NOVEMBER 5-11, 2014 UCW 11
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Mamma Mia! Comes to the GPAC Stage for One Night Only
BY ERINN CRIDER
This November the Givens Performing
Arts Center brings the ninth longest
running show in Broadway history to
the community. It was also the most
successful movie musical of all time and the
international tour has visited more than 35
countries. For one night only, Mamma Mia!,
the musical phenomenon that has been
sweeping the world, is on stage.
The music for this performance features
the songs of ABBA. The infectious and lively
nature of the songs are clearly reflected by the
exciting musical performance. It is impossible
to sit in the audience and not sing along.
"The music is what captivates audiences
along with the story," said Chad Locklear,
GPAC's director of marketing. "Fans of ABBA
are going to enjoy it for sure because it
features all of their greatest hits. Even those
who aren't ABBA fans will still recognize some of the songs."
Inspired by the ABBA songs, the story of Mamma Mia! is that of a single
day of chaos, love and hope on a lovely Greek island. Sophia, raised by her
single and independent mother, is about to get married and all she wants
is for her absent father to walk her down the aisle. She invites three men
from her mother's past in an effort to discover the truth about her father
and in the process discovers much about love and herself. Sophia's mother,
surprised by the arrival of these men, struggles with understanding
but also finds new love. Though Sophia and her mother face some large
challenges in their adventure, the overall tone is cheery and energetic
making for a consistently high-energy performance.
"It makes for a really fun and entertaining evening at the theatre. Lots
of singing, dancing and a fun story. There's a reason why it's been on
Broadway now for more than 10 years. It's a
great show that people love. It's a feel good
musical, " said Locklear.
Though Mamma Mia! is only showing for
one night, the GPAC season is full of many
different incredible shows. There is a show
for everyone in this star-studded and varied
season. GPAC is where the community
can come to enjoy Broadway-quality
shows without the price tag that typically
accompanies them.
"GPAC brings a variety of quality cultural
arts events to the community at a very
affordable price. The center recently received
national attention as one of the 25 best
university performing arts centers in the
country," Locklear said.
Another great addition to GPAC is its Act 1
Diner Club. Prior to every performance, the club
is open for dinner in the Chancellor's Dining Room. Dinner includes a wine and
cheese reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person
and reservations are required. For Mamma Mia! the menu includes a chopped fall
vegetable salad, beef tenderloin Bolognese, wild rice, fresh cut green beans and
tiramisu.
Tickets range from $21 to $46 and are available online at www.uncp.
edu/gpactickets or by calling 910-521-6361. Act 1 Diner
tickets can also be purchased online. Mamma Mia! is on stage
Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. GPAC is located at 1 University Dr. in
Pembroke. For more information
visit www.uncp.edu/student-
life/involvement-opportunities/
givens-performing-arts-center.
ERINN CRIDER, Contributing
Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@
upandcomingweekly.com.
Mamma Mia! is on stage at the GPAC for one night only, Nov. 13.
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