'Mamma Mia' musical set to timeless ABBA songs

Put on your dancing shoes and best ’80s fashion for the Whitefish Theatre Co.’s sensational production of “Mamma Mia!” at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Called “the sunniest of all musicals,” this entertaining show is based on the hits of pop group ABBA.

Over 60 million people worldwide have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make “Mamma Mia!” the ultimate feel-good show. The story follows Sophie, who on the eve of her wedding, is on a quest to discover the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle. Not knowing which of the three possible men from her mother’s diary to invite, she brings all three of them back to the Greek island where they last visited 20 years ago. Set to ABBA’s timeless songs, the story-telling magic of hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Knowing Me Knowing You,” “Take A Chance on Me,” “SOS” and “The Winner Takes It All.”

“Mamma Mia” propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship into a fun, entertaining and heartwarming show sure to drive away the winter blues.

“Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999 and soon after opened on Broadway in 2001 at the Winter Garden Theatre. In 2002, it was nominated for five Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and two Outer Critic Circle Awards. In addition, “Mamma Mia!” was adapted as a film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan. “Mamma Mia!” has been performed in more than 50 countries on all six continents to worldwide rave reviews with The New York Times calling it “musical comedy joy” and Broadway World praising it as “pitch perfect … big Broadway wow factor.”

Under the direction of Kim Krueger, the production features 26 local actors and musicians from around the Flathead Valley, including Don Caverly as the music director. The show features Sophie Sieh as Sophie Sheridan, Mikey Winn as Sky, Collette Strean as Donna Sheridan, Amy Chisholm as Rosie, Nicki Corne as Tanya, JJ James as Harry Bright, Rob Koelzer as Bill Austin, David Reese as Sam Carmichael, Rachel Hunnicutt as Ali, Moriah Schutt as Lisa, Solomon Franchi as Pepper, and Nick Brester as Eddie.

Krueger praised the cast as not only extremely talented but also “full of brilliant personalities who bring the fun, comic timing, and vocal pipes to this show.” The cast is a mix of every age category, filled with some familiar faces, people who have not been on the WTC stage in some time, as well as several newcomers.