Kiy’el Abreu (Sound, Co-Technical Director) is excited to help bring Mamma Mia to life! He is a senior, and this will be his 6th show at Archer. He’s previously acted, been on run crew, and done spotlight before, but this will be his first time on sound. He is also on set crew and has spent many hours outside of school to help build and design the set. Enjoy the show!

Bri Allen (Ensemble) is very excited to be in Mamma Mia! You might've seen her in past shows such as Norse Mythology Ragnasplosion, Radium Girls, and The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and His Friends to name a few. She and her cast members have worked very hard on this musical and she has had so much fun getting to know her lovely cast. She can't wait to be in the upcoming Much Ado!

Olivia Ansong (Ensemble) is a junior and is overjoyed to be in the ensemble for Mamma Mia, you might have seen her as Gnasha in Coarse Acting, Von Sochocky in Radium Girls, and as Simpkin in Peter Rabbit, she hopes all of you are ready to Voulez-Vous!

Yami Aparicio (Ensemble) is a junior and this is her first time being in a musical! she is very excited about being part of the lovely ensemble.

Deborah Bada (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior at Archer High School and is excited to be in her 5th show here. This is her first musical and first time Assistant Stage Managing at Archer she been in other shows including a factory worker in Radium Girls and Bunion in Channeling Grim. She is so excited to be working with this cast and she is gonna miss all the seniors that she's got to work with this school year.

Deztyni Baker (Pepper) is a Junior at Archer High School. This show makes her fourth production at Archer, the three previous shows at Archer she was in such as, Norse Mythology, Channeling Grimm, and Coarse Acting. The production of Mamma Mia has been such a great experience, she plus many others have worked very hard on this show, and she wants to share the great experience with everyone else! <3

Javonne Baptiste (Ensemble) is ecstatic to participate in her first Archer High School theater production and hopefully not her last.

Damella Barnes (Ensemble) is a senior at Archer. This is her third year working with the Archer Theater Dept. and her ninth time participating in an Archer Production. She has previously done run crew for two previous musicals: The Lighting Thief and Emma: A Pop Musical. This will be her first time acting in a musical and she is so excited for everyone to see all the hard work everyone has put into this play both on stage and behind the scenes.

Louis Bowring (Ensemble) is overjoyed to participate in his third show here at Archer. Although he has had experience both singing in choir and performing in theatre for the last two years, this is the first musical that he's participated in.

Mollie Conner (Ensemble) is a senior here at Archer. This will be her 7th show in the department and she is super excited! She has been both onstage and behind the scenes, but this is her first musical! She has had an absolute blast on this show and is super proud of everyone involved. Mollie is this year’s thespian vice president and cannot wait for everything these last couple months of high school have to hold! She hopes you have a fun time watching the show!

Shaundi Cruz (Ensemble) is a senior at Archer High School and is excited to be in her first musical, Mamma Mia! She has always dreamed of being a part of a theater production and is so grateful to have worked with such amazing people. She hopes everyone enjoys the show as much as she does!

Mello Daniels (Ensemble) is so happy to be a part of an amazing play because he has two of the things he enjoys doing like singing, dancing, and acting. he hopes everyone enjoys the show and loves the hard work the cast put in to it because it wasn't easy TRUST and believe.

Clara De Leon (Lisa) is very excited to be performing on Archer Theater's stage for the very first time! She has always enjoyed being on a stage and performing for an audience. This is her first time being in a musical! And she is very excited to perform the well known show Mamma Mia!

Tyler DeClaissé-Walford (Ensemble) is very happy to be performing in his first show at Archer. This is his second show, the first being A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare at McConnell Middle School. He looks forward to continue performing at Archer.

Chloè DeCourte (Ensemble) is a junior and is so excited to be performing in Mamma Mia! with Archer's amazing theatre department. You may remember seeing Chloe on stage in previous shows such as Norse, Peter Rabbit, Radium Girls, and The Coarse Acting Show. Mamma Mia has helped Chloè grow so much as an actress and is so proud to be a part of this amazing ensemble. She hopes you enjoy the show <3

Adam Derise (Ensemble) is a sophomore here at Archer high school and is so stoked to be putting on Mamma Mia. He along with his fellow cast members to learn the choreo and the songs to put on the best possible performance for your viewing pleasure. He knows that you will love this performance and will be looking forward to see what he and his fellow members here at Archer will be putting on in the future. 

Brooke Dunn (Ensemble) is a junior at Archer High School and is super excited to be performing in her 10th show at archer. She has previously been seen as Grace Fryer in Radium Girls and as Thalia in The Lightning Thief. She wants to thank this wonderful cast and crew for the music, and can't wait to sing and perform with some of them one last time!

Liv Fouts (Ensemble) is a freshman and is excited to be in her first ever Archer Theater production. She has performed in one other production outside of Archer but this is her first musical.

Kelsey Fuqua (Sam Carmichael) is a senior at Archer, and this is her first musical here! She also performed in Channeling Grimm as Cameron earlier this school year, as well as participating in another musical, Desperado, outside of Archer, at Buford Academy of Music. She is very excited to be a part of Mamma Mia! as it is one of her favorite shows.

Kerrigan Gamble (Ensemble) is a ninth grader and has been in theatre since she could walk, starring in many small school plays such as Tom snout in Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare, following in her older brother's footsteps to be an inspiring Thespian. Mamma Mia will be her first show at Archer and first ever musical! She is very excited to play in this show and hopes to make her parents proud in the audience.

Madeline Garner (Donna, Choreographer) is a senior at Archer High School and is thankful to be participating in her ninth show within the program- and this time as a co-choreographer as well! She has previously played characters such as Ashley in Emma: A Pop Musical, Clarisse La Rue in The Lightning Thief, and Mrs. Roeder in Radium Girls. Mamma Mia is a dream show of Madeline’s- it has given her so many new opportunities and she couldn't ask for a better cast and crew. Cheers to being a dancing queen!

Zoriah Gaston (Run Crew) is a freshman at Archer and is excited to be in the Mamma Mia production, especially since it's the first show she's been in at Archer. She hopes to be included in other productions in the future and also wishes everybody has a great time.

Rubi Ghani (Ensemble) is a freshman at Archer High School, and is overjoyed to be in the Mamma Mia ensemble. This is her second time stepping on the Archer stage, the first being in the cast of the childrens play, Channeling Grimm. She's looking forward to doing much more work in the theater department, and is extremely elated to be a part of this wonderful community!

Ava Gloer (Assistant Stage Manager) is very excited to be able to present Mamma Mia from behind the scenes. This is her first time stage managing and it has been an amazing time for her to expand her leadership skills as well as assist in bringing some of the best entertainment to Archer High School.

Adryenna Guthrie (Ensemble) is excited to step on Archer's stage once again for her 7th show at archer! You might have seen her most recently as She from “Last Call For Breakfast” in The Coarse Acting Show. She has only one question for you... Will you 'Voulez- Vous'?

Wyatt Hanson (Ensemble) is a junior here at Archer and this is his second musical performance Ever performing as Kurt Cobain in The Lightning Thief, he has been most ecstatic about the chance to perform in another musical.

Alix Harris (Stage Manager) is a junior at Archer, and is ecstatic to be stage managing Mamma Mia! She loved this show and had so much fun helping with it, as she grew up listening to ABBA. This was an amazing cast, and she couldn't ask for a better show to be her first time being a stage manager. She absolutely loved this show and is so thankful for the cast and opportunity.

Jaeda Havard (Ensemble) is so excited to do her first musical at Archer High School. This is her second show that she has been in ever and she is so happy to take part in this production. Jaeda is a junior and she is so excited to continue in this department next year, and she is so excited for you all to see all the hard work everyone has put into this show. 

Emma Hill (Ensemble) is a freshman at Archer. This is her first show and she is so excited to be a part of Mamma Mia! She knows how much everyone has put into the show and is so happy to sing and dance with all of her friends.

Amari Howard (Run Crew) is excited for you to see this wonderful show that the entire Archer theater department has worked very hard on. Amari is part of the set crew at archer and just like everyone else has spent plenty hours perfecting the set. ENJOY!

Joy Iwu (House Manager) is a freshman. Though it is not her first show ever, it is her first time being a house manager. She is excited to be part of Mamma Mia and help run tech and she can't wait to help out in future productions.

John Jeffcoat (Eddie) is a junior at Archer and he is ecstatic to be participating in his eighth theater show. He loves the community that theater has created and is incredibly grateful for each and every one of its members.

Melanie Krone (Rosie, Choreographer) is very excited for her last musical at Archer! She has put many hours into this show from choreographing and teaching lifts to learning lines and music. You will see her appear on stage as Rosie Mulligan- one of the Dynamos. You may remember Melanie as Cedric Diggory from Puffs or Freya from Norse Mythology Ragnasplosion. Melanie is beyond proud of everyone who has participated in this show and being able to watch her choreography on the stage brings her a great deal of joy. She is ready for this show to go down in Archer Theatre history!

Dell Lameiras (Father Alexandrios) is incredibly excited to appear in his 2nd musical, and 7th show at Archer! Appearing as Father Alexandrios and Ensemble, Dell has had a wonderful time learning to dance, sing, and officiate fictional weddings. It's all greek to him!

Amara Lewis (Ensemble) is in her 8th show at Archer. She's so excited to show off the awesome choreo. In previous years Amara played as Card in A Walk Through Wonderland, Daughter in Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Mary Bennet in Emma, a part of run crew for the Norse Mythology play, ushered for the Peter Rabbit children's play performed by the acting class, Hannah in Puffs, Photographer in Radium Girls, and Merry Minstrel, Enema, and Binki in Course Acting Show. She wants to thank everyone who came to see her today, she loves you very dearly.

Piper Lloyd (Ensemble) is so excited to be a part of her first musical at Archer! As a Sophomore, this is her fifth show. You may recognize her from her position on the thespian officer board or from her previous work on Radium Girls and The Coarse Acting Show. She and the rest of the ensemble has worked very hard on this show, so please cheer them on!

Eden O’Brien (Sophie Sheridan, Head of Costumes) is a junior this year and is thrilled to be a part of Mamma Mia as Sophie!! This is Eden's 7th show here at Archer. Her previous roles this year were Irene in Radium Girls and Merry Minstrel, Basha, and Vasectimo in The Coarse Acting Show. Her previous role in a musical here was Chiron in The Lightning Thief. Eden is so proud of this cast and is so excited to share the story of one of her favorite musicals with you!

Lyric Page (Ensemble) is so happy to be participating in Mamma Mia. This is her second open call musical she's been in her first being The Lightning Thief. She is a senior who has been in multiple shows previously such as Radium Girls, and Coarse Acting. She also did tech for shows like Channeling Grimm. She is grateful to be acting with this class for her last year.

Justin Sagocio (Sky) is excited to be a part of this show, Mamma Mia. This is his sixth, and last year in theatre in Archer High School, and he is very happy to have been a part of such a lovely family. He also starred in Rikki Tikki Tavi, Emma the pop musical, Puffs, Radium Girls, and Coarse Acting.

Julianne Salazar (Ensemble) is a junior and is so excited to be the production of Mamma Mia this year. This is the third production she has been in at archer, and it’s her favorite one so far. She is in theater tech class so she helped paint with a lot of the set, as well as being the dramaturge so she helped set up the photobooth and decorate the entrance to the theatre.

Parker Skillen (Bill Austin, Prop Master) is a senior this year. This is her third year in the Archer Theater Department. She is head of the props department and Thespian President here at Archer, she’s been in shows The Lightning Thief, Emma, Norse, Anatomy of Gray, Puffs, and Radium Girls. This show is absolutely crazy and everyone has worked so hard, so from the bottom of her heart she says thank you! Here's to one last musical!

Amelia Stein (Tanya) is a junior at Archer! This is her first production for Archer theatre and she has been waiting to be a dancing queen her whole life!! Amelia is so excited for you all to see Mamma Mia and she cant wait to continue being a part of archer theatre!!

Alana Strickland (Ensemble) will be tackling her second show here at Archer as a freshman and her first performance in a musical. Previously performing a role as Gwendolyn in Channeling Grimm, she is excited to be a part of a production as exciting as Mamma Mia. She shows her love for acting through her various singing and dancing throughout the show. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she did performing it!

Aubree Sye (Ensemble) is so excited that she got to be a part of her first and most favorite play at archer Theatre. She has met so many new people and has had so many good experiences. She cannot wait to finish her years at archer high school and as part of theater department. Aubree hopes you enjoy the show just as much as she enjoyed being a part of it.

Ryan Sylvain (Run Crew) has been a part of Archer Theater for three years and is extremely excited to be a part of this amazing production of Mamma Mia. Ryan is part of Archer's Tech Theater class and helped to build the set and make some of the props used in this show. While most of his work has been behind the scenes, he has had a few acting roles like that of the Contractor in Archer's Norse Mythology: Ragnosplosion.

Osize Utsalo (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing in her 2nd show at Archer, and her first musical! She was previously seen as Princess Madeline, Model one, and Princess one in the children's play, Channeling Grimm. She can't wait to put on this piece of work and show everyone what she's been up to. This is just something sweet for the house!

Wali Uzair (Harry Bright) is a senior at Archer High School. This is now his tenth show, and unfortunately last musical of high school. With past roles like Grover Underwood in The Lightning Thief and Wayne Hopkins in Puffs, Wali is very excited to be able to perform as Harry Bright in his second to last show at Archer. He looks forward to his last few performances before he graduates.

Sav Veasey (Run Crew) is a Senior who enjoys the behind the scenes aspect of theater. This is her 4th year in theater and worked on several productions over the years. She's been in Channeling Grimm and she did lights for The Coarse Acting Show. She is excited to be teching Mamma Mia as her last musical at Archer.

Aaron Waugh (Ensemble) is a freshman who is excited to be in his third show at Archer high school. He has worked on stage crew for The Coarse Acting Show and has played Jack and the Gingerbread man in Channeling Grimm during his time at Archer.

Hayden Weatherbie (Sound) is a junior and this is her second show since moving to Archer this year. Before doing sound for Mamma Mia, she worked on SFX makeup for Radium Girls and made many props for other productions. Hayden is so happy she's been able to take part in the creation of this beautiful show and can't wait for you to see it!

Emma Williams (Ensemble) is a Senior at Archer High School, they have been in 6 plays in total, 4 back in Connecticut, two are Wizard of Oz, and The Lion King. 2 plays at Archer: Mamma Mia, and Channeling Grimm. They are excited to be graduating this year on an amazing musical and end her final year in High school. She hopes you enjoy the play and you see how they can't take their eyes off the ladies.

Nia Williams (Ali) is delighted to strut her stuff in her first ever musical. This year she is a sophomore and has been seen in two other shows here at Archer. In this fanatical musical she is stepping into the role as Ali, one of Sophie's best friends, Nia can't wait to show her upbeat attitude through this character. ENJOY THE SHOW !!! <3

Tatum Keris J Williams (Ensemble) has been in a total of 9 plays, Mamma Mia being her first Archer theater. She is excited to hit the stage once again in Mamma Mia! After having an experience as a stage manager and knowing how much behind the scenes work goes into a production, she is able to fully appreciate and enjoy performing in such an amazing production as a part of the ensemble.

Benny Andersson:

1946 Benny was born on 16 December in Stockholm. 1952 He received accordion lessons from his father and grandfather.

1964-68 Benny was a member of the Hep Stars, Sweden’s most popular rock band in the Sixties. During this time, he began composing music. ‘Sunny Girl’ and ‘Wedding’ were huge hits for the Hep Stars.

1972-82 ABBA.

1982-84 Benny composed the music (together with Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice) for the musical Chess. 1987 He began collaborating with Orsa Spelmän and recorded three albums rooted in Swedish folk music: Klinga Mina Klockor, November 1989 and Fiolen Min. 1990-95 Working with Björn, Benny composed the music to Kristina från Duvemåla, which premiered in October 1995.

1995 Benny received the title of professor from the Swedish government.

2001 His collaboration with Orsa Spelmän led to the formation of Benny Andersson’s Orchestra, a 16-man constellation with vocalists Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg. Thus far, this has resulted in seven CD albums and several summer tours.

2007 Benny was inducted in to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

2008 He was appointed Honorary Doctor of the College of Humanities at Stockholm University, and at Luleå University of Technology in 2012.

Benny Andersson is married to former TV producer Mona Nörklit. They have one child, Ludvig Andersson. Benny also has two children from a previous marriage, Peter Grönvall and Helene Odedal. He has six grandchildren: Charlie, Felix, Fabian, Malin, Viola and Leonard.

Stig Andersson:

b. Stikkan Erik Leopold Anderson, 25 January 1931, Hova, Sweden, d. 12 September 1997. Anderson achieved fame as the manager of Abba, the Swedish pop group who dominated the charts throughout the 70s. Anderson originally worked as a primary school teacher, but also performed with the wonderfully named Stig Anderson And His Mashed Creampuffs in a brief attempt at pop stardom. His real talent lay in songwriting, however, and it was with comic hits such as ‘The Girls Who Know Are Found In The Country’ and ‘Rockin’ Billy’ (a hit in Scandinavia and Holland for Lill-Babs) that Anderson made his name. As well as setting up the Sweden Music company to publish his songs, he formed Polar Music with studio engineer Bengt Bernhag, and achieved early success with the Hootenanny Singers, a Swedish folk group featuring Björn Ulvaeus. When Ulvaeus subsequently befriended Benny Andersson of the Hep Stars, it was Stig Anderson who first persuaded the duo to write together, before inviting them both to be partners in Polar Music following Bernhag’s suicide. Determined that Abba should win the Eurovision Song Contest, Anderson suggested the title ‘Waterloo’ for one of their songs. The group duly won the 1974 contest, and from that point onwards became a bigger and bigger phenomenon, with Anderson retaining a tight control on what would eventually prove to be Sweden’s second most profitable company (after car manufacturer Volvo). He also continued to provide lyrics for the Andersson/Ulvaeus songwriting partnership.

By the early 80s, however, Anderson’s attempts to reduce the group’s tax burden had led to some questionable business ventures, including dealing in oil, and prompted a tax investigation that almost put Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog in jail. As a result, they sued Anderson for unpaid royalties and ended their hugely successful business partnership with him. Anderson went on to sell Polar Music to PolyGram Records in 1989, at the height of the Abba nostalgia revival. The same year, he also set up the Polar Music prize through the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, awarded to one pop and one classical musician every year. One of his final collaborations before his death was with producer Tony Calder and Andrew Loog Oldham on Abba: The Name Of The Game, an entertaining look behind the scenes of the Abba phenomenon.

Judy Craymer:

Judy Craymer graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in 1977 and has since worked extensively in the theatre, film, television and music industries. Judy originated the idea of MAMMA MIA! and, in 1996, formed Littlestar Services Limited with Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Richard East to produce the stage musical in London. Since then, she has produced 50 productions of MAMMA MIA! in 16 languages around the world. In 2002, Judy was presented with a Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her international success with MAMMA MIA!. In the Queen’s birthday honours list of 2007, she was honoured with an MBE for her contribution to the music industry. In 2008, Judy produced MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. That same year, she was honoured with
the Women in Film ITV Achievement of the Year Award. MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE
also garnered Golden Globe and Bafta nominations, and Judy was personally nominated by Bafta for the Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement. In 2010, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation presented Judy with its Humanitarian Award for her commitment to raising breast cancer awareness and research funding around the globe with MAMMA MIA! and through the sale of the specially created Rock Chick Supremo T-shirts. Ten years after MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE grossed more than $600 million around the world, Judy has produced an all-new movie musical based on the songs of ABBA for Universal Pictures. MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, written and directed by Ol Parker, and featuring Cher, Andy Garcia and Lily James alongside the returning cast
of the original movie, was released in July 2018. Judy has a passion for all things equestrian and is an Ambassador to British Showjumping. Judy also produced VIVA FOREVER!, an original musical based on the songs of The Spice Girls. Judy was awarded a CBE on the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 2020 for her services to theatre and charity. In September 2021, Judy was appointed Chairman of the Board and Independent Non-Executive Director of Universal Music Group.

Catherine Johnson:

Theatre includes: Rag Doll, Renegades, Suspension (Bristol Old Vic), Too Much Too Young (Bristol Old Vic and London Bubble),

Boys Mean Business, Dead Sheep, Little Baby Nothing (Bush Theatre, London), Shang- a-Lang (Bush Theatre and UK tour) and MAMMA MIA! (worldwide). Also Through the Wire and A Letter to Lacey (NT Connections). Film includes: Catherine wrote the screenplay for MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE, released in July 2008.
Television includes: Casualty, Byker Grove, Love Hurts, Gold, Linda Green, original screenplays for Rag Doll and Where’s Willy? (HTV) and Sin Bin (BBC), the series Love in the 21st Century (Channel 4) and Dappers (BBC3).
Other work includes: Creative Consultant on ABBA the Museum, Stockholm.
Awards include: Catherine has won the Bristol Old Vic/HTV Playwriting Award, Thames Television’s Writer-in-Residence Award and Thames Television’s Best Play Award and was nominated in 2002 for a Tony Award for Best Musical Book for MAMMA MIA!.

Martin Koch:

Martin runs a successful music production company and recording studio with colleague Nick Gilpin, which undertakes television, film, CD and DVD projects. Currently working on the film Consider Yourself for Mob Films and PTL, a musical written by Sir Elton John. Training: Royal College of Music (Scholar). Theatre includes: London (Musical Director): Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), Pirates of Penzance (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Boy Friend (Albery), Blondel (Aldwych) and Follies (Shaftesbury). International (Musical Supervisor): Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Oliver!, MAMMA MIA! and Billy Elliot the Musical. Orchestrations include: Just So, Moby Dick, Which Witch, Tutankhamen, MAMMA MIA!, Jerry Springer the Opera, Billy Elliot the Musical, Bad Girls, Kombat Opera, Shoes and VIVA FOREVER!. Also for Shirley Bassey, Charles Aznavour, Jennifer Rush, Michael Ball, Sir Elton John, Anastasia, Denise Van Outen, Jamelia, John Barrowman, Emeli Sandé, Lesley Garrett, Vanessa Mae, Will Young, Beverley Knight, Birdy and John Newman. Recordings include: More than 30 albums including: Les Misérables (original cast and symphonic), Miss Saigon, Oliver!, Hey, Mr Producer!, MAMMA MIA!, Jerry Springer the Opera, Billy Elliot the Musical, Bad Girls, John Barrowman – The Album and Shoes. Film includes: Sam, written and directed by Nick Brooks.
Television includes: The Olivier Awards 1993-2001 (Composer, Arranger, Musical Supervisor), The Royal Variety Performance 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 (Composer, Arranger and Musical Supervisor), Baftas 1995-2003 (Composer, Arranger and Musical Supervisor), Sports Personality of the Year 2006-2014 (Composer, Arranger and Musical Supervisor), Kombat Opera (five mini operas for BBC TV – orchestrator) and Music Live (Composer, Arranger and Musical Supervisor). Conducting includes: London Philharmonic, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, SWF German Radio Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and The London Symphony Orchestra. Other work includes: Music Supervisor for Cameron Mackintosh Ltd 1988-1999, Eurovision Song Contest 1998 (wrote the opening and closing titles, and Music Supervisor), Commonwealth Games Handover in Delhi 2010 (Composer, Orchestrator and Music Supervisor), London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies (Music Supervisor to all four ceremonies and Composer to the Paralympic Opening). Awards and nominations: Grammy and Tony Award nomination 2002 for MAMMA MIA!, Tony and Drama Desk Award winner 2009 for Billy Elliot the Musical.

Björn Ulvaeus:

1945 Björn was born on 25 April in Gothenburg. When he was six years old, the family moved to the small town of Västervik, and this is where Björn grew up. In the mid-Fifties, Björn fell in love with rock’n’roll and skif e. By the early Sixties, he was a member of a folk group called the West Bay Singers. 1963 The group entered a talent contest arranged by Swedish radio. This led to discovery by songwriter and publisher Stig Anderson and his partner, Bengt Bernhag. Stig and Bengt had recently started a record company called Polar Music. The band acquired a new name, the Hootenanny Singers, and quickly became one of Sweden’s most popular groups of the Sixties. 1966 Björn had a chance meeting with Benny Andersson, himself a member of Sweden’s number-one pop group, The Hep Stars. They hit it off and wrote their rst song together, ‘Isn’t It Easy to Say’. Björn recorded a couple of solo singles in the late Sixties, at which point he also started concentrating more on his collaboration with Benny Andersson. 1970 Björn and Benny started releasing records as a duo and also staged a cabaret show together with their fiancées, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. 1971 Björn and Agnetha married on 6 July.

1972-82 ABBA.

1982 Björn and Benny started writing the musical Chess with lyricist Tim Rice.

1984 A concept album for Chess was released in the autumn.

1986 The musical opened in London’s West End in May.

1988 Chess received its Broadway premiere. A reworked version of the musical opened in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2002.

1990 Björn and Benny decided to write a new musical. This time, they wanted to write exclusively in Swedish, and they chose the Emigrants novel series by author Vilhelm Moberg as the basis for their work.

1995 The resulting musical, Kristina från Duvemåla (Kristina from Duvemåla), opened in October. The show ran for three and a half years at various theatres in the Swedish cities of Malmö, Gothenburg and Stockholm. Björn and Benny’s most recent musical is Hjälp sökes (Help Wanted), a collaboration with playwright Kristina Lugn and Kristina director Lars Rudolfsson. Björn writes many of the lyrics for the Benny Andersson Orchestra, and has involved himself in the stagings of MAMMA MIA!.

2008 MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE was released.

2016 MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY opened in Stockholm in January, with Björn as one of the producers.

2018 MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN was released.

Music Theatre International (MTI)

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.