Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006 | 11:28 a.m.
The show that inspired the latest talk about Las Vegas becoming a "Broadway West" celebrates its third year at Mandalay Bay tonight.
"Mamma Mia!", a musical based on the songs of ABBA, has had more than 1,200 performances since arriving in 2003. It set the stage for such shows as "Avenue Q," which will close at Wynn Las Vegas in May after a short run; Monty Python's "Spamalot," opening in February 2007 at Wynn; and "Phantom of the Opera," which will debut in May at the Venetian.
"We probably broke the mold," producer Judy Craymer said during a recent telephone interview from her office in London. "We are thrilled that it has been there for three years.
"There were those who had doubts about our taking the plunge - they said there should be no intermission, but we've defied the odds and with an intermission."
The production begins its fourth year with a new cast.
Carol Linnea Johnson will be the new Donna Sheridan, a role she had on Broadway. Johnson's credits include "The Full Monty" on Broadway and "Law & Order" and "All My Children" on television.
Robin Baxter is the new Rosie, one of Donna's best friends. Baxter also comes to Las Vegas from Broadway, where she has appeared in "Footloose" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
Vicki Van Tassel portrays Donna's other close friend, Tanya. She comes from the off-Broadway musical "If It Was Easy."
Rick Negron, a former Las Vegas performer, returns to the Strip as Sam Carmichael, Robert DuSold is Harry Bright and Jefferson Slinkard is Bill Austin. Negron's credits include Broadway's "Leader of the Pack" and the national tour of "West Side Story." DuSold was in national tours of "The Producers" and "Phantom of the Opera." Slinkard's New York credits include "The Mystery of Attraction" and "The Firebugs."
The plot centers around which of the three men is the father of Donna's daughter, Sophie, who is being played by Kelly Anise Daniells. Daniells, a native of Sacramento, performed in regional theater in "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Pirates of Penzance."
Patrick Sarb plays Sophie's fiance, Sky. He, too, comes directly from the Broadway production of "Mamma Mia!"
Catherine Johnson wrote the musical, which is about Sophie's search for her real father on the eve of her wedding. Phyllida Lloyd directed. It was choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. It is produced by Craymer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar.
Songs include "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes It All," "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me."
Craymer notes that the production has been playing for seven years in London and is beginning its fifth year in New York.
"When we've done audience surveys, we find that it's a show that women love and buy tickets for," Craymer said. "The music is so attractive to the audience - 51 percent of the fans go for a second or third time."
She said cast changes are made frequently "to keep everything fresh about the show."
Craymer said the show's success relies on good chemistry among the performers.
"The audience really needs to believe that the people on stage are friends," she said. "With this cast, we think we have great chemistry."
Johnson was part of the Broadway cast for three years. "Minus nine months to have a baby," she said. She understudied the role for several months before assuming the lead in September.
Johnson said she jumped at the chance to play the show in Las Vegas.
"It was just too great of an opportunity," she said. "I have a 19-month-old baby girl, and the Vegas schedule is much better for me."
Her husband, also a performer, is in the Las Vegas cast as a member of the ensemble and an understudy.
"My husband was hired to be part of the company, so I get to work with my husband and spend the days with my baby daughter," Johnson said. "My family is the biggest part of my life, and this allows me to spend a lot of time with them. I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming."
Before joining the cast of "Mamma Mia!" in New York, Johnson appeared in "The Full Monty." The Chicago-area native has been performing for 16 years.
She enjoys working with the production company of "Mamma Mia!" because it values actors, she said. "They want to find people who bring something to their roles and are true to themselves. They don't want a cookie-cutter interpretation of a character; they want you to make it your own."
She said the story in the musical is compelling.
"And it becomes even more compelling when you really care about the people," Johnson said.
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at [email protected].
archive
