Avon Players Invites Theatre-goers to the Party of the Season with ‘Mamma Mia!’

The Hits of Super-Group ABBA will have Audience Members of all Ages Dancing in their Seats

The end may be in sight for the summer travel season, but Avon Players’ upcoming musical will whisk theatre-goers away to an idyllic setting for infectious pop tunes, sun-drenched romance, and nonstop fun with Benny Andersson and  Björn Ulvaeus’ Mamma Mia!, running September 6-21.

On a small Greek island, Sophie (Mackenzie McIlroy) is soon to marry Sky (Salvatore Sbrocca). She dreams of a perfect wedding in which her father gives her away.  Unfortunately, she doesn’t know who her father is. Her independent mother Donna (Tracy Murray), a former pop singer who runs the local inn, refuses to talk about her own wild youth.  Sneaking a peek into Donna’s old diary, Sophie discovers three possible fathers: architect Sam Carmichael (Dan Romzek), travel writer Bill Austin (Bill Davenport), and rocker-turned-financier Harry Bright (Adam Wager). Unbeknownst to Donna, Sophie invites the three men to the wedding without revealing her true motives. When all three show up, Donna, with the help of her former bandmates—jet-setting divorcée Tanya (Johannah Steinbrecher-Booker) and free-spirited cookbook author Rosie (Pamela Plewa)—must face her past while preparing for the big day. Meanwhile, Sophie finds that her questions about paternity and matrimony are not so easily answered.

From L to R: Pam Plewa as “Rosie,” Tracy Murray as “Donna,” and Johannah Steinbrecher-Booker as “Tanya.”

Photo Credit: Bryan Clifford.

Mamma Mia! is a “jukebox musical” (a show created from existing songs) based on the music of the chart-topping Swedish pop group ABBA. ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus composed the show’s music and lyrics. Besides the title song, the show includes such hits as “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Super Trouper,” “Voulez-Vous,” and many more.

Mamma Mia! debuted in London in 1999 and is running there still, making it the seventh longest-running show in West End history. The musical’s New York run began in 2001.  When it closed in 2015, Mamma Mia! became the ninth-longest running Broadway show and the longest-running jukebox musical in Broadway history. The show has been an unqualified international success having been performed in more than 50 countries on six continents.  The 2008 film adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan grossed $615 million and spawned the 2018 sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

All performances take place at 1185 Washington in Rochester Hills, MI. Tickets for all shows are $22. Seniors and Student tickets are $20 on Sundays. Call 248.608.9077 for tickets or order online at www.AvonPlayers.org. Group rates are available by calling the box office. “Like” Avon Players Theatre on Facebook for special offers on tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. All seats are reserved. Show dates and times follow:

  • Friday, September 6              8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 7          8:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 8             2:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 12        8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, September 13             8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 14        8:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 15          2:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 19        8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, September 20             8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 21        8:00 p.m

Founded in 1947, Avon Players is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre located along the winding banks of Stoney Creek in the quaint Historic District of Rochester Hills, only about two miles from the heart of downtown Rochester. Avon Players has been performing shows in its unique A-frame theater since 1965. With ticket prices set at a fraction of those at professional theatre (plus free parking and concessions on a donation basis) a family of four can experience a sensational live theatrical event for about the cost of one ticket at a “downtown” venue. And for regular theatre-goers, an affordable outing can be an even better bargain by taking advantage of Avon Players’ season ticket packages, which yield discounts of up to 21% per ticket. Additionally, season ticket holders enjoy priority seating selection and voting privileges in Avon’s annual “Stoney Awards.”

Additional information regarding tickets and productions is available by calling the Avon Players box office at 248-608-9077 or by visiting the website: www.AvonPlayers.org.

Cast and Production Staff by Community:

Rochester

  • Mariana Gabriel (Producer)
  • Joe Mancinotti (“Pepper”)
  • Mark Misch (Set Dress)

Rochester Hills

  • John (JD) Deierlein (Director, Lighting Design and Set Dress)
  • Peggy Deierlein (Producer)
  • Nicholas Frederick (Ensemble)
  • Brad Holoday (Set Design)
  • Louise Holoday (Hair and Make-up Design)
  • Michelle Kaiser (Costume Design)
  • Nicholas Kibler (Sound Design)

Clinton Township

  • Shannon Lafrate (Ensemble)
  • Nikki Mullaly (“Lisa”)
  • Amanda Murray (Ensemble)

Commerce Township

  • Mackenzie McIlroy (“Sophie Sheridan”)

Davison

  • Dan Romzek (“Sam Carmichael”)

Ferndale

Drew Dyer (Ensemble)

Lake Orion

  • Bill Davenport (“Bill Austin”)

Macomb

  • Sharon Jourdan (Properties Design)

Pontiac

  • James Maurer (Ensemble)

Ray Township

  • Anne Curtis (Costume Design)
  • Megan Vandeberghe (Ensemble)
  • Max Schein (“Eddie”)

Romeo

  • Hannah Johnson (Ensemble)

Shelby Township

  • Tracy Murray (“Donna Sheridan”)
  • Mark Palmer (Sound Design)
  • Pamela Plewa (“Rosie Mulligan”)
  • Salvatore Sbrocca (“Sky”)
  • Lori Smith (“Ali”)

Troy

  • Maritoni Harte (Choreographer)

Warren

  • Johannah Steinbrecher-Booker (“Tanya Cresham-Leigh”)

Washington

  • Carter Wright (Ensemble)

Waterford

  • Adam Wager (“Harry Bright”)
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