Broadway's Mamma Mia! Will Be Honored March 25

By Andrew Gans
March 19, 2009

The New York production of the long-running musical Mamma Mia!, which also spawned a smash-hit film version, will be honored March 25 at Tony's DiNapoli Restaurant.

Dan May's Mamma Mia! oil painting will be unveiled that day, and the painting will then grace the restaurant's "Broadway Wall of Fame," which also honors such hit musicals as Jersey Boys, Spring Awakening and Wicked.

Restaurateur Bruce Dimpflmaier will host the event, which will be emceed by media personality Valerie Smaldone. Prints of the painting will be autographed by the cast and auctioned at a future event to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The New York cast of Mamma Mia! currently features Carolee Carmello (Donna Sheridan), Judy McLane (Tanya), Gina Ferrall (Rosie), Brandi Burkhardt (Sophie Sheridan), Chris Peluso (Sky), Sean Allan Krill (Sam Carmichael), Pearce Bunting (Bill Austin) and Ben Livingston (Harry Bright).

Tony's DiNapoli is located at 147 West 43rd Street at Broadway.

Mamma Mia! employs the hit songs of famed pop group ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young girl who hopes to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding, she brings three men from her mother Donna's past back to the Greek island they visited over two decades ago.

Mamma Mia! features music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, a book by Catherine Johnson, direction by Phyllida Lloyd and choreography by Anthony Van Laast.

The Winter Garden Theatre is located in Manhattan at 1634 Broadway. For more information visit www.mamma-mia.com.