Roanoke, VA – The 2016 Music Series continues at Mill Mountain Theatre as the Music of ABBA returns next month. After a successful inaugural season last year with the two one-night performances selling out, Mill Mountain Theatre has expanded the Music Series to three shows that will span two nights each this year.
It’s been 24 years since a band from Stockholm, Sweden formed and quickly rose to fame after winning a song contest where they debuted their smash hit, “Waterloo.” ABBA, an acronym from the first names of the four band members: Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Agnetha Faltskog, became one of the most successful and beloved pop groups in music history. Long after the last performance by the group in 1982, ABBA’s music was adapted into the successful musical “Mamma Mia!” in 1999. An estimated 40 million people from around the world have seen the performance, one of the longest-running Broadway shows in history. Nearly ten years later, ABBA’s timeless tunes were again resurrected as a film version and accompanying soundtrack were released.
The group disbanded after just a decade, but the music will live on at Mill Mountain Theatre for two consecutive nights in June. The audience can enjoy their favorite beverages while being entertained with well-known dance floor classics that include “Take a Chance on Me,” a chart-topper that has graced many movies and television show soundtracks; “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” an upbeat best-selling single; and their number one pop masterpiece, “Dancing Queen.”
Three talented entertainers will take the audience back to the disco era of the 1970’s and 1980’s as they harmonize the unforgettable melodies made popular by the iconic Scandinavian foursome.
The Music of ABBA will premier June 3 on the Trinkle Main Stage in the Wells Fargo Auditorium at Center in the Square. The second performance will be on June 4. Beverages can be purchased from the bar at 6:30 p.m. with service continuing through intermission. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from the Center in the Square box office by calling (540) 342-5740 or online via Mill Mountain Theatre’s website atwww.millmountain.org.
After the show, keep the party going at Lucky’s, (18 Kirk Ave., Downtown Roanoke). Grab a bite and sample the “Fernet-do,” a cocktail created by Lucky co-owner and master mixologist Hunter Johnson to celebrate The Music of ABBA.
Enjoy a mixture of Fernet Branca, vodka, lemon and sugar, topped with pear cider. This specialty drink is available now through June 4.
The Mill Mountain Music Series grateful for the support from Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital; The Roanoke Star.com; and WDBJ Television.
The Music Series is made possible in part by generous underwriting by Bank of Floyd; Business Solutions, Inc.; Jefferson Surgical Clinic; Skyline Capital Strategies, LLC; Virginia Varsity Transfer/Virginia Varsity Storage; and Woods Rogers PLC. Grantors supporting this production are Actors’ Equity Association; Center in the Square; National Endowment for the Arts; and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
About The Music of ABBA cast:
- Jorie Janeway will make her third appearance at Mill Mountain Theatre this week. She most recently appeared in 42nd Street as brassy Maggie Jones. In her first performance at Mill Mountain Theatre, she was the grouchy Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music. Her other favorite roles include being Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone, performing as the female authority figure in Hairspray, playing Cindy Lou in The Marvelous Wonderettes, and being part of the ensemble of Sister Act.
- Lindsay Nantz returns to Mill Mountain Theatre after playing Penny Lou Pingleton in Hairspray last season. Her former credits include: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy); The Secret Garden (Lily); Les Miserables (Cosette); Merrily We Roll Along (Beth), The Rocky Horror Show (Janet); the Addams Family (Alice Beineke); Grease (Patty Simcox); A Christmas Carol (Belle/Mary); The Producers; Show Boat; The Drowsy Chaperone; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat; and The Lost Colony. For more information, visit www.LindsayNantz.com.
- Jill Vanderoef has been seen in two previous performances at Mill Mountain Theatre. She appeared in the production of Opry Divas and played Yonah in The Children of Eden. Some of her most memorable roles have been appearing as Cathy in The Last Five Years; Shelia in Hair; and playing Shelby in The Spitfire Grill. Visit www.jillvanderoef.com to learn more.
The band will include: Seth Davis (pianist), Mike Havens (bass/guitar), and Sam Nash (drums).
Production staff:
- Alicia Varcoe—Director Alicia is a director, lighting designer and theatre administrator currently employed at Mill Mountain Theatre as assistant to the producer. She is a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Elon University’s Theatrical Design, Production and Music programs. Alicia has served in a variety of roles at Mill Mountain Theatre including: calling stage manager for “Swing!”, and assistant lighting designer for “Children of Eden,” “Hairspray,” and “42nd Street.” She made her directorial debut with The Music of Motown at Mill Mountain Theatre last month and she was also in charge of lighting for the production. Additional lighting credits include: Headvoice (New York Musical Festival); Next to Normal (Elon); 18 months at 54 Below. She has served as assistant director for: Our Guy, Cy (54 Below); Chasing the River & Reefer Madness (New World Stages). Her prior experience has led to jobs and internships with the Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, The Juilliard School and INFINITY Stages/Darren Bagert Productions.
- Seth Davis—Musical Director Seth, another Georgia native, is thrilled to now call Roanoke his home. First coming to Mill Mountain Theatre in 2013 for The Sound of Music, Seth has served as resident music director for the past two seasons. His favorite regional music directing credits include: Spring Awakening and The Rocky Horror Show (Actor’s Express), Hair and Time Between Us (Serenbe Playhouse), Illyria (Georgia Shakespeare), and The Red Balloon (Theatre du Reve).
- Bill Webb (lighting designer)
- Ayme Gierchak (sound engineer)
