Mamma Mia! Brings ABBA's Greatest Hits and a Big Heart to The National Theatre
The Greek island sunshine has arrived in downtown Washington, as the national tour of Mamma Mia! settles into The National Theatre for a limited run through Nov 15, 2026. Built around the beloved songs of ABBA, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and a book by Catherine Johnson, the musical has charmed audiences around the world for decades, and this touring production is giving DC theatregoers every reason to fall in love with it all over again.
The story centers on Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be living on a small Greek island with her mother, Donna, who runs a struggling taverna. Determined to have her father walk her down the aisle but unsure who he is, Sophie quietly sends wedding invitations to three men from her mother's past. When all three show up just as the celebrations begin, Donna is caught completely off guard, and a weekend of romantic mix-ups, long-buried secrets, and nonstop hits like "Dancing Queen," "Voulez-Vous," "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!," and the title song unfolds.
Critics have been especially taken with how fresh this production feels. Under the direction of Phyllida Lloyd, these familiar characters come across as newly imagined rather than carbon copies of the film or earlier stagings, with the cast clearly encouraged to put their own stamp on each role. At the center of it all is Jessica Crouch as Donna, whose powerhouse voice and emotional depth have drawn some of the highest praise of the run. Her performance of "The Winner Takes It All" has been singled out again and again as the evening's showstopper, the kind of moment that leaves an entire audience holding its breath.
The bond between Donna and Sophie, played with warmth and sincerity by Juliette M. Ojeda, gives the show its emotional heart, and their tender "Slipping Through My Fingers" is a moment parents in the audience won't soon forget. Jalynn Steele brings bold, unexpected energy to the glamorous Tanya, while the role of Rosie delivers big laughs through sharp comic timing and a lovely voice, especially in a playful "Take a Chance on Me" opposite Leland Burnett's Bill. Victor Wallace makes a magnetic Sam, particularly in "S.O.S.," and Rob Hancock gives Harry real charm, sharing a touching "Our Last Summer" with Crouch. Dominic Young turns "Does Your Mother Know" into an athletic crowd-pleaser, and Grant Reynolds brings an easygoing sincerity to Sky.
The ensemble earns its own ovation, with Anthony Van Last's energetic choreography reaching a high point in the flipper-clad high kicks of "Lay All Your Love on Me." The band, led by Andrew David Sotomayor, plays ABBA's demanding score with precision and real spirit, and the creative team rounds out the experience with a bright, island-ready set by Nancy Thun and Brian Webb, colorful lighting by Howard Harrison, crisp sound by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and costumes by Lucy Gaiger that suit every character perfectly.
Once the story gets rolling, it becomes a joyful, emotional, and irresistibly fun night out, one where the audience can't help singing along. Mamma Mia! runs approximately two hours and 35 minutes, including one intermission, and is recommended for ages 6 and up.