5 Reasons to See Mamma Mia! on Broadway
The international hit, which features the songs of ABBA, is back at the Winter Garden Theatre.
Lena Owens, Amy Weaver, and Haley Wright in Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
Sun, sea, and 135 minutes of ABBA earworms? Yes, please! The feel-good musical is back at the Winter Garden Theatre for a limited engagement, returning to where the musical made its Broadway debut in 2001. But is it worth the trip back to Kalokairi?
We sure think so. Mamma Mia! has brought its Greek-island romance, mother-daughter heart, and irresistible pop catalog back where it belongs: in a theatre packed with people ready to clap on the two and four and sing along with every chorus. Whether you’re an opening-night diehard or finally taking a chance on this global hit, here are five reasons this megamusical is the happiest night out on Broadway.
Justin Sudderth and Jalynn Steele in Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
1. ABBA’s Beloved Anthems
“Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Super Trouper,” “Waterloo,” “Voulez-Vous.” The music of ABBA is practically engineered for maximum joy, and Mamma Mia! is filled to the brim with some of the band’s best tracks. Onstage, those hits arrive with the electricity of live vocals and a Broadway pit, turning familiar radio staples into showstopping storytelling moments. The arrangements land like mini concerts, while still serving character and plot, so the applause breaks feel like waves lapping against the Greek coast. And because every number is a winner, the audience is sure to be grinning and fully in the groove by curtain call.
Grant Reynolds and company of Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
2. Sun-Soaked Storytelling
Set on a postcard-perfect Greek island, Mamma Mia! takes the classic wedding-weekend comedy and adds real warmth: a daughter chasing her future, a mother reckoning with her past, and three very unexpected guests. The plot’s farce engine hums along as doors slam and secrets fly, but it’s the show’s sincerity that sneaks up on you. Between the big laughs, you get quiet emotional beats: I don’t know a single mother or daughter who can watch the mother-daughter getting ready scene, set to “Slipping Through My Fingers,” without crying. Mamma Mia! is fizzy escapism with a heartbeat, and you’ll leave feeling a little bit closer to the ones you love.
Jalynn Steele, Carly Sakolove, and Christine Sherrill in Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
3. A Crowd Pleaser Like No Other
Mamma Mia! is the rare musical that functions like a party: you are invited to have the time of your life! The choreography is exuberant without losing its breezy, beach-bar looseness. The comedy is shameless in the best way. And by the final megamix, the room is a single organism, clapping, cheering, and (yes) dancing. First-timers get swept up in the euphoria, repeat visitors chase that exact feeling all over again, and even the hardest of hearts find themselves in the groove. If your week needs a reset button, Mamma Mia! pushes it hard.
Christine Sherrill and company of Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
4. A Beloved Hit Rediscovered
Part of the thrill of a Broadway return is seeing how a new ensemble makes familiar moments feel newly minted. The show’s 25 year–old architecture remains rock-solid, even with the weight of two extremely successful film adaptations. Yes, the Mamma Mia! films are delightful, but the stage musical is a different kind of magic. Without the camera cuts or glossy edits, the humor, romance, and emotion land in real time, powered by the energy of the actors and the reactions of a live audience. Jokes build as the laughter rolls across the theatre, big ballads hit harder when you can feel the singer’s breath catch, and dance numbers surge with an electricity that can’t be replicated on a screen. Watching the story unfold alongside hundreds of other people turns Mamma Mia! into a collective rediscovery, where every gasp, cheer, and standing ovation is shared. Even if you know every button and blackout by heart, this spirited company can reveal new shades and jokes you swear weren’t there before.
Jim Newman, Victor Wallace, and Rob Marnell in Mamma Mia!
Joan Marcus
5. Learn to Let Go
Mamma Mia! was never gunning for the Pulitzer Prize. It’s an airy escape, summoning joy and laughter, no matter how dark things may be outside. In 2001, Mamma Mia! was embraced by New York as a centering force for good in the wake of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. And now in 2025, the bliss it provides is maybe even more valuable. As you watch characters use music to name their fears, reach for each other, and choose joy, you can feel the audience do the same, together, in real time. Families come for the cross-generational hits, friends come for the cathartic sing-along, and couples come for the romance. But by the time the last chorus rings, every single person leaves with a smile. It’s exactly why a communal, joy-filled night in a Broadway house is unbeatable.