BILL’S NOTES

MAY 10 – AUG 12, 2018

mamma mia!MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BENNY ANDERSSON AND BJÖRN ULVAEUS AND SOME SONGS WITH STIG ANDERSONBOOK BY CATHERINE JOHNSON

2 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

My first experience of this jukebox musical was in Toronto during the run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in the early 2000s. The all-Canadian cast, led by Louise Pitre in the role of Donna, also included Arts Club veterans Monique Lund, who later took on the role of Donna during the North American tour, and Andrew Wheeler, who played the Australian dad. During that performance, the infectious music brought the audience to their feet, with many people dancing in the aisles, which is a testament to these well-known ABBA tunes. I also sensed, based on the popularity of the show, that it would be at least a decade before the professional performance rights would come available for a production by the Arts Club. So in 2016, when I heard the rights for Vancouver were open for a bid, I immediately applied and decided it would be a part of my final 2017/18 season at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. The next decision was selecting the director and the choreographer. Valerie Easton, who has choreographed most of the musicals I have directed since My Fair Lady in 2001, immediately went to the top of my list. Valerie has assembled a dynamic creative team and a wonderful cast. Ken Cormier, the musical director, has been involved with most of our musicals, as has costume designer Alison Green (Les Misérables). The team also includes set designer David Roberts (The Piano Teacher), lighting designer Robert Sondergaard (Rock of Ages), and sound designer Bradley Danyluk (Onegin). Mamma Mia! closes the 20th season at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, as well as my last season as Artistic Director. The opening of this renovated movie house in 1998 was one of the highlights of my career. Many individuals were involved in the campaign to ‘Save the Stanley’ and it was through their efforts that we enjoy this beautiful theatre space with its heritage features. Enjoy Mamma Mia! and enjoy the Stanley.

Bill Millerd, Artistic Director Emeritus

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SUMMARY On a beautiful island in Greece, twenty-year-old Sophie Sheridan is about to get married. There’s just one problem: she has no idea who her father is. After stumbling upon her mother’s old diaries, Sophie discov-ers that she in fact has three possible fathers and decides to invite them all to her upcoming wedding, without telling her mother or fiancé. Three days before the wedding, Sam, Bill, and Harry (the suspected fathers) arrive, along with Sophie’s two best friends and her mother Donna’s friends, Tanya and Rosie. When the potential fathers learn that Donna actually didn’t invite them and Donna suddenly discovers their presence on the island, mishaps starts to ensue. When Sky, Sophie’s fiancé, learns what she’s done, he becomes upset and questions whether the wedding should continue at all. The wedding draws closer and closer and Sophie and her friends try to identify which of the three men is truly her father. Meanwhile, Donna starts melting down as all the men from her past begin to confront her about their past relationships, particularly Sam. Donna, who doesn’t fully support her daughter’s early marriage, eventually tries to call off the wedding, sending Sophie into a tailspin. But the two are able to reconcile and Sophie decides that it would be far better to have her mother walk her down the aisle, than a father she’s never known. Finally the wedding day arrives and all three men are convinced they are the father, however, a turn of events send Donna down the aisle instead of Sophie. But all turns out happily in this fun and frothy musical about family, growing up, and love.

THE SMASH-HIT MUSICAL BASED ON THE SONGS OF ABBA

THE CAST. PHOTO BY DAVID COOPER

4 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

COSTUME SKETCHES by Alison Green

5 Bill’s Notes: Mamma Mia!

WHO IS ‘ABBA’?

Members Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, and Frida Lyngstad make up the band which originated in Sweden in the 1970s. They started out competing in European music festivals where some of their early songs garnered attention, but it wasn’t until their third album ‘ABBA’ that the band hit worldwide success. The band took their simple name by combin-ing the first letters of their first names (including Frida’s proper first name, Anni-Frid). Despite their overwhelming success, the group began to run out of energy in the early ’80s, especially after Benny and Frida announced their divorce. The women began to focus their attention on their solo careers and the men set their sights on composing the musical Chess. Eventually, at the end of 1982, they took a “temporary break.” It was the musical Chess that got playwright Catherine Johnson excited about ABBA’s music and began to weave a plot out of their hits, with full support from all the band members. Luckily, Björn Ulvaeus was insistent that, although many of ABBA’s songs already have story within them, the Mamma Mia! story should be at the fore-front and if lyrics needed to be changed, they should. The smash-hit musical was released in London in 1999. After a 35 year hiatus, ABBA announced an unprecedented return on April 27, 2018, with two new songs recorded for a project in which avatars of the band will perform.

SPOTLIGHT ON: ONCE

June 14– July 29, 2018Granville Island Stage

Once is not only an acclaimed musical, but also a unique and intimate theatrical experience. It tells the story of a struggling Irish busker and a determined young Czech woman, who pursue their musical ambitions while navigating the complexities of love. The multi-talented performers never leave the stage and play all their own music. With its heartfelt folk ballads and DIY aesthetic, Once combines the liveliness of a jam session with the nuanced emotions of a musical drama.

Adapted from an Academy Award–winning film, Once begins when Guy, an aspiring Dublin musician, decides to abandon his dream. He is plagued by self-doubt after a recent heartbreak. Girl, a Czech woman, watches Guy busking and takes an interest in his songs. She challenges his pessimism with her passion for music and her fierce determination. With Girl’s encouragement, they form a band, bringing together a rag-tag group of enthusiastic but amateur musicians. As they record their first album, they must navigate the group’s lack of experi-ence, along with Guy and Girl’s growing feelings for each other. Though Guy and Girl are connected by music, they are divided by their complicated romantic situations. Ultimately, both must choose whether to salvage their existing rela-tionships or embrace this new attraction.

Once is a different kind of musical, capturing the atmosphere of a recording studio, an open-mic night, and a busking performance. Its versatile cast invites us into an intimate love story, which embraces complexity. Beyond romance, Once explores the importance of pursuing our dreams and the power of music to draw people together. Packed with memorable folk songs, it is a truly unique experience.

ONCE

AN ENCHANTING GUY-MEETS-GIRL MUSICAL

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