NC Theatre Announces Full Casting For MAMMA MIA!

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional theatre, is proud to announce casting for its upcoming production of Mamma Mia!, playing February 12-17 at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make a guaranteed smash. Featuring songs "Dancing Queen," "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!," "Take a Chance on Me," and many more of ABBA's greatest hits. Broadway star and Raleigh native Lauren Kennedy will star in the February production, and directing the musical is another North Carolina native, NC Theatre's new producing artistic director, Eric Woodall.

Starring in the role of Donna is Kennedy, the former lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos and mother to bride-to-be, Sophie. Kennedy is the producing artistic director for Theatre Raleigh, where she has directed and starred in numerous productions. She is also known by Raleigh audiences for her 30-year association with NC Theatre where she starred as Eva in Evita, Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, Fantine in Les Misérables, and Diana in Next To Normal. She appeared on Broadway as The Lady of the Lake in Monty Python's Spamalot, Fantine in Les Misérables, Daisy Hilton in Side Show, Sunset Boulevard (original cast) and Nellie Forbush in South Pacific at The Royal National Theatre in London.

Benson, NC native Woodall, has a deep connection with this show and will bring that, as well as his vast directing and casting experience when he takes the helm of Mamma Mia! in February. Woodall served as the Resident Director of the Broadway, Las Vegas, and National touring companies of Mamma Mia!. In addition to his NC Theatre directorial credits including Gypsy, Mary Poppins, Jesus Christ Superstar, Steel Magnolias, and more, Woodall has worked locally in the Triangle directing for theatre's like Theatre Raleigh and Playmakers Repertory. Prior to joining NC Theatre full time in November he spent 16 years in New York City working as one of the top casting directors at Tara Rubin Casting.

Monica Kapoor will choreograph NC Theatre's production after performing on Broadway for seven years with the smash-hit Mamma Mia!. Her previous choreography credits include Broadway Bares, Honour (Off-Broadway), and Garjana (Off-Broadway).

Sophie will be played by Mary Mattison. Mattison who previously starred in NC Theatre's production of Gypsy and was most recently seen in the hit show Blue Bloods. She also portrayed Cher in the reading of Clueless, The Musical. Erick Patrick will play Sky, Sophie's fiancé. Patrick grew up singing in church and graduated from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He previously traveled the country in the national tour of Motown: The Musical.

Stephanie Pope and Lulu Picart will play Donna's former bandmates and best friends, Tanya and Rosie. Pope is a musical theatre veteran with over 35 years in the industry and 10 Broadway shows under her belt. Her previous credits include the revival of Pippin, Chicago, Fosse, Smokey Joe's Café, and more. Picart's previous credits include the first national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Man of La Mancha, Rent, The Rocky Horror Show, and more. She was also featured in the hit Disney film Frozen.

Starring as Sophie's three possible fathers are Charlie Brady (Sam), Estes Tarver (Bill), and Gary Milner (Harry). Brady is best known for starring in the original Broadway cast of South Pacific at Lincoln Center with other credits including NC Theatre's productions of Next to Normal and Les Misérables, and the Off-Broadway production of The Burnt Part Boys. Tarver is an award winning actor, director, writer, and producer who received his MFA in acting from UNC Chapel Hill. His previous theatre credits include All My Sons (Theatre Raleigh), The Constant Wife, and August Osage County. Tarver's television credits include the hit shows One Tree Hill, House of Cards, and Mr. Mercedes, to name a few. Milner starred in the original productions of Mamma Mia! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at London's West End with other previous credits including Doctor Dolittle, Parade, and NBC's live televised production of Peter Pan Live!.

Additional cast members include Erica Durham (Ali), with previous credits including the national tour of The Color Purple; Sarah Sun Park (Lisa), who previously starred in Hair and Fun Home; Ben Bogen (Pepper), who starred in Frozen on Broadway this past year; David Park (Eddie), previously featured on the television hit Elementary; and Albert Guerzon (Father Alexandrios), who previously starred on Broadway in Mamma Mia!.

Rounding out the cast are ensemble members Jessica Becker, Ben Bogen (Pepper), Grace Boudah, Charlie Byrd, Chloe Calhoun, Austin Coats, Erica Durham (Ali), Brianna Elerby, Emma Fornes, Sai Graham, Melvin T. Gray, Albert Guerzon (Dance Captain/Associate Choreographer), Maggie Hall, Morgan Harrison, Alexander Hunt, Valton Jackson, Daniel Marhelko, Phoebe McFarland, Destiny McNeill, David Park, Sarah Sun Park, Michael Phillips, Amanda Blair Spruill.

Mamma Mia! opens Tuesday, Feb. 12 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 17 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Visit nctheatre.com to purchase tickets or call (919) 831-6941. For groups of 10 or more, call (919) 831-6941 x6949. ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

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