Stagecrafters readies a classic, ‘Mamma Mia!’

Stagecrafters is gearing up to present a new production of the classic show “Mamma Mia!” The show — studded with the catchy pop tunes of ABBA — runs May 6-29 at the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak.

“Mamma Mia!” revolves around bride-to-be Sophie as she mails three wedding invitations to her mother's former lovers, hoping to discover which is her father. Who will walk her down the aisle? That's the big question.

For director Rodel Salazar, the production takes him back to his days as a kid growing up in the Philippines.

“ABBA's music was a big part of my life, but at that time, I didn't know the group was called ABBA,” Salazar said. “I would hear ‘Mamma Mia,' ‘Dancing Queen' or ‘Waterloo' on the radio or on my parents' records and instantly start to dance and sing. It wasn't until we moved to the U.S. that I learned of the group's actual name. It was in the early-'90s, when the group released ‘ABBA Gold.'”

Salazar saw the show for the first time in 2001 and instantly fell in love with it.

“I was studying theatre at the time, and I said that I would love to direct it one day,” Salazar says. “Well, 21 years later, here we are! I've always known how I wanted the show to look like, and I'm excited to see it finally become a reality.”

Salazar believe what makes “Mamma Mia!” so timeless is the show's universal theme of searching for your identity and roots.

“Sophie doesn't know who she really is at the beginning of the show, because she thinks knowing who her dad was would give her the answer she is searching for,” he said. “There is also the beautiful story of a mother and daughter's bond to which many people can relate. The moment when Donna helps Sophie get ready for the wedding is something special and precious that only a mother and daughter can understand.”

Salazar describes the show's set as the look and feel of being on an island vacation in Santorini, Greece. “I specifically chose Santorini because of its recognizable white buildings with the blue domes,” he adds. “I went to Santorini in 2019 to take many inspirational pictures and videos that I shared with my production team.”

Of course, the local actors and crew really bring the experience to life.

“Our theatre community is thriving in the metro Detroit area, and Stagecrafters has been blessed with many wonderful talents,” Salazar says. “We all do this for our love of the theatre, so it makes it even more exciting and special when people want to be in or work on my show. Putting on a show like this requires a lot of people. My actors have rehearsed for many hours since February and my designers have worked night and day to make the show beautiful.”

What's also beautiful is that the show is finally getting in front of an audience. “Mamma Mia!” was originally slated to open in 2020 but was postponed twice due to the pandemic.

“I know that my original cast members are also excited to finally have an audience,” Salazar said. “I'm also hoping to see people leaving the theatre singing and dancing which would be a great indicator that they enjoyed the show.”