Mamma Mia Naming Question

[mmFan]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:45pm

Something I've been meaning to ask for awhile. In the Broadway version of Mamma Mia, Bill's last name is Austin. In the movie, they changed it to Anderson.

Anyone know why they made the change?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:48pm

The name is Anderson in many productions of Mamma Mia. They localize the show based on what country the show is playing it (like how Donna is American in North America and British in London), and changing that father's name is part of how they do that.. along with some phrases and references..

[mmFan]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 12:51pm

Thanks for your response. I'm in Canada and when it was here, it was also Bill Austin, so just assumed all theatre productions used the same.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:10pm

No problem.
Bill has the only changed name, though countries of origins for all of the characters vary by where the show is playing. The film used the London production as it's base for most those things.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 1:21pm

The director gets into a long description of the changes caused by their locations in the program.