In their eight-year career, the Swedish pop group, ABBA topped music charts across the world selling over 350 million albums. ABBA ended in 1982, but their music never went away. For the past 20 years, ABBA’s music has constantly stayed on heavy rotation at weddings, gay discos and at shopping malls. Today the next page of the ABBA story takes place on Broadway’s stage in a musical called “Mamma Mia” that incorporates a clever storyline around 22 of ABBA’s most popular songs.

Mamma Mia has sparked a new genre of musical theater, incorporating a particular singer or groups songbook. Currently there are musicals out in London featuring the music of Queen and Boy George, and in the U.S., a musical using the songs of Billy Joel, and coming soon to a stage near you, a Mama’s and the Papa’s, a Beach Boys, and a Burt Bacharach musical. Tonight, the lasting appeal of ABBA and the emergence of a new style of musical theater.

Guests:

Gary Lynch, plays the role of Sam Carmichael both in Boston and originally for the North American and U.S. tour of Mamma Mia!

Craig Bennett, plays the role of Bill Austin in the Boston production of Mamma Mia!

Carl Magnus Palm, author of “Bright Lights Dark Shadows: The Real Story of ABBA” and “From ABBA to Mamma Mia! The Official Book;” Scott Miller, Artistic Director of the New Line Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri and author of “Assassins to West Side Story: The Director’s Guide to Musical Theatre” and “Rebels with Applause: Broadway’s Ground Breaking Musicals.”