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Rosie and Tanya arrive on a Greek island, ready to attend the wedding of long-time pal Donna’s daughter.

When hard-working tavern-owner Donna tells them she hasn’t had a day off in years, it’s all the impetus they need to launch into “Money, Money, Money,” one of many hits the Swedish pop group ABBA sang in the 1970s.

“Money, money, money. Always sunny,” the trio continues the catchy tune. “In the rich man’s world.”

Similar moments take place throughout the musical “Mamma Mia!” which Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre will present March 22 through March 31. Here anything a character does or says is likely to trigger another energetic dose of ABBA.

“It’s brilliant the way the show uses the entire ABBA catalogue,” said Scott Colin, of Wilkes-Barre, who portrays a character named Bill. “Whenever you have a jukebox musical there will be people who come to hear the music, but when they leave they’ll remember the story. Without the story, it would be a concert.”

ABBA fans can look forward to “Dancing Queen,” “SOS,” “The Winner Takes It All,” and many other songs, along with what choreographer Lindsey Cronauer, of Mountaintop, describes as “a lot of fun, feel-good moments.”

As the story gets underway, bride-to-be Sophie, age 20, reveals to two girlfriends she has been reading her mother’s diary and learned that Donna was intimately involved with three men — Sam, Harry and Bill. Suspecting one of them could be her father, Sophie has invited all three to her wedding.

“Dot, dot, dot,” the three young women chant in unison, repeating the ellipses that Donna jotted in her diary to indicate the fade-to-black portion of time spent with old flames.

“Sophie needs to find it (her father’s identity) out for herself because she believes her mother doesn’t want to talk about it,” said Kaylee Scritchfield, of Peckville, who plays Sophie. “She has kind of a love/hate relationship with her mother.”

Characters’ relationships may be fraught with mixed emotions, but cast and crew seem unanimous in their affection for the music that highlights the show.

“I love ABBA,” Scritchfield said.

“I wasn’t obsessed with their music (when I was growing up), but I am now,” said Angel Berlane Mulcahy, of Wilkes-Barre, who portrays “powerhouse of a woman” Donna. “People will be dancing in the aisles.”

“The sound is amazing,” said cast member Carol Warholak Sweeney, giving credit to the show’s live band, led by music director Jennifer Hunter.

Director Joanna Bryn Smith Esq. said she’s a fan not only of ABBA’s music but of Mamma Mia!’s plot, which she sees as celebrating a woman’s right to run her own life.

“Donna is a single mom and we have a lot of single moms (in real life). That’s what makes the story so relatable,” she said. “Rosie never got married and Tanya had several marriages. In our society women get judged for those choices but in this production no one is judged for a second.”

Another aspect of the production Bryn Smith enjoys is “three out of my six main leads have never been onstage before and three of my six smaller leads have never been on stage before. That’s what I love about it.”

“I never auditioned before. I put myself out there,” admitted newcomer Dylan Hakim, of Dallas, who plays a friend of Sophie’s prospective groom. “It’s been amazing.”

The production has also required hours and hours of effort.

“At this point I’m grateful for Pixy Stix, friends who bring me coffee, and a good under-eye concealer,” said Nickie Pimental, of Wilkes-Barre, who’s been singing and dancing in the ensemble as well as working on set construction.

As a recent rehearsal was about to start Pimental, choreographer Cronauer and director Bryn Smith were all intent on hammering nails into a door — offering proof the character Donna isn’t the only versatile “powerhouse woman” you’ll find at Little Theatre.

IF YOU GO

What: ‘Mamma Mia!’

When: 8 p.m. March 22, 23, 29, and 30 and 3 p.m. March 24 and 31

Where: Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 N. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre

Tickets: $20 (3 and younger, free) and may be purchased online at ltwb.org or by calling the box office at 570-823-1875 and leaving a message with contact information and number of tickets desired.

Mamma Mia! pre-party

What: Cocktail pre-party with light fare, followed by performance

Where and when: pre-party 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 29 at the Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre

Shuttle service: Will transport guests to Little Theatre in time for 8 p.m. show and return them to Westmoreland Club after show

Pre-party tickets: $40 for Westmoreland Club members; $45 for non-members

Performance tickets: $18, group rate

Reservations: Westmoreland Club members contact club concierge. Non-members see ltwb.org

Angel Berlane Mulcahy, center, plays Donna, the independent woman at the heart of the musical ‘Mamma Mia!,’ who welcomes her long-time friends Rosie (Wendi Prymus-Newell) and Tanya (Carol Warholak Sweeney) to the Greek island where she lives and runs a business and where her daughter is planning to get married.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_mamma.mia_.singers.jpg.optimal.jpgAngel Berlane Mulcahy, center, plays Donna, the independent woman at the heart of the musical ‘Mamma Mia!,’ who welcomes her long-time friends Rosie (Wendi Prymus-Newell) and Tanya (Carol Warholak Sweeney) to the Greek island where she lives and runs a business and where her daughter is planning to get married. Photo/Artwork by Luis M. Ramirez at FocusMediaProductions.com

Sophie (Kaylee Scritchfield), center, the soon-to-be-married daughter in ‘Mamma Mia!,’ shares with her two girlfriends (Rachel Orehotsky and Holly Ferrence) the contents of her mother’s diary, which offer clues about the identity of Sophie’s father.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_mama.trio_.jpg.optimal.jpgSophie (Kaylee Scritchfield), center, the soon-to-be-married daughter in ‘Mamma Mia!,’ shares with her two girlfriends (Rachel Orehotsky and Holly Ferrence) the contents of her mother’s diary, which offer clues about the identity of Sophie’s father. Photo/Artwork by Luis M. Ramirez at FocusMediaProductions.com

Cast members in Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre’s production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ include, first row: Wendi Prymus-Newell, Kaylee Scritchfield, Angel Berlane Mulcahy, Rachel Orehotsky and Holly Ferrence. Second row: Dylan Hakim, Jose Adames, Adam Seiwell, Kevin Barno, Carol Warholak Sweeney, Scott Colin and Dan Nudo.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_mama.big_.crowd_.jpg.optimal.jpgCast members in Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre’s production of ‘Mamma Mia!’ include, first row: Wendi Prymus-Newell, Kaylee Scritchfield, Angel Berlane Mulcahy, Rachel Orehotsky and Holly Ferrence. Second row: Dylan Hakim, Jose Adames, Adam Seiwell, Kevin Barno, Carol Warholak Sweeney, Scott Colin and Dan Nudo. Photo/Artwork by Luis M. Ramirez at FocusMediaProductions.com
Performance opens Friday at Little Theatre

By Mary Therese Biebel

[email protected]

IF YOU GO

What: ‘Mamma Mia!’

When: 8 p.m. March 22, 23, 29, and 30 and 3 p.m. March 24 and 31

Where: Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 N. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre

Tickets: $20 (3 and younger, free) and may be purchased online at ltwb.org or by calling the box office at 570-823-1875 and leaving a message with contact information and number of tickets desired.