Over 30 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters,
the story and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show!
Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise.
On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father
brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love,
laughter and friendship, and every night everyone's having the time of their lives.
CASTING
In MAMMA MIA! Movie - Universal's and producing partners' Playtone and Littlestar film adaptation of the hit musical, Colin Firth played 'Harry', Christine Baranski played 'Tanya' and Stellan Skarsgard was 'Bill'. Julie Walters was cast as 'Rosie', Amanda Seyfried as 'Sophie' and Dominic Cooper played 'Sky'. The film starring Meryl Streep ('Donna') and Pierce Brosnan ('Sam'), was directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and went into production in the summer of 2007.
Meryl Streep starred in "Mamma Mia!," the big screen adaptation of the hit tuner that Universal and producing partners Playtone and Littlestar filmed in Summer 2007. Littlestar's Judy Craymer produced with Playtone's Gary Goetzman. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were the exec producers with Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the Abba songwriters whose tunes drive the musical. Phyllida Lloyd, who directed the original "Mamma" in London as well as its Broadway incarnation, made her feature directing debut on the picture. The film was shot in London and Greece. Catherine Johnson, who wrote the book for the musical, penned the screenplay, about a bride-to-be who never met her father and was raised by a formerly rebellious single mother (Streep).
Pierce Brosnan and his entire family spent 5 weeks on Skopelos for the filming. During this time, he managed to charm the locals with his relaxed, unaffected and genuinely friendly manner. He was branded as a party animal after drinking his colleagues under the table at the "spur of the moment parties" thrown by the cast and production at the end of their tiring filming week.
Meryl Streep, on the other hand, was termed as waif-like and somewhat aloof. Filming kept her to the island for only about 10 days during which time she remained out of public sight with the exception of attending a function hosted by the mayor of Skopelos for the entire production and cast. During this event, she was extremely polite and ladylike. "She oozed a true star's aura" as one of the guests mentioned, "however, she remained somewhat distant. Nothing like her co-star (Pierce) who was on first name bases with everyone there, laughed, drank and was jolly throughout the evening." All Skopelites who witnessed her filming her location scenes were amazed at her professionalism and stamina. For instance, at the end of "The winner takes it all" song, she was supposed to leave Brosnan in tears and run up the steps towards the church. She had to shoot this scene 7 times - and in heeled shoes too!!! Anyone who has been to Ag. Ioannis will testify that climbing these steps just once is a feat in itself.
