Due to overwhelming demand, LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is EXTENDING the first show of its 99th season, the perfect romantic comedy to kick off the Summer, ABBA’s intoxicating MAMMA MIA!, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson, book by Catherine Johnson, originally conceived by Judy Craymer with musical direction by Ricky Pope and directed & choreographed by Karen Babcock Brassea.  Comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard, “We start our 99th season with one of the all-time great feel-good musicals, MAMMA MIA!! Our subscribers and audiences are going to be dancing queens and kings all summer long with this irresistible and euphoric new production!” MAMMA MIA! begins previews on Friday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 7 at 5:30pm and now perform through Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. 

Get swept away by the infectious music, uplifting story, and dazzling dance numbers that have made MAMMA MIA! a worldwide phenomenon. As wedding festivities commence on an idyllic Greek island, a young bride-to-be schemes to discover the identity of her father among three men from her mother’s past. With so many of ABBA’s timeless hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “SOS,” this story of love and friendship is an unforgettable musical experience that will leave you dancing in the aisles! 
 
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

KAREN BABCOCK BRASSEA (Director/Choreographer) is excited to work with the artists and staff at the Laguna Playhouse this summer doing Mamma Mia!  She has roots as a performer on Broadway, the West End, Japan, and Austria as well as touring the United States extensively. She has been a member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1980 and a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1982.  As a natural progression from performing professionally, Karen branched into directing, choreographing and teaching and has done so, first as a free-lance professional since 2001. She has many regional, international and academic directing and choreographic credits, both musicals and straight plays, several of which have won awards.  Karen holds an MFA in directing from Mason Gross School of the Arts/Rutgers and a BFA in drama (musical theatre option) from Carnegie Mellon University from which she graduated with honors. She is presently beginning her fifth year as an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts (and Dance!), Director and Choreographer at Kansas Wesleyan University.  

The Cast of MAMMA MIA! will feature: MaryAnn Carlisle as “Donna Sheridan,” McKenna Wells as “Sophie Sheridan,” David Šášik as “Sky,” Jonathan Van Dyke as “Sam Carmichael,” Daniel Berlin as “Harry Bright,” Daryl J. Roth as “Bill Austin,” Sophia Swannell as “Tanya,” Dwan Hayes as “Rosie,” Kristen Daniels as “Ali,” Aubrie Knapp as “Lisa,” Zain Patel as “Pepper,” Nick Nazarro as “Eddie” and Jared Ryan Kaitz as “Father Alexandrios.” 

The Ensemble will feature: Sam Buchanan, Tanner Frisbey, Jayden Goodman, Jared Ryan Kaitz, Eleni Kutay, Lizzie Menzies, Johann Santiago Santos and Katherine Westrum.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

MAMMA MIA! will begin previews on Friday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 7 at 5:30pm and perform through Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. 

Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm.  

There will be added performances on Tuesday, July 9 at 7:30pm; Thursday, July 18 & Thursday, July 25 at 2pm; Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30pm and Thursday, August 1 at 2pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, August 4 at 5:30pm, There will be Talk-Backs following the performances on Saturday, July 13 at 2pm and Thursday, July 18 at 7:30pm.

Tickets range from $65 – $105 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices subject to change.                                                                           

The box office is open Mondays – Saturdays: 11a.m. to 5p.m.; Sundays: 11a.m. – 4p.m. (open until showtime on all performance days). 

For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.  LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.    

To schedule press interviews, photos or press comps, please contact David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or by e-mail at davidelzer@me.com.             

Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 100,000 patrons each season. 

Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum. 

Laguna Playhouse has been recognized in 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis. 

Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

Calendar Listing:
MAMMA MIA!
Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus 
and some songs with Stig Anderson 
Book by Catherine Johnson 
Originally conceived by Judy Craymer
Musical Direction by Ricky Pope
Directed and Choreographed by Karen Babcock Brassea

Previews Begin: Friday, July 5 at 7:30pm
Opens: Sunday, July 7 at 5:30pm
Runs: Sunday, July 7 – Sunday, July 28, 2019 

Performances will be Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm.
There will be added performances on Tuesday, July 9 at 7:30pm; Thursday, July 18 & Thursday, July 25 at 2pm; Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30pm and Thursday, August 1 at 2pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, August 4 at 5:30pm,
There will be Talk-Backs following the performances on Saturday, July 13 at 2pm and Thursday, July 18 at 7:30pm. 

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
606 Laguna Canyon Rd. in Laguna Beach, CA
Tickets: $65.00 – $105.00
For tickets – visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com
or call 949-497-2787