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Mamma Mia! No. 1 all-time at Chemainus Theatre box office

All 114 performances sold out, as audiences can’t get enough of Abbamania
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Mamma Mia! actresses had as much fun performing as the audience did watching. From left: Erin Ormond, Stephanie Roth and Jenni Burke. (Photo by Don Bodger)

The Winner Takes It All!

In keeping with Abba’s No. 1 hits, the production laden with the Swedish super group’s music has landed in top spot at the box office as the all-time best selling show at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. Mamma Mia! sold out all 114 performances from May 24 through Aug. 31.

“We ran two weeks longer for Mamma Mia! just because we knew there’d be a great demand for it,” said Randy Huber, the theatre’s managing director.

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The previous record was set just last year by the summer hit, Grease, that sold out 98 consecutive shows.

Mamma Mia’s extra dates put it over the top, with 31,430 tickets sold.

“We’re just ecstatic with the results and how well the show was accepted by the audience,” Huber enthused.

He was grateful to all the community and corporate sponsors for the role they played.

“They give us that support that allows us to take on the giant show,” said Huber. “Grass roots business support makes all the difference.”

Mamma Mia! was the complete package, beginning with the music of Abba.

“People love the music and really it’s clever how the play is built on the music and it’s got a clever story line,” noted Huber.

The other part that struck people was the brilliant choreography under the direction of Nicol Spinola.

She did a wonderful job, Huber praised, and is considered an up-and-comer on the theatre scene in B.C. and will definitely be back in Chemainus at some point.

“We got a lot of great feedback,” summarized Huber.

The 2020 show schedule will be unveiled on Oct. 22. It’s going to be another great lineup, but it’ll be a hard act for other shows to follow the huge success of Mamma Mia!

“I don’t think we’re going to see that for a while again,” Huber said of any record-breaking performances.

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Season ticket sales for 2020 will also be going on sale Oct. 22 and it’s a good idea for theatre-goers to purchase them to make sure they don’t miss out based on the overwhelming demand that’s becoming even more prevalent.

“Our hope is people see the value in getting season tickets,” Huber indicated.

The theatre continues to offer a great variety of musicals, dramas, comedies, mysteries and Christmas shows each year.

“It’s kind of key for us because it’s a relatively small market,” Huber said.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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