All they want is to sing it out loud!

A star-studded all-South African cast has been announced for the world’s number one show, Mamma Mia!, which is coming to Cape Town and Joburg in 2010.

From sets to costumes and its multi-talented 31-member company and six musicians, Mamma Mia! 2010 is proudly South African. Boasting a cast featuring South Africa’s finest talent starring many highly acclaimed stars of stage, film and the small screen, Mamma Mia! is next year’s hottest ticket for fun-filled family entertainment.

Opening at Artscape, Cape Town from Sunday, 15 August 2010, continuing to The Teatro at Montecasino from Tuesday, 5 October 2010, the South African cast of this global smash hit musical will be “singing out loud” for “somewhere in the crowd, there’s you”.

Award-winning actress, Gina Shmukler (Chess, Blues Brothers, Jesus Christ Superstar, Showboat) stars as the mother of the bride, Donna Sheridan. Joining her on stage is South Africa’s youngest theatre sensation, 19-year-old Carmen Pretorius (High School Musical SA, Shanghai, Footloose) cast as the bride-to-be, Sophie; theatre and television award-winning actress, Ilse Klink (Chicago, The Full Monty, Isidingo, Scandal, 7de Laan) is the no-nonsense Rosie; and acclaimed stage and television star, Kate Normington (Hairspray, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, High School Musical) plays the role of the wealthy, multi-divorcee, Tanya. Cape Town actor and 2008 IDO Hip Hop World Championships team finalist dancer, Stephen Jubber (Merchant of Venice, High School Musical, Bollywood movies) plays Sophie’s fiancée, Sky.

Popular Afrikaans actor and soapie-star, Anrich Herbst who began his television career as the young son, “Wimpie”, in the hit series, Orkney Snork Nie, and went on to play major roles in Egoli and Isidingo, will delight audiences in the role of the charismatic Sam Carmichael, one of Sophie’s three possible fathers. Murray Todd (We Will Rock You, The King & I, Boogie Nights, Oklahoma, That’ll be the Day, Generations) is Bill Austin, another possible father of the bride.

Sophie’s friends Ali and Lisa are played by Christel Mutombo (High School Musical, West Side Story, Cabaret) and Gemma Donnelly (Hairspray, My Fair Lady, Footloose), with Karabo Maithufi (Cats SA & International Tour, Hairspray, Groovy Nights) and Christopher Jaftha (High School Musical, Saturday Night Fever, African Footprint) as Sky’s friends, Pepper and Eddie.

The female ensemble includes Marlee van der Merwe (The Full Monty, High School Musical, Showboat); Natasha van der Merwe (Best Foot Forwards, For Old Time’s Sake, Scrooge the Musical). Trudy Fredericks (African Footprint, The Lion King, High School Musical); Chantell Joubert (South African colours for Latin American dance and freestyle dance, Strictly Come Dancing); Carly Graeme (Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You Asia/Pacific Tour); Molebatsi Lekgetha (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Amen Corner); Shelley Adriaanzen (Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, The King & I); Letshego Seekoe (Sweet Charity, Ragtime the Musical, The King & I); and Nurit Graff who makes her theatrical stage debut.

The male ensemble dancers are Clive Gilson (Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, High School Musical); Daniel Buys (Snow White, Spotlight); Darryl Evans (Cats, Chess, Beauty and The Beast); James MacEwan (Isidingo, Binnelanders, Angel’s Song); Lebo Toko (Ragtime the Musical, Touch My Blood); Nicol Sheraton (Chicago, Oliver Twist, We Will Rock You – New Zealand Tour).

"This all-South African cast is going to WOW audiences - a sensational mix of experience, youth and glamour - plus special chemistry! Fantastic fun…” says Mamma Mia! co-producer, Hazel Feldman.

Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs, writer Catherine Johnson's enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago...

Experience the wonderful, irresistible story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs in the world’s number one smash hit musical Mamma Mia! From West End smash to global phenomenon, Mamma Mia! has already been seen by more than 40-million people in over 200 cities across North America; Australia; Europe; and Asia. Mamma Mia!’s broad appeal to audiences of all ages guarantees everyone at every performance of this world-wide mega-hit will be “having the time of their lives”.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Mamma Mia! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast; production design by Mark Thompson; lighting design by Howard Harrison; sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken; and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

Big Concerts and Showtime Management, in association with NGM by arrangement with Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal present Mamma Mia!

Ticket sales open on 20 October. Book now at Computicket by calling 083 915 8000, or visit www.computicket.com. For Cape Town hospitality bookings, contact [email protected]. For all Teatro group bookings, contact Paula Kelly, Hospitality Manager at 011 510 7905 or [email protected].

Further information on Mamma Mia! productions worldwide can be found at www.mamma-mia.com.