|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 12:21:57 GMT
It's all breaking news right now ! The news so far: Swedish Abba legend Björn Ulvaeus has launched plans to create a restaurant attraction in Stockholm inspired by the musical Mamma Mia. The Local reports live from the press conference. Ulvaeus' entertainment venue will be built as a Greek taverna and will be part restaurant, part stage show and part role play, where guests can be the stars of their own personal version of Mamma Mia! The Musical. Abba fans will be greeted by waiting staff and actors playing the parts of the cast of the famous Abba musical as soon as they walk through the doors. They will be able to listen to music, eat Greek food, watch and, which will perhaps excite fans the most, take part in the show. Mamma Mia! The Party is set to open on January 20th, 2016, at Gröna Lund, one of Stockholm's main tourist attractions. The mysterious project sparked a global social media buzz when a website was launched last week, hinting at Ulvaeus' "new entertainment experiment", with some Abba fans hoping the project would spell a reunion for one of the world's most loved pop bands. "That's probably not going to happen. Although, you never know..." Ulvaeus teasingly told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. Mamma Mia! the musical has been seen by 55 million people around the world since its debut in London in April 1999 and has been translated into 16 different language. The movie version of the show featuring star actors Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried and Stellan Skarsgård was also a global smash hit. www.thelocal.se/20150415/abba-themed-party-to-be-launched-in-swedenFrom ABBA The Museum: " We are so happy to launch next year's big tourist attraction, 'Mamma Mia The Party', together with Gröna Lund. Hopefully the first of many successful collaborations! Tickets will be available from the 27th of August. Premiere date 20th of January 2016. Keep posted!" www.mammamiatheparty.com/     |
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 12:23:49 GMT
And I suppose I should add this article from this morning - I had no idea I was going to be quoted ! "Secret ABBA project stirs global social media buzz" A mysterious message from Abba legend Björn Ulvaeus promising a big announcement on Wednesday has sent fans into a frenzy around the internet – and not just in his native Sweden. A website titled 'Mamma Mia! The party' emerged last week, with Swedish music composer Ulvaeus writing he had created a “new entertainment experiment that I will tell everyone about on Wednesday”. Another message sent to Abba fans across the globe, signed by Ulvaeus, said: “I've been working on this experiment for quite a while now and it's actually starting to feel ready.” The project's PR agents refused to tell The Local more when prompted. But the secrecy has not stopped fans from speculating. After all, a potential Abba reunion – which several of its former members have hinted at in the past – has been high on the list of fans' hopes ever since the group split up in the 1980s. “I doubt it will be a reunion – and most serious fans would agree that will not happen. There has been a suggestion of a Mamma Mia themed dinner party for 100 people and then a performance. Sounds like fun, but only for the 100. I think we all hope it will be something all fans can enjoy – not just a select few,” Australian Abba fan Roxanne Dickson told The Local on Tuesday. “Someone did suggest it could be a global Skype dinner party – can't imagine that would be it though!” she added. Like many Abba fans, she remains emotional when talking about the group. “I have been an Abba fan since 1975. They got under our skin, in our hearts and never left – impossible to say why. They were simply perfection and affected people of all ages. They were different, and had mass appeal. No other group ever affected me the way Abba did,” said Dickson. Abba was formed by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid 'Frida' Lyngstad in Stockholm in 1972. After winning the Eurovision Song Contest two years later with mega hit 'Waterloo', the band went on to become one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music. After the group's break-up, Fältskog and Lyngstad pursued solo careers with mixed success. Andersson and Ulvaeus went on to write music for the stage, including hit musical 'Mamma Mia!', which was turned into a feature film starring Meryl Streep and Sweden's own Stellan Skarsgård in 2008. www.thelocal.se/20150414/secret-abba-project-stirs-global-social-media-frenzy |
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 12:39:39 GMT
Press Release: Pressmeddelande 15 april 2015 Björn Ulvaeus invites you to Mamma Mia! the Party in Stockholm Get into the Mamma Mia party mood! In January 2016 Mamma Mia! the Party opens at Restaurant Tyrol in Gröna Lund, Stockholm’s famous amusement park, just across the street from ABBA The Museum. Using the ABBA song catalogue as a base Björn Ulvaeus wants to capture the happy atmosphere of the musical that has played to millions around the world and transfer it to a big party. Premiere 20 January 2016 at Tyrol, Stockholm. Tickets on sale from 25 August 2015 via www.mammamiatheparty.comBjörn Ulvaeus is executive producer and one of the initiators of Mamma Mia! the Party. His vision is one of guests, waiters, waitresses, musicians and artists interacting and creating the atmosphere of a party in a Greek taverna, inspired by the tavernas in Skopelos, where Mamma Mia! the Movie was filmed; complete with olive trees, fountain and the scent of rosemary and a warm breeze from the Mediterranean Sea. With the help of ABBA songs the participants will write the story of that particular night, then and there. Mamma Mia! the party will be a new major tourist attraction at Djurgården along with ABBA The Museum and Gröna Lund. Tyrol, which has been an Austrian ”bierstube” for over forty years, is being transformed into a Greek taverna this summer. - I’ve experienced the happy, warm and expectant mood of audiences in theatres around the world when the first notes of Mamma Mia! ring out across the auditorium. And when people stand up in the aisles and sing and dance at the end. That’s the feeling I’d like to create with Mamma Mia! the Party, says Björn Ulvaeus. Over 55 million people all around the world have seen Mamma Mia! The stage musical premiered at London’s Prince Edward Theatre the 6th of April 1999 and since then a total of 49 productions in 16 different languages have been set up. Currently 9 productions are being played around the world, in 4 different languages. The movie premiered in 2008 with actors like Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried och Stellan Skarsgård. Mamma Mia! the Party opens in January 2016. - This is an experiment, just like the musical was. This time around the audience/guests are part of a story in real time with not only song and dance being the ingredients, but also food, wine and environment. If it turns out the way I hope, there are no limits. It could become a very big party, indeed. We start at Djurgården in Stockholm, only a few yards from where ABBA the Museum is located. A perfect place for it, Ulvaeus continues. Mamma Mia! the Party is produced by Eventum in collaboration with Björn Ulvaeus. Press information and press images: Moa Abrahamsson, ByströmBalodis, moa@bystrombalodis.se, +46707912000 For more information, please visit www.mammamiatheparty.com |
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 12:42:48 GMT
The press video:
|
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 12:53:34 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 13:16:06 GMT
There seems to be a lack of interest in this project from a lot of fans. Makes it hard when these things are based in Sweden I guess. But if I ever get there, I'll certainly check it out - would be a great fun night I think  |
|
|
|
Post by shoshin on Apr 15, 2015 13:53:30 GMT
Extremely disappointing. It's the idea of Björn the businessman rather than Björn the former creative musical genius, which is very sad. I'll make sure that I ignore the next such publicity stunt  |
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Apr 15, 2015 13:57:36 GMT
Extremely disappointing. It's the idea of Björn the businessman rather than Björn the former creative musical genius, which is very sad. I'll make sure that I ignore the next such publicity stunt I understand what you mean - I was hoping for something a little different. |
|
|
|
Post by dizzymoe33 on Apr 15, 2015 15:47:04 GMT
I have been reading people's comments all over the internet and the funny thing is some of those people just aren't reading. It stated "Mamma Mia, The Party" not "ABBA the reunion". It was always going to be about MM! It is an interesting idea kind of like "Mystery Night and Dinner" type of idea. At least they are trying to save that restaurant that is failing and give it new life. I wasn't disappointed because I didn't have any huge expectations about this announcement.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roxanne on Apr 16, 2015 4:29:09 GMT
I think it would be a fabulously fun night to have dinner there - just a shame it's so far away !!  |
|
|
|
Post by lovepigeon on Apr 16, 2015 19:27:47 GMT
I don't like it when fans are negative about new projects, but I can't be excited about this. For starters, it's a MM thing rather than an ABBA thing but, then again, that's what it's been marketed as from the beginning, so I can't say I'm particularly disappointed either. MM isn't really my bag so perhaps I'm a bit clouded, but I am struggling to see who this is aimed at. People will travel to Stockholm for ABBA purposes, but there's a whole beautiful city and forty years of ABBA history to explore and absorb. I know MM has its fans (although I don't personally know any), but do they love it enough to make a pilgrimage to Stockholm? Surely they'd go to Greece?!
Also, it's going to be super expensive, there's no doubt about it... I mean, it's a restaurant in Stockholm, and with Bjorn at the helm I can't see them scrimping on quality. But on top of that, would visitors have to pay entry to Gröna Lund before they can even get to the restaurant? If they do, would that be redeemable against their bill? And isn't Gröna Lund only open for a few months a year anyway?
It's a nice, but very ambitious, idea, and I hope they have success with it. But is Stockholm really the right place for it? I doubt they're envisaging this as a long term project; I, for one, don't see how it can be. If it's up and going next time I'm in Stockers, I'll definitely look into it, but it won't be a priority, and it won't break my heart if have to give it a miss.
|
|
David
New Member
David
Posts: 8 
|
Post by David on Apr 17, 2015 16:35:08 GMT
While not my cuppa tea, I can really see this franchise taking off. Hen nights, work nights out, Xmas, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Greek tourism, Swedish tourism, gay tourism, music tourism. Hard Rock Cafe watch out! I can see this in a lot of UK, European party central cities.
|
|
|
|
Post by dizzymoe33 on Apr 18, 2015 17:00:42 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Ausfan on Aug 25, 2015 1:04:17 GMT
Mamma Mia! The Party - Tickets On Sale 25 August 2105 ! The tickets for MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY go on sale tomorrow (August 25th). Read more about the party and how to buy tickets on our brand new website mammamiatheparty.com Take part in a brand new experience. A greek taverna. A Mediterranean menu. ABBA’s songs and a party that never wants to end. Welcome! A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS Food is included in the ticket price. Age limit is 18, 13 if accompanied by an adult. The party will last for at least four hours. Your whole group will be seated together. The dialogue is in Swedish, with ABBA songs in English. Drinks are not included with ticket and can be purchased at Tyrol. Time of arrival varies, but can be found on your ticket. Tables are reserved in the order they are booked. Contact Tyrol for special requests regarding food. For larger groups, email ticket@mammamiatheparty.com. mammamiatheparty.com/#mammamia |
|
|
|
Post by chelseacharger on Aug 27, 2015 12:52:16 GMT
Not really a fan of MM personally but you can see how this could be a winner. Seeing MM versions of ABBA songs have more views on Youtube than some of the originals seems just wrong on so many levels. As do some of the adjoining comments proclaiming these versions better. Like the monster they created has threatened to overshadow the band whose music was celebrated by it in the first place. ABBA famously struggled to crack America yet the MM movie soundtrack topped the charts there years later. Still, there already are the City tours and the Museum. And now this to round off a full day of ABBA. Can't see how much the tickets cost. It's up and running in January? Good luck recreating a Greek Island Taverna in wintry Stockholm, Bjorn. I hope they've got good outside heaters. |
|
|
|
Post by mwilson on Aug 27, 2015 13:16:55 GMT
Not really a fan of MM personally but you can see how this could be a winner. Seeing MM versions of ABBA songs have more views on Youtube than some of the originals seems just wrong on so many levels. As do some of the adjoining comments proclaiming these versions better. Like the monster they created has threatened to overshadow the band whose music was celebrated by it in the first place. ABBA famously struggled to crack America yet the MM movie soundtrack topped the charts there years later.
I have always found it interesting that the play Mamma Mia did so well here in the US when Abba struggled to make top ten hits here. My theory is the story and happiness that just goes with the show, which gives the songs new life with these new voices. The other, and this is something I'm not proud of, is that Americans embrace American entertainment and sometimes shun foreign entertainment. Even a British TV show has to have an American version to be a hit here. An Americanized version of Mamma Mia with American voices singing and great songs seems to equal a hit. |
|
|
|
Post by Zeebee on Aug 27, 2015 20:50:19 GMT
ABBA famously struggled to crack America yet the MM movie soundtrack topped the charts there years later.
ABBA had 14 Top 40 hits here in the USA. Granted, not many of them made the top ten, but 14 Top 40 hits is pretty darn good. |
|
|
|
Post by chelseacharger on Aug 27, 2015 21:31:48 GMT
^^^^ That's true. I was thinking more about the album charts. The highest position being 14 achieved by 'ABBA - The Album'. 'Gold' of course has outsold the MM Movie soundtrack many times over because of its longevity but even that only ever peaked at 36 on the Billboard 200.
|
|
|
|
Post by dizzymoe33 on Aug 28, 2015 16:12:32 GMT
Another reason ABBA struggled here in the States was poor timing with releases (like UNICEF and Chiquitita) and that ABBA didn't want to tour extensively and they wanted to be the opening act at the get-go.
|
|
|
|
Post by shoshin on Aug 28, 2015 19:18:09 GMT
Another reason ABBA struggled here in the States was poor timing with releases (like UNICEF and Chiquitita) and that ABBA didn't want to tour extensively and they wanted to be the opening act at the get-go. And another reason, one that still haunts me, is that they turned down the opportunity to record the Bee Gees' If I Can't Have You, which was given to Yvonne Elliman instead and was a US Billboard number 1 smash. It haunts me because you only have to hear it to know that it was made for Agnetha and Frida to sing (literally, according to Maurice Gibb). Of course, we are nevertheless still able to directly compare an Yvonne Elliman performance with both Agnetha's and Frida's. How? (not you Monica, too easy for you  )  |
|
|
|
Post by mwilson on Aug 28, 2015 21:47:50 GMT
Multi-threading again, eh, Martin?  This one could fit in "Did You Know This About Abba?" as well as the quiz thread. I didn't know this myself about "If I Can't Have You". Interesting. Being on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack would have sky-rocketed them in the US. But personally I don't know if that song would have been right for them. I think their voices are a little to big for it. I can't wait to find out what the other Yvonne Elliman/Abba connection is. I like her also. |
|
|
|
Post by shoshin on Aug 28, 2015 23:21:15 GMT
Multi-threading again, eh, Martin? This one could fit in "Did You Know This About Abba?" as well as the quiz thread. I didn't know this myself about "If I Can't Have You". Interesting. Being on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack would have sky-rocketed them in the US. But personally I don't know if that song would have been right for them. I think their voices are a little to big for it. I can't wait to find out what the other Yvonne Elliman/Abba connection is. I like her also. Yeah I can't help myself, my brain makes what it thinks are logical connections that unfortunately don't make any sense outside of itself On the plus side, maybe people won't skip any threads if there's the possibility of random facts and anecdotes even in the most moribund of them. It would have done wonders for Voulez Vous sales too, and the 'disco' singles. But B&B just didn't want to use other songwriters for ABBA. Which gives me an idea for a puzzle I'd better take to another thread.. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2015 21:03:25 GMT
Björn and John Cleese seem to have a lot in common nowadays: unable to turn down an interview request, making a living out of their past, resting on their (incomparable) laurels; fine by me: I love them both and can think of worse ways of spending one's retirement years, but as a fan, I've come to realize that you don't have to follow all their whims... |
|
) 
