Conservatorium and earned her Bachelor of Music. Georgia has sung backup for renowned artists includ¬ing Meat Loaf and La La Brooks (of Phil Spector's The Crystals). Georgia's had several original bands in NYC: cur¬rently she fronts/co-writes for disco-pop act Liquid Diet who recently released their EP Daddy Issues. Theater high¬lights: Empire (Spiegelworld), Lost in Love: The Air Supply Musical, Date Me Do Me Dump Me, Hell Hole Honeys, Europa, Save the Robots, Lizzie Borden. Film/TV: Late Fee (national release); American Haunting (Discovery Network). Georgia can be seen/heard singing the Sleepy's jingle, voicing a national Trojan Condom commercial, and shaking her booty in the Brazil Butt Lift commercial. www.georgiakatehaege. com.

Chelsea Williams (Sophie) is so thankful to be a part of this new adventure. Previous credits include The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Gloucester Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Café Variations, a collaboration with Siti Company directed by Anne Bogart. B.F.A. Emerson College.

Gabrielle Mirabella (Tanya) is a Florida native and grad¬uate from the Manhattan School of Music. National/regional credits include "Annabelle Gurwitch" in You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up! and "Velma" in Hairspray. For my mamma, "Major" Mirabella, the original Dancing Queen.

Carly Sakolove (Rosie). Off Broadway/ tour: NEWSical the Musical and Girls Night: the Musical. Regional: Speakeasy Stage, Florida Studio Theatre. B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory. Original NYC Cabaret: I Hear Voices (Duplex, Joe's Pub) features her Diva impersonations. Viral Youtube video: "Broadway Divas Send in the Clowns." carlysakolove. com.

Michael Colavolpe (Bill). National Tour debut. Recent credits: How to Succeed in Business... (Bratt), The Temperamentals (Harry Hay), Hairspray (Edna), Avenue Q (Trekkie Monster), Company (Harry), Disney's Finding Nemo: The Musical (Bruce, Mr. Ray) and The American Idol Experience (Judge).

MARK A. HARMON (Harry). National tour: Wilbur Turnblad (Hairspray). Regional Theater: Felix Turner (The Normal Heart), The Professor (Gilligan's Island the Musical), Mr. McQueen (Urinetown), Yvonne (Art), Trevor Graydon (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Charles Thompson (1776), Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Fredrik Egerman (A Little Night Music), Marcus Lycus (A Funny Thing...Forum).

DON WINSOR (Sam) has performed all over the world in roles such as The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Javert in LES MISERABLES and many more. Don would like to thank his family for their love and support. For more information, please visit www.donwinsor. com.

CHRIS STEVENS (Sky) is both elated and blessed to be tour¬ing with such an amazing group of people. Proud graduate of DeSales University ('11). National Tours: Cats (Tugger). Regional: Cats (Theatre by the Sea), The Sound of Music (Paper Mill Playhouse) Damn Yankees (NCT), 1776 (PSF).

ANTOINETTE COMER (Lisa) is absolutely elated to be making her national tour debut with Mamma Mia! Favorite credits: Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Footloose and The Jungle Book.

KYLE DUPREE (Eddie) is honored and excited to be playing the part of Eddie in the National Tour of Mamma Mia! Favorite credits: National Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble/Carpet u/s), Cats (Mungojerrie), Dreamgirls (Ensemble). B.F.A. Jazz Dance: University of the Arts

Emily Price (Ali). So excited to be on tour! Her experience includes: LORT Theatre; Next to Normal (Natalie); Human Race Theatre. Regional: Secret Garden (Mary Lennox); Adventure Theatre in Maryland. Other: Anne of Green Gables (Anne); Leesburg Theatre Co.; The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy); The ALLIANCE THEATRE.

Neil Starkenberg (Pepper, u/s Sky). Theater credits include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Gideon), Life Could Be ADream (Denny), Hairspray (Link), Showboat, Sugar, Spamalot, The Wedding Singer. TV: "How I Met Your Mother," "So You Think You Can Dance." Performances with Earth Wind and Fire, Steve Miller Band, and more. B.F.A. Musical Theatre, CSU Fullerton.

FRANCESCA AROSTEGUI (Ensemble, u/s Sophie) is thrilled to be a part of Mamma Mia! Regional: Fiddler on the Roof (Chava), The Music Man (Zaneeta), HONK! (Penny), and Legally Blonde (Kate). B.F.A.: Indiana University.

KEN ARPINO (Ensemble, u/s Sky) is thrilled to join the Mamma Mia! family! National tours: Legally Blonde: the Musical! and Hairspray; Most recent credit: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ogunquit Playhouse) star¬ring Clay Aiken. Boston area native; Emerson College graduate. Follow @kenarpino.

Meghan Glogower (Swing). National Tour debut! Credits include: The Nutty Professor (world premiere); Hello, Dolly!; Annie Get Your Gun; Guys and Dolls; A Chorus Line; Grease; and Swing! among others. B.F.A.: Belmont University. www.MeghanGlogower.com.

ANDREW J. KOSLOW (Swing, u/s Pepper) is thrilled to be making his touring debut with Mamma Mia! Regional credits include: Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming (Dennis), Call Me Madam, Sweet Charity, Shenandoah (Henry). University of Oklahoma, B.F.A., Class of 2012.

GRACE LESZYNSKI (Ensemble, u/s Ali, Lisa) is elated to be making her National Tour debut with Mamma Mia! Proud graduate of CAP 21. Favorite credits include: Into the Woods, Footloose, and Cinderella. Grace would like to thank Michael, JDC casting, WLP, NAB, and her supportive family and friends.

DANNY LOPEZ (Swing) is beyond thrilled to be making his touring debut with Mamma Mia! A CT native, he has per¬formed in many regional theaters around the country.

REBECCA MASON-WYGAL (Ensemble, u/s Donna, Rosie) is a Los Angeles native, and a graduate of California State University Fullerton. She's worked regionally at A Noise Within, The Durango Melodrama & Vaudeville, and Sierra Repertory, among others, and has toured nationally with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre.

ROYCE JAMES McINTOSH (Ensemble, u/s Bill, Harry) is very excited to be part of this year's tour of Mamma Mia! Past tours include South Pacific and the First National Tour of Elf the Musical. Favorite roles performed: Emile de Becque (South Pacific), The Count (Marriage of Figaro), and Fredrick Egerman (A Little Night Music).

Tyler McKenzie (Ensemble, u/s Eddie), a Long Island native, is a recent graduate of Western Carolina University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Favorite credits include The Drowsy Chaperone and Rent. www.tylermckenzie.net. Twitter: @TylerMcKenzie.

Alex Mendoza (Ensemble, u/s Sam, Harry) is honored to be making his National Tour debut in Mamma Mia! He was last seen in McCoy/Rigby Entertainment's premiere of Next to Normal (Henry) and their Spring Awakening (Georg). Other regional credits: Hair (Claude), Happy Days (Ralph Malph).

BRYNN SMITH (Ensemble, u/s Sophie) is thrilled to be on her first national tour, and even more excited that it is Mamma Mia! A recent graduate of Abilene Christian University and the Syracuse Tepper Semester, Brynn has been seen on such stages as Flat Rock Playhouse and Casa Manana.

Joshua LamontE SWITZER (Ensemble, u/s Eddie) is grateful to be creating onstage, and honored to be involved in the tour. Credits include: "Judas"-Godspell, "Roger"-Rent, "Riff"-West Side Story, and "Pippin"-Pippin. Television appearances include: "Arrested Development," "Mike & Molly," and "Bones."

BONNE TOMLINSON (Ensemble, u/s Tanya, Rosie). Favorite gigs: dancing with Phish at Madison Square Garden, Mark Twain's Blues off-Broadway, and Avenue Q commercial. National Tours: Scarlet Pimpernel, Andrews Sisters Tribute, Broadway Jr. Bonne also plays bassoon and works as an audio book narrator.

Carly Wielstein (Swing, Dance Captain) is thrilled to be a part of this amazing production! Originally a classical ballerina from Northern California, Carly now resides in Los Angeles where she has been seen as a featured dancer for the 64th Creative Arts Emmys and the 64th Primetime Emmys, the world premiere of Hello! My Baby, The S.T.A.G.E Benefit, Spamalot, Oklahoma!, The Vagina Monologues, CASH, All Shook Up, Rent, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hairspray, and Cats.

Jennifer Wingerter (Ensemble, u/s Donna, Tanya) is thrilled to be touring with this fabulous company. Favorite credits include: Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel), Me and My Girl (Sally), All Shook Up (Natalie), Hairspray (Penny), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), White Christmas (Judy), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie). Jennifer loves travel and met her husband as singers with Celebrity Cruise Lines. www.jenniferweingarten.com.

VINCE WINGERTER (Ensemble, u/s Sam, Bill). Originally from Seattle, Vince is thrilled to be touring with Mamma Mia! Favorite roles include: Me and My Girl (Bill Snibson), Singin' in the Rain (Don Lockwood), The Drowsy Chaperone (George), Urinetown (Bobby), White Christmas (Phil Davis) and singing for Celebrity Cruise Lines. www.vincewingerter.com.

P. Tucker Worley (Ensemble, u/s Pepper). Recent credits include: The Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre and Chicago Children's Choir) and Legally Blonde (Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities). Touring credits include Oliver! (Networks). Tucker holds a B.F.A. in acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. For more, visit ptuckerworley.com.

LAUREN WRIGHT (Ensemble, u/s Ali, Lisa) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut in Mamma Mia! Favorite roles include: Penny (Hairspray), Eponine (LES MISERABLES), and Wendy (Peter Pan). She is originally from Evansville, IN and a recent graduate of Belmont University.

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

Mamma Mia! Dances onto the Stage in Detroit through Nov 10

To post a comment, you must register and login.