Colonnade Players present ‘Mamma Mia!’

The hilarious and charming story of three men and the young woman who believes one of them is her father opens tonight, Sept. 12, when the Colonnade Players present “Mamma Mia!” The musical will run for two weekends at The Colonnade in Ringgold, Georgia.

“Mamma Mia!” was a 2008 musical romantic comedy film, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Catherine Johnson, based on the 1999 musical of the same name written by Johnson. It is based on the songs of pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson.

The plot follows a young brideto-be, Sophie, who invites three men to her upcoming wedding, each with the possibility of being her father. When Sam, Bill and Harry arrive on the eve of her wedding, Sophie smuggles them to their room, reveals that she believes one of them is her father and explains that she, not her mother, sent their invitations. She begs them to hide so that her mother, Donna, will be surprised.

Meanwhile, Donna, who owns a villa and runs it as a hotel, is reuniting with her former Dynamos bandmates: wisecracking author Rosie Mulligan and wealthy divorcée Tanya Chesham-Leigh.

The story is woven around timeless ABBA hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes it All.”

This production features a cast of 34 local actors, with a number of local artists working behind the scenes. Dr. Jennifer Arbogast Wilson is director, Maggie Williams is choreographer, Darla Toker is costume designer and Taylor Williams is scenic designer.

Additionally, several recent graduates and current students from the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State Community College are involved onstage and behind the scenes, including Richard Nichols as assistant director and Landon Carpenter, Madison Gothard and Austin Massey as the stage management team.

Tickets are $13 to $17. The Sept. 21 performance will be interpreted for the deaf.

For tickets: 706-935-9000.

COLONNADE PLAYERS CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Beth McClary-Wolford plays Donna and Greg Glover is Sam, one of three men Donna’s daughter secretly invites to her wedding in order to find out which is her father.