Paul Russell

U.S. Regional Premiere

"If you’ve never seen a show at Barter Theatre or if you’ve seen a hundred, you are going to be absolutely amazed and enthralled by MAMMA MIA!, which is, without a doubt one of the best — if not THE best — musical ever to literally rock the historic old venue."

Herald-Courier

 (Above: Hope Quinn & Justin Tyler Lewis - "I Have a Dream" )

"Beats New York, London, and Washington!

"MAMMA MIA! just opened at the Barter Theatre... What a performance!
Absolutely not to be missed!"

Trip Advisor

(Above L. to R.: Hannah Ingram, Tricia Matthews & Paris Bradstreet - "Dancing Queen Bows")

“If you see the wonder

of a fairy tale…”

"I Have a Dream" (Mamma Mia!)

Director's notes...

Much of my adolescence was lived in the Delaware Valley (the Philadelphia area). Obviously, I have an affinity for cheesesteaks, the Phillies, Philly soft pretzels, and I am devoted to a wondrous convenience store chain called Wawa. More importantly I have a love for the people—both friends and passersby—of the Delaware Valley. The sense of community within the Philadelphia metropolitan area is fervent. It’s familiar. Odd as it may read to you, all that is within the Delaware Valley—cheesesteaks, friends, and Wawa—is my family, along with my blood relations.

For Sophie (as with my mother, myself, my brother and his daughter) until the hope of knowing her full family—that happy ending of Sophie’s fairy tale—is fulfilled, Sophie’s environment, her mother, Tonya, Rosie, her fiancé, and friends within MAMMA MIA! is ‘family.’ Possibly, that missing branch—the identity of Sophie’s father—is also family. Emptiness encourages hope. Hope and wonderment are kind siblings to call family. As for Sophie? Her fairytale delivers her a family three-fold.

(Above: Tricia Matthews & Cast - "Mamma Mia")

(Above: Cast in "Lay All Your Love on Me")

(Above, L. to R.: Hannah Ingram, Tricia Matthews, & Paris Bradstreet - "Dancing Queen")

(Above L. to R.: Rick McVey, Nick Koesters, and Nick Piper)

(Above: Cast in "Voulez Vous")

(Above L. to R.: Tricia Matthews & Hope Quinn - "Slipping Through My FIngers":)

(Above: Hannah Ingram & Sean Maximo Campos in "Does Your Mother Know?")

(Above: MAMMA MIA! company pose for wedding photo in "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do")

MAMMA MIA! 'Behind-the-Scenes' Special on NBC''s Daytime Blue Ridge:

MAMMA MIA! U.S. Regional Premiere Trailer - Barter Theatre:

Company

Barter Theatre - 1st perfomance May 27, 2016:

Production:

Sound Design: Tony Angelini; Lighting Design: Andy Morehouse; Costumes: Howard Tsvi Kaplan, Set Design: Richard Finklstein; Technical Director: Caspar Eichin; Props: Helen Stratakes; Stage Manager: Cindi Raebel; Assistant Choreographer: Sarah Laughland; Choreographer: Amanda Aldrige; Music Director: Lee Harris; Director: Paul Russell; Producing Artistic Director: Richard Rose