Mamma Mia- Donna Question

[MelissaF]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 8:44pm

Does anyone know, if the role of Donna has always been played by a brunette on stage? Has there ever been a blonde Donna?

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 9:16pm

Carol Linnea Johnson is blonde, and Carolee Carmello has that fabulous red hair.

Those're the only two I know off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure it's not an exclusively brunette role.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 9:18pm

And Louise Pitre's hair was white, remember?

[intejag]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 10:16pm

To name a few, Linzi Hateley (current London Donna) is blonde. Ditto Gunilla Backman in the Swedish production. Ditto Lone van Roosendaal in Essen.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 10:45pm

Every hair type and color has been seen on Donna. The character isn't hair specific.

There have been long red hair, medium length black curly hair, silver hair, short blonde hair, long blonde hair, light brown hair, its endless.

Same thing with Tanya. There have been red headed ones; blonde ones; brunette ones, etc.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 12:18am

Yup, every type of hair has been seen. The original Toronto/US Tour/Broadway Donna, Louise Pitre has fabulous silver hair. Same deal with the Tanya's, and every other cast member for that matter. Even "the girl with golden hair", Sophie doesn't always have golden hair.

Updated On: 7/2/08 at 12:18 AM

[Ivan2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 12:51am

That really funny you talk about "the girl with the golden hair" because when I saw it on Sunday evening I leaned over and whispered to my cousin I was seeing the show with: She doesn't have blonde hair.

I was a little bit confused at that part, but then I figured it was just a reference to blondes seem to be more desirable, and how now 3 men wanted to be her dad.

Also, off topic, was the show in London first? If not, why is the CD all sung with British accents? Ha ha.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 12:54am

Ivan2-
The show was done in London before the US.

They were actually afraid it wouldn't do well here, so it started in San Fran, and then went to Chicago (Maybe? I don't have access to the souvineer brochure), before NYC.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:25am

Louise Pitre's silver hair was fabulous!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 5:16am

"Sophie doesn't always have golden hair."

Yeah, for example, Carrie Manolakos (Sophie on tour and current Broadway Sophie) has brown hair.

There isn't really a "hair requirement" for anyone in this show, so it doesn't matter if Donna has red, blonde, or brunette hair.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 7:43am

Dee Hoty (who almost ruined the show for me for a while) was blonde and Jackie Wells (who played Donna and tour and is now in the Broadway ensembled has some funky color conglomerate.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 9:30am

Louise Pitre's silver hair was the best. SO gorgeous.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 9:49am

Haven't seen Carolee, but of the various incarnations I have seen, Louise also was by far the best Donna.

I wish she had more opportunities down here...the latest thing I saw here in was a pretty awful Canadian TV movie about Celine Dion...she played her mother.
Updated On: 7/2/08 at 09:49 AM

[NYCtheater]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:22am

Leah Hocking also played Donna a few years ago and she is a blonde.