On a sun-soaked Greek island, Sophie Sheridan is days from her wedding and secretly invites three men from her mother’s past, any one of whom could be her father. Her mother, Donna, who owns a rundown taverna, is blindsided as old flames and old secrets arrive in time for the party. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and a book by Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia! is an ABBA jukebox musical, and this production is a joy.
The pleasure here is the originality. Under the direction of Phyllida Lloyd, characters the audience probably knows by heart are reimagined with fresh choices. Little if nothing feels copied from the movie or previous productions, and everyone seems to have had permission to make the role their own.
Jessica Crouch anchors the evening as Donna with a voice and emotional depth that are tremendous. She shines in every song, but “The Winner Takes It All” is a showstopper that left the house with chills, and her final phrase of the number drew an audible gasp. Juliette M. Ojeda brings purity and honesty to Sophie, and the mother-daughter connection between the two is the production’s emotional core. “Slipping Through My Fingers” carries so much love between Donna and Sophie that it made me want to hug my own kids.
Jalynn Steele is bold and incredible as Tanya, full of new choices that make a familiar diva feel unpredictable, and she does things in heels that seem impossible. Kayla Ryan Walsh is a delight as Rosie, with a gorgeous singing voice and physical comedy that tops the charts. Her timing is perfection. Her “Take a Chance on Me” hunt with Leland Burnett’s Bill is some of the most fun choreography of the night.
Among the men, Victor Wallace (Sam) and Rob Hancock (Harry) are standouts. Wallace is a total heartbreaker in “S.O.S.” and has the stage presence and voice to match. Hancock gives Harry a fully fleshed, downright charming life, and “Our Last Summer,” shared with Crouch, is beautiful and touching, full of tenderness and honesty. Wallace’s “Knowing Me, Knowing You” with Ojeda is another winner, and Ojeda’s lovely nonverbal acting in that number says what words can’t.
The younger men get their moments, too. Dominic Young pulls off at least five consecutive toe touches in “Does Your Mother Know,” and he is a joy to watch. Grant Reynolds’s Sky looks great in a wedding dress during “Under Attack,” and he brings youthful sincerity to the role without a hint of naivete.
The ensemble is a force. Their stage presence is striking, and the high kicks in flippers during “Lay All Your Love on Me” are a physical feat. Anthony Van Last’s choreography is thrilling throughout.
The band, led by Andrew David Sotomayor, is on fire. They play this challenging score with absolute precision and a lot of spirit, and they deserve a round of applause of their own.
The design team also delivers. Nancy Thun and Brian Webb’s set is bright and transportable, Howard Harrison’s lighting washes the stage in subtle color and mood, Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken’s sound is clear and well balanced, and Lucy Gaiger’s costumes are fun, flattering, and spot-on for each character.
The show does have a rocky start. The first few scenes feel mechanical and lack connection. The exposition among Sophie, Ali (Maddie Garbaty), and Lisa (Lena Owens) around “Honey, Honey” plays like a children’s cartoon explaining its own plot, and the first scene for Donna, Tanya, and Rosie has some of the same stiffness. These are the only stretches where the production feels clumsy or presentational. Once the cast settles into its rhythm, which doesn’t take long, it is impossible to look away.
What follows is an effervescent, emotional, and wonderful night out. It felt electric.
Running Time: Two hours and 35 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.
Mamma Mia! plays through November 15, 2026, at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. Performances are Tuesday–Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($75–$197) are available online or by calling Broadway at The National at (202) 628-6161.
Recommended for ages 6 and up.
Cast and creative credits for the national tour are available here.
