A Show Worth Your Money Money Money: MAMMA MIA! at the Marcus Center

From left to right, Lena Owens as Lisa, Juliette M. Ojeda as Sophie Sheridan, and Maddie Garbaty as Ali in Mamma Mia! 25th Anniversary Tour, performing at the Marcus Performing Arts Center through September 27, 2026. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

A review of Mamma Mia!

by Addy Betz, age 16

Mamma Mia! A show that guarantees fun, laughter, and comedy, the 25th Anniversary Tour, which I saw at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, delivers all three with ease.  This production is a beautiful display of love, family, and adventure. This show’s most incredible features were its costuming, the ensemble work, and the comedic choices, which are all what made this production stand out compared to your typical Mamma Mia! performance. An absolute blast from beginning to end, regardless of if you’ve seen Mamma Mia! ninety times or none, this tour is a MUST-see.

One of the first things that stood out to me about this particular production of Mamma Mia! was the costuming, which was designed by Lucy Gaiger and Cat Lovejoy. What made these costumes so well done was the way that they kept the original beachy, Greek style of the show while incorporating modern elements to make it clear that the show is set in the present. A standout piece for me was Sophie’s purple and blue tiered tie-dye skirt that she opened the show wearing. The skirt was modern in that it was low-rise and accessorized with a silver jewelry belt that sat perfectly around her hips and the skirt, but it also kept the style of the show with the beachy colors and patterns of each tier. Another bit of costuming that caught my eye were Sam and Donna’s outfits during "The Winner Takes It All." Sam was dressed in wide-leg black trousers and a black button-down, which not only complimented the actor’s physique and skin tone, but also matched Donna’s black slip dress, which she wore during that song, before proceeding to put on her pink wedding outfit. Both of the costumes being black was extremely symbolic to me, as it represented a funeral of sorts for both of the characters; Donna sings about her love for Sam that she believes is over, while Sam is grieving that Donna moved on from him and that he wasn’t able to win her back. Overall the costumes were beautiful and symbolic, stayed true to the story, and brought in modern elements.

In musical theatre, ensemble work is something that can make or break an entire show. If a show has an ensemble that is uncommitted, unfocused, or not enjoying themselves, it can ruin a show no matter how talented the leads are. Mamma Mia! does NOT have this issue in the slightest. From the beginning of the show to end, the ensemble was extremely present, always acting, and most importantly, you could tell that they were having so much fun. Specific ensemble members that caught my eye were Sarah Santos and her unbelievable facials and dancing, David Holbert and his constant fluid movement, Alessandra Antonelli and her gorgeous full-out dancing, and Tony Clements and his amazing expressions during “Money, Money, Money.” Those names are just some of the incredible dancers, actors, and singers in that kept the energy high through the whole production.

Lastly, the comedy in this touring production of Mamma Mia! absolutely blew me away. I went into the show expecting lots of dancing and fun, but I did not expect to laugh as much as I did! Erica Mansfield’s portrayal of Tanya is hilarious and her acting choices and comedic timing were impeccable, along with Kayla Ryan Walsh’s Rosie, who you just couldn’t help but love. My favorite number from Mamma Mia! is typically "Lay All Your Love on Me," featuring Sophie and Sky, but this production has changed my mind! My favorite now is the combination of "Chiquita" and "Dancing Queen," sung by Tanya and Rosie while attempting to cheer Donna up. These women are incredibly talented and absolutely hilarious, and in truth, stole the show! Additionally, Dominic Young’s portrayal of Pepper during "Does Your Mother Know" had the whole audience laughing as he begged and pleaded for Tanya, while she asked if his mother knew about the way he talked. The comedic duo of Young and Mansfield shone on stage, along with all of the comedic roles throughout this show.

The Mamma Mia! tour is pure joy, with costumes that sparkle, an ensemble of always-dancing queens, and comedy that makes you shout “Gimme, gimme, gimme more!” Spend your money, money, money wisely and see Mamma Mia! at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, and you’ll leave saying “Thank you for the music!”