In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
The current tour is non-equity as well. Hasn't it been non-equity for a while?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
The North American tour of Mamma Mia has been non-Equity and produced by Worklight for three seasons. This final season will be its fourth. Technically speaking, each year has a separate tour; the show goes out on the road for a full season, it closes and the contracts all end, and then a few months later, the tour is reassembled with some venter and and some new people for a full rehearsal process and it goes back out on the road, then repeats the process. Therefore, it is not inaccurate of them to call this a new Farewell tour. The average audience member just would not know that unless they paid attention to the full schedule or know of company contracts.
That said, it is different an the previous second national tour, which downsized two twice, the second involving an entirely new set. And made little distinction in their press releases. But this is BWW, and people will express discontent whether a release too little OR too much.
Also of note, aside from a few minor details (moon effect, shape of the wings), this tour of Mamma Mia, designed for short engagements, is very accurate to the flag ship West end production's current design, so hey...
The current/Farewell tour is the exact same physical production that has been out for the last few non-eq years (and is only slightly smaller than the final year the tour was Equity (on a SETA contract). As broadwayguy2 said, it is a very similar physical production to what is currently playing in the West End, London.
Both UK and US tour productions now feature the Flat, Non-Automated Taverna walls instead of the large rounded originals, for the tour: Moon is a projection, no Waterloo boat, but otherwise the elements of the original production remain.
Watch the current UK trailer on the London Mamma Mia website and you will see what the current tour looks like. Strangely, do not watch the video on the National Tour's site, as it is the Original set, giant taverna walls, Automated deck, and the light up floor, none of which are currently represented in the UK or US productions.
Next February (201, there will be a regional production of "Mamma Mia!" at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle (replacing "Intermission! The Musical", as I believe Casey Nicholaw is now directing something headed to broadway next season and is tied up with that). I don't know if it is one of the first regional productions of the show after the tour ends, but it seems fairly quick, since the tour just played in April of this year in Seattle (I missed it though, because I ended up going to New York the week it was playing here). I hope that they do some new and interesting things with the sets and costumes, and doesn't just rehash the original designs (or the cheapened designs for the tour).
There have already been a number of regional productions. I know of three in the past year just in the New England area (Maine State and Weston Playhouse last summer and a production at Ogunquit that just closed), and I know there have been others.
darreyl102 said: "Anybody caught the current you- how is it?
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Caught it in Louisville on Friday night. It's still fun. It's still fluff. It's still Mamma Mia! I'd recommend catching it one last time. With the final tour ending, and the Broadway production gone (going on two years), it's feeling like the end of an era. The cast was also very strong. Rosie and Tanya, as always, steal the show.