‘Mamma Mia!’ walks down aisle of the Phillips Center

March 6, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ “Mamma Mia!,” the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, is coming to the University of Florida’s Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for several performances from March 20 through March 25.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s timeless 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 three 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.

With more productions playing simultaneously around the world than any other new musical, “Mamma Mia!” is now the world’s No. 1 show. There are currently 10 productions of “Mamma Mia!” running concurrently around the world (eight permanent productions and two tours). With a worldwide gross of more than $2 billion and audiences of more than 30 million people, “Mamma Mia!” is acclaimed by The Associated Press as “quite simply, a phenomenon.”

The performance schedule for “Mamma Mia!” at the Phillips Center is: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, March 20-25, with matinees at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25.

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-2787 or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309. Orders may be faxed to 352-846-1562. Tickets are also available at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Student Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.