Mamma Mia in Boston

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 2:59pm

This is a question i've had for awhile, and I don't know why I haven't asked BWW before.

I saw Mamma Mia in Boston in August 2001 before it opened on Broadway. I always assumed this was a pre-Broadway try out, however it was not the Original Broadway Cast. (Dee Hoty was Donna). A year later, my mother took me to see it again (against my will) when the National Tour came through Denver, with the exact same cast that I saw in Boston.

So, what the heck did I see in Boston? Was it a pre-Broadway try out with a new cast? A National Tour before the Broadway production?

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 3:03pm

pre-broadway engagement. When the show moved to NY, some parts were recast. Then on tour, sometimes they used the orignal.

FOR EXAMPLE.. in wicked, after the SF tryout, Kristy Cates replaced Stephanie J. Block as an ensemble member/understudy for Elphaba. For the first national tour cast of wicked, it was Stephanie J Block who lead the cast.

Kinda similar, right? Christopher Fitzgerald replaced Kirk McDonald as Boq, and Kirk went on to play the role again later.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 3:49pm

MAMMA MIA! basically played in a couple of US cities before a Broadway production was announced. It wasn't a national tour.

When the Broadway production was announced it was assumed that this touring cast would become the original Broadway cast, but it wasn't -- they simply promoted certain actors (Louise Pitre and Tina Maddigan and a few others) to the Broadway production (adding Karen Mason and Judy Kaye to the roster). A national tour was then cast, so when MAMMA MIA! made it's debut on Broadawy in October 2001, it had a counterpart touring production playing US cities simutaneously.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 3:52pm

Ah Ha! Thanks guys!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 3:54pm

I remember seeing thbe show at the Shubert in Los Angeles. It was one of the theatre's last shows. I was little, so the loud overture scared me. But Louise and tina were amazing. Why did the never have an OBCR/OTCR. And to be 0T, Mary Poppins is being released as the Broadway logo with the London cast.