MAMMA MIA! Celebrates 12 Years in the West End

April 6th 2011 is the 37th Anniversary of ABBA's Waterloo victory at the Eurovision Song Contest; it is also the 12th Anniversary of the original production of the smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!. From the West End to global phenomenon, MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer's ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.

Judy Craymer said, "It has been the most amazing journey from opening the London show in 1999 to now celebrating its 12th year. I'm so proud of the original production; it is the flagship show and so embraced by the audiences especially following the popularity of the film."

MAMMA MIA! has more productions running simultaneously around the world than any other show (currently 9), it's opened in more cities (270) faster than any other show in theatrical history, 45 million people have seen it, the double platinum original cast recording sells more than 5,000 copies per week, the London production has now been seen by more than 1 in 10 of the UK population, and the show has grossed over $2 billion. Since opening in London in 1999, MAMMA MIA! has been translated into 14 languages and will become the first ever global musical produced in Chinese. The show which opens in Shanghai in July will be a landmark production beginning a new era of musical theatre in China. The Broadway production celebrates its 10th Anniversary in October.

MAMMA MIA! The Movie, the film inspired by the stage show and produced by Judy Craymer, gets its UK Network Premiere on ITV1 on Saturday 9th April at 7pm. The film starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried, is the highest grossing musical film of all time. The film grossed over £69m at the UK Box Office and one in four homes across the UK has the DVD.

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal. www.mamma-mia.com

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