Latest news with #MammaMia!
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Oscar-nominated actress reveals she was cruelly rejected by Wicked after 6 audit
A Hollywood star has spoken about working her 'ass off for years and years' auditioning for Wicked but failing to be cast. In 2012 it was announced that the stage musical would be adapted for screen, however it wasn't until 2021 when Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were cast as Elphaba and Glinda. However, in recent years Amanda Seyfried, who had previously starred in the movie musicals Les Misérables and the Mamma Mia! franchise, revealed she was desperate to be cast in Wicked too. The 39-year-old, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 2020's Mank, had previously said she had dreamed of playing Glinda since she was a child. This week she went on to detail the intense schedule she put herself through in her efforts to secure the role. 'I'm in that privileged spot where I just don't have to [audition],' she said on the latest episode of the Backstage's In the Envelope podcast. 'But I like, of course, I talked about this a lot. I auditioned like six times for Wicked.' She went on: 'Because that had to be really just right. And I like, I loved it. 'I was busy. I barely had time to do it, but I made it work. I worked my ass off for years and years and years on that music.' 'I'm just competitive with myself in a really healthy way.' Earlier this year Amanda also spoke on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about singing with Cynthia, 38, while trying out for Glinda. 'I was able to really prepare, and I'm telling you, I've never felt that solid in my voice than I did at the auditions. And that's kind of what I got out of it,' she told host Josh Horowitz. 'I do, again, think everything happens for a reason. 'I also got to sing with Cynthia, and that was a moment in itself.' She had also once said she 'bent over backwards' to audition for the franchise, also working with a vocal coach and acting coach. However, in November last year, Cynthia appeared to throw shade on Amanda when praising Ariana. Speaking to The New York Times, Cynthia said it was 'no surprise whatsoever' to her when she learned Ariana had secured the role of Glinda. 'Thank goodness, because it was not the two ladies that I was auditioning with.' Renee Rapp and Dove Cameron had also been in the running to play Glinda. More Trending For their starring roles in Wicked, Cynthia and Ariana, 32, were nominated for best actress and best supporting actress at the Oscars. Its sequel Wicked: For Good out in November this year. Despite missing out on the role, Amanda later called the Wicked movie 'fantastic'. 'It's an extravaganza, which is what she [Grande] does really well. And [my kids] have been playing the soundtrack nonstop. And everything is as it's meant to be for sure,' she said. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Orlando Bloom hints at relationship status with Katy Perry in Instagram post MORE: Denis Villeneuve dares to step into 'sacred territory' as new James Bond director MORE: Daisy Edgar-Jones to star in remake of classic Jane Austen period drama
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Mamma Mia! coming to Llandudno as extra dates announced
Mamma Mia! embarks on a new UK tour from October 24, and now further dates and venues have been announced - including Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The new dates and venues for 2026 are: Hull New Theatre (7 – 18 April), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (21–25 April), Blackpool Opera House (28 April –3 May), Birmingham Hippodrome (12–30 May), Hall for Cornwall, Truro (2 –13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (16 – Sat 27 June), Norwich Theatre Royal (30 June –11 July), Eastbourne Congress Theatre (14 –19 July), Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre (28 July – 2 August), King's Theatre Glasgow (13 – 29 August 2026). Previously announced dates are: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (24 October – 8 November 2025), Bristol Hippodrome (11 - 22 November 2025), New Theatre Oxford (25 November – 6 December 2025), Edinburgh Playhouse (9 December 2025 – 4 January 2026) Swansea Building Society Arena (13 January – 24 January 2026), His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen (27 January – 7 February 2026), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 – 28 February 2026), Palace Theatre Manchester (3 – 21 March 2026), Curve, Leicester (24 - 29 March 2026). Mamma Mia! From West End to global phenomenon, Mamma Mia! is Judy Craymer's ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island idyll. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there's never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Now in its 26th year, the show has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London's West End. The international tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performed more than 3,800 shows and has been seen by over 7.3 million people. Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia became the 9th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People's Republic of China. Produced by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, opened in July 2018 and became the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. Both films starred Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, with Lily James, Andy Garcia and Cher joining them in the second film. With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. Casting for the UK tour has yet to be confirmed.
Campaign ME
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
Marketing global events to audiences in the Middle East
Global live entertainment was no longer testing the waters in the Middle East. With major international live events coming to markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, regional audiences are showing up and selling out arenas and stadiums across the Middle East. This month, Proactive Entertainment has brought the internationally renowned musical Mamma Mia! to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Taking over Etihad Arena on Yas Island from June 11 to 22, the event has hosted thousands of theatre fans. Jose Cuervo, Middle East Regional Director at Proactive Entertainment speaks to Campaign Middle East on how it shaped its marketing strategies to draw in audiences to the show. 'We run campaigns in parallel,' he explains, stating that strategies differ on the optimal target audience for each live event. 'For Mamma Mia!, our key target audiences are women in their late 20s to, high 40s. We have understood that for this demographic in particular, the best way to actually convert is digitally through Meta, Google and through out-of-home (OOH),' he says. 'We have a very strong outdoor strategy which goes not only through Abu Dhabi but also in Dubai,' he continues, 'from branding on taxis, billboards on streets, and screens in different places around the country.' 'That has allowed us to have a very omnipresent campaign throughout the show's run,' he adds. But demographics alone don't sell tickets. Consumer insight is the compass. 'We're constantly surveying audiences, not just in the UAE, but across the Middle East,' Cuervo says. Even though he admits that shows like Hamilton may take years to migrate from New York to Yas Island, 'when they do, the demand is rarely in question,' he says. He further explains that Proactiv also keeps a close watch on repeat viewership and bases its strategy on how soon a show can return to a market and still sell out. In terms of converting awareness into ROI in ticket sales, Cuervo says 'YouTube ads has been very big for us,' as they 'allow for the show to be present at all times, even when you're far from the season itself.' He also says that 'Instagram and search are always at the top,' of the event company's conversion rate. Finally, securing the right partners adds to the strength of marketing global events to audiences in the Middle East. 'Platinumlist has been in the region for years and they've grown a very strong database which allows us to speak directly not only to their entire database but segments that are more relevant to us when it comes to musicals,' Cuervo says. 'Our government partners, Miral and DCT Abu Dhabi have also been instrumental in driving this theatre strategy and turning Abu Dhabi into the theatre capital of the Middle East,' he adds. 'That's why we have been so successful – because it's the collective effort of several stakeholders,' he concludes.
Rhyl Journal
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Mamma Mia! coming to Llandudno as extra dates announced
Mamma Mia! embarks on a new UK tour from October 24, and now further dates and venues have been announced - including Venue Cymru in Llandudno. The new dates and venues for 2026 are: Hull New Theatre (7 – 18 April), Venue Cymru, Llandudno (21–25 April), Blackpool Opera House (28 April –3 May), Birmingham Hippodrome (12–30 May), Hall for Cornwall, Truro (2 –13 June), Leeds Grand Theatre (16 – Sat 27 June), Norwich Theatre Royal (30 June –11 July), Eastbourne Congress Theatre (14 –19 July), Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre (28 July – 2 August), King's Theatre Glasgow (13 – 29 August 2026). Previously announced dates are: Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (24 October – 8 November 2025), Bristol Hippodrome (11 - 22 November 2025), New Theatre Oxford (25 November – 6 December 2025), Edinburgh Playhouse (9 December 2025 – 4 January 2026) Swansea Building Society Arena (13 January – 24 January 2026), His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen (27 January – 7 February 2026), Newcastle Theatre Royal (11 – 28 February 2026), Palace Theatre Manchester (3 – 21 March 2026), Curve, Leicester (24 - 29 March 2026). Mamma Mia! From West End to global phenomenon, Mamma Mia! is Judy Craymer's ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs with a sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads unfolding on a Greek island idyll. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there's never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Now in its 26th year, the show has been seen by over 11 million people and has played over 10,000 performances in London's West End. The international tour has visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performed more than 3,800 shows and has been seen by over 7.3 million people. Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia became the 9th longest running show in Broadway history where it played a record-breaking run for 14 years. In 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People's Republic of China. Produced by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! The Movie became the highest grossing live action musical film of all time upon its release in 2008. A second film, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, opened in July 2018 and became the most successful live musical movie sequel of all time. Both films starred Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper, with Lily James, Andy Garcia and Cher joining them in the second film. With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. Casting for the UK tour has yet to be confirmed.
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Flor Peña keeps shining, now starring in Pretty Woman
With a career spanning over three decades, Florencia Peña has proven herself to be a versatile artist, effortlessly navigating comedy, drama, television, film, and especially in recent years, the world of musicals. Her versatility and stage presence have made her one of the leading figures in the genre in Argentina. Following the overwhelming success of Mamma Mia!, Flor returns to Avenida Corrientes to portray Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical — the iconic character Julia Roberts made famous on screen, now brought to life anew in musical form. In this interview, Flor talks about her passion for musicals, the contrasts between her recent works, her perspective on the genre in Argentina, and the role of women in a field that, while growing, still has battles to fight. You just starred in Mamma Mia! with great success, and now you're stepping into the role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. What attracted you to this new character, and what challenges did you face moving from such a festive musical to a story with more romantic and dramatic tones? I think what I like the most is diversifying myself, trying new things. Especially since this is the first time I'm doing two musicals so close together. So I said, 'What character can I choose or what can I do that's different from before?' Mamma Mia! had a more matriarchal energy — she's a mother who chooses to be a single mom, a strong woman running her business, her hotel. Vivian, the character in Pretty Woman, is a loser, a woman who has a job she doesn't like and wants to get out of it. So they are very different. Also, this new project requires me to sing much more difficult songs. So, well, I'm doing something different from what I had been doing. "I like to diversify myself" In recent years we've seen you increasingly involved in musicals. What did this format do for you? Do you feel you discovered something new about yourself as an actress or singer? I have been doing musicals for a long time, and it has always been the genre that fulfilled me the most. I have done a lot of theater, but honestly, not every musical made me want to get on stage and perform. Recently, with Cabaret, Mamma Mia! and Pretty Woman — the last three musicals I did — I really felt excited to perform them, so yes, I'm happy. How do you see the musical scene in Argentina today? Do you feel the audience supports musicals more than before, or is it still a genre that has to earn its place? I think people support it much more now than before. I believe there's a boom in musicals that didn't exist before; people are understanding the musical code more and are turning to this genre. So yes, I think musicals are having a good moment. "There's now a boom in musicals that didn't exist before" Do you have anything lined up after Pretty Woman? Do you want to keep doing musicals, or are you eager to try something else? I have the rights for Chicago, so that's what I'll be doing next. I wish they weren't so close together, but sometimes you get the rights for a certain time and you have to use them, so next is Chicago, and after that I'll take a break from musicals. Chicago is my dream! I've already done two shows by the American choreographer Bob Fosse: Sweet Charity, Cabaret, and now I'll do Chicago. I think I'm going to be the only actress in the world to have done the Fosse trilogy, so I'm happy. "I think I'm going to be the only actress in the world to have done the Fosse trilogy, so I'm happy" Throughout your career, you've broken molds across different genres. In the Argentine musical world, how do you see the role of actresses today? Do you feel there's more space and prominence for women, or are there still barriers to overcome? I think in theater we have more space. Obviously, with leads — women versus men — it's often the case that men always get paid better or that when there's a man and a woman, the man always goes first. Except in the case of Juan Ingaramo — my co-star in Pretty Woman — who is a newcomer; otherwise, the man always goes first on the left. But well, I've understood those things. I fight for my place; I'm an actress who stars a lot, so I can't complain. I've earned my place, and in theater, I've earned the respect of my peers and good reviews, so I consider myself a very respected theater lead. I'm happy. "I consider myself a very respected theater lead"
