Comedian and TV personality Alan Carr, singer/songwriter Jessie Ware, Olivier Award-winner Amber Riley and Frozen’s Samantha Barks will make-up the judging panel for ITV and ITVX’s new musical theatre talent show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.
Produced by Thames and Littlestar, and hosted by radio and TV regular Zoe Ball, the new entertainment show will search for two new stars to take on the roles of Sophie and Sky (as played by Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in the hit film adaptation) in the London production of multi-award-winning feel-good musical Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre.
Filmed against the beautiful backdrop of the idyllic Greek islands where the original Mamma Mia! story is set, the eight-part series which will be broadcast later this year, will involve the contestants being mentored by guest stars and judged by the panel.
The competition will culminate in a live, grand finale broadcast from a theatre in London’s West End with the two winners set to take to the stage at the Novello Theatre where the musical will celebrate its 25th birthday in 2024.
Commenting on their involvement in the show, Ball said: “Our contestants are going to go through quite the journey, believe me, but like the show and like the movie, there is going to be song, there is going to be dance and there’s going to be fun in the sun. And we cannot wait for you to come on that journey with us.”
Carr said: “Getting to judge on one of my favourite musicals in one of my favourite locations ever is literally my dream job. A whole lot of feta and a whole lot of ABBA – perfection!”
Award-winning singer-songwriter, Ware added: “I am absolutely thrilled to be a judge […] I love Greece, if you know me you know how much I love Greece. I got married there, I sung a Mamma Mia! invite to everybody when they came. So for me, to be spending the summer in Greece, finding the new breakout stars and hopefully helping shed some light on the industry and help them find their way, I just can’t wait. It’s going to be a summer to remember.”
Glee actress and West End star, Amber Riley said: “I’m really excited to be a part of such an incredible project. Musical theatre has played such an integral role in my growth as a performer. I am all too happy to share what I’ve learned and to cheer on the world’s next biggest stars! Mamma Mia, here we go!”
Award-winning theatre star Barks, who first found fame on another TV talent show the BBC’s I’d Do Anything added: “For sure they are going to go on a really hard journey, it’s going to be so much fun, but it’s going to be like the movie! We’re going to be in Greece, the sun will be shining and I cannot wait for you guys to watch it. I just feel so honoured to get to be on the judging panel because I know what they’re going through, I’ve been there before and I can’t wait to guide them and challenge them, and be there for them.”
The musical’s creator and global producer Judy Craymer will also be on hand to offer her thoughts and expertise to the judges as they search for two new West End stars.
Commenting on the star additions to the show, Craymer said: “I know there is a wealth of talent out there and I’m so thrilled that – with the help of these fabulous judges and ‘Rock Chick Supremo’ host Zoe Ball – we will find the musical stars of the future to appear in Mamma Mia!’s landmark 25th year. The judges complement one another so well. Alan has a unique comedic insight, Jessie a wealth of music industry experience and Samantha and Amber are the ultimate stage musical powerhouses who know exactly what it takes to get on stage eight times a week in a smash hit musical in London’s West End.”
Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, added: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Mamma Mia! for this exciting TV event to search for the theatre stars of the future. To have Zoe Ball at the helm expertly guiding our young stars, as well as our expert panel of judges, it’s going to be an exciting sequel to an already successful global franchise.”
Craymer’s inventive re-working of the hits of Swedish supergroup Abba, Mamma Mia! has been seen live by 65 million people in 50 different productions in 16 different languages, grossing more than $4 billion at the box office. In 2011 it became the first Western musical to be staged in Mandarin in China.
The show originally opened in London at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1999, before moving into the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004, and then reopening in its new London home, the Novello Theatre in 2012.
The London production has been seen by over 10 million people, played over 9,000 performances and has broken box office records in all three of its London homes. With music and lyrics by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast.
Angela Thomas
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