Woodstock Arts Brings 'Mamma Mia!' to the Stage, and Tickets Are Going Fast

Woodstock Arts opened its production of "Mamma Mia!" on May 1, and the organization is urging residents to act quickly, tickets are selling out fast for the ABBA-fueled musical, which runs through May 24.

It's easy to see why. "Mamma Mia!" follows a young woman who secretly invites three men from her mother's past to her Greek island wedding, all while a parade of ABBA's most beloved songs, "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me," "The Winner Takes It All", carry the story forward. Since its 1999 debut, the show has become one of the most reliably joyful productions in community and regional theatre worldwide, the kind of musical that fills houses and sends audiences out humming.

Production photos by Sydney Lee capture what audiences are walking into: a vibrant, sun-drenched scenic design by Brian Gamel that evokes whitewashed Greek island architecture, lit in warm purples and strung with bistro lights, with a full ensemble filling the stage in bright summer colors. It looks like a party.

Director Zach Stolz leads a creative team that reflects the professional standards Woodstock Arts has built its reputation on. Music direction is by Katie Berger Wood, choreography by Alex Self, and Delaney Circe serves as intimacy director, a credit that signals the thoughtful, actor-centered approach increasingly common in professional productions and one Woodstock Arts has embraced at the community level. Rounding out the team: lighting design by Lilliana Avant, costume design by Gayle Sandlin and Mary Baldwin, sound design by Brent Sheffield, and stage management by Riley Tagliatella.

That depth of behind-the-scenes talent matters. Woodstock Arts is the City of Woodstock's dedicated arts organization, presenting professional and community theatre, visual arts, and arts education programming from its downtown Woodstock venue. Its mainstage productions draw audiences from across Cherokee County and the broader north metro Atlanta area, and the organization has steadily raised the production bar for what residents can expect from local theatre.

For Cherokee County residents looking for a night out before the school year winds down, the window is narrowing. "Mamma Mia!" runs through May 24.