Mamma Mia! At Broadway San Jose

Let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love Mamma Mia! ? From the well-known Abba songs, to the spectacular choreography, this famous Broadway musical is a hit with everyone–young and old. I first became familiar with Mamma Mia! when the film was released in 2008, starring Meryl Streep. While I had long known and loved the Abba songs, watching Mamma Mia! only amplified that love. I recently watched the film again with my mother, and was not quite sure how she would take it. A pretty conservative women, a story about a girl with three potential fathers–maybe a little too Maury for her. But not even she could resist the charm of Mamma Mia! Like me, she was instantly hooked, and occasionally breaks out singing Abba’s “Mamma Mia!” from time to time.

When I heard that Broadway San Jose would be featuring Mamma Mia!, I knew that I had to go see the live performance, and of course, I had to take my mother with me. Last night, my mother and I attended the phenomenal performance of Mamma Mia! at the San Jose Center For Performing Arts. Celebrating their 2nd birthday, the audience broke out singing “Happy Birthday” to Broadway San Jose on reaching this milestone. The venue was packed with hundreds of Mamma Mia! fans waiting for the show to start. The set design, costumes, and lighting were clearly well thought out; the design elements for the show worked flawlessly. All the favorite Mamma Mia! numbers were sung–”Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” and of course, “Mamma Mia!,” amongst the other wonderful songs from the performance.

What I have always enjoyed most about Mamma Mia! is the characters. Each character in the story is incredibly unique and dynamic, with every audience member finding someone they can relate to, or someone they “know” . The actors perfectly captured the complexity of each of the characters, helping the audience get immersed into the story line. Throughout the performance, everyone was dancing in their seats, and some were even singing along with every song. The best part of the performance came at the very end with the huge musical number. The lights were bright, the music was loud, and the energy was high onstage. Singing the hits Mamma Mia! is known for, all the actors filled the stage to give the audience a performance not to be forgotten. Before long, everyone was up on their feet, singing, clapping, and dancing along!

Without a doubt, this is not a show you will want to miss! I had a wonderful time, as did my mother. Broadway San Jose’s Mamma Mia! is running through June 12, with five more performances remaining. Please visit www.broadwaysanjose.com for more information on how you can purchase tickets. Broadway San Jose is also on Facebook (facebook.com/broadwaysj) and Twitter (@BroadwaySanJose). Fan and follow for updates on upcoming performances from their 2011-12 season line-up (it includes Mary Poppins and Cats), as well as special offers and promotions.