‘Mamma Mia!’ breaking box office records

By Shari Goldstein Stern

If it’s June, it must be time for “another openin’ another show,” presented by Patty Granville and Garland Summer Musicals (GSM) in partnership with Eastfield College. The 2019 season takes audiences to a Greek island for its premiere of “Mamma Mia!” and patrons left the first performance with smiles and some great suntans.

Once again, award-winner Michael Serrecchia directed the production of his fourth GSM season with his legendary finesse and attention to detail. Choreography is by Dallas’ celebrated actor and director Megan Kelly Bates, who also gave a predictably humor-driven, high-energy portrayal of Rosie. Who can resist a chorus line of grown men in flippers singing “Under Attack”?

While it’s always fun seeing familiar faces onstage at GSM, this time the show took a turn with many new actors, dancers and singers. According to Granville: “About seven of the young faces on stage are students from Michael Serrecchia’s Kim Dawson Conservatory. Also, we have a lot of college students from Oklahoma Universities as well as Texas colleges.”

“It is a young group,” Granville added. “‘Mamma Mia!’ is breaking all box office records for GSM. It is an incredible hit with the audiences. Sales for GSM’s final show of the season, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ are already brisk.”

Michael A. Robinson and Dallas Costume Shoppe brought the show’s wardrobe with lots of bells and whistles, otherwise known as sequins, lamé and bell bottoms.

Joan and Alan Claymore of Dallas enjoyed the show. “We had never seen ‘Mamma Mia!’ and we said to each other that this show should be on Broadway.” 

A group of teenage girls agreed, “We all had seen the movie with Meryl Streep but not a live musical. We were disappointed when it ended. We wanted more 6-packs and flippers.” A couple of them said they may come back.

The final show of the season, stage and film classic, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” will run the weekends of July 19-21 and July 26-28.   

Special college credit through scholarships is available through Eastfield College for the cast and crew. “Mamma Mia!” will run through next weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

For ticket information call the Box Office at 972-205-2790 or for online ticketing visit garlandartsboxoffice.com.

Since 1983, the Garland Summer Musicals has provided both entertainment and educational opportunities to North Texas with annual summer musical productions.