Drury Lane’s Acclaimed “MAMMA MIA!” Runs Through April 14

Drury Lane's Acclaimed "MAMMA MIA!" Runs Through April 14 1 The cast of "Mamma Mia!" at Drury Lane Theatre (Brett Beiner photo)

The cast of “Mamma Mia!” at Drury Lane Theatre (Brett Beiner photo)

Drury Lane Theatre’s production of the international megahit Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, some songs with Stig Anderson, and book by Catherine Johnson runs through April 14, 2019. Originally conceived by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! is directed by Artistic Director William Osetek and choreographed by Jane Lanier with music direction by Roberta Duchak. Mamma Mia! at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. 

Unleash your inner dancing queen and join the more than 60 million people worldwide who have fallen in love with Mamma Mia! Featuring ABBA’s greatest hits, this hilarious and heartwarming musical follows Sophie’s quest to find her dad in time for her wedding. With one mother, one daughter, and three possible fathers, what could possibly go wrong?

The cast of Mamma Mia! includes Susie McMonagle (Donna Sheridan), Jeff Parker (Sam Carmichael), Rebecca Hurd (Sophie Sheridan), Liam Quealy (Sky), Michael Accardo (Bill Austin), McKinley Carter (Tanya), Elizabeth Ledo (Rosie), Stef Tovar (Harry Bright), Katherine Lee Bourné (Lisa), Kevin Corbett (Pepper), Yando Lopez (Eddie), and Sierra Schnack (Ali). The ensemble includes Alex Benoit, Maddie Dorsey, Brian M. Duncan, Connor Giles, Cory Goodrich, Shannon McEldowney, Johanna Mackenzie Miller, Maria Montero, Nich O’Neil, Dana Paulo, Zach Porter, Anna Roemer, Kyra Source, Lance Spencer, Andrew Weir, and Travis Austin Wright.

The creative team includes Jeff Kmiec (Scenic Design), Lynda Myers and Nicole Boylan (Costume Design) with additional costumes by Marianne Custer, Lee Fiskness (Lighting Design), and Ray Nardelli (Sound Design). Larry Baker is the Production Stage Manager.

Mamma Mia! is suitable for all audiences but most enjoyable for ages 8 and up.  

About the Artists

WILLIAM OSETEK (Director) has been Drury Lane’s Artistic Director since 2006. Some of his favorite Drury Lane productions include Chicago, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (each Jeff nominated for Best Direction and Best Production) as well as White Christmas, Sunset Boulevard, Gypsy, The Mousetrap, Barefoot in the Park, and The King & I. He also created Drury Lane’s original adaptation of A Christmas Carol and directed the annual production for a number of years. The recipient of the 2014 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Director of a Musical for Next to Normal, Mr. Osetek has a BA in Theatre from Loyola University of Chicago and an MFA in directing from Illinois State University. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor at Ball State University Department of Theatre and Dance. 

JANE LANIER (Choreographer) returns to Drury Lane where she choreographed last season’s Chicago and received a Jeff Award nomination for her work. Other choreography credits include: Guys And Dolls (Associate Choreographer, Broadway 2009); Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, and Hair (Dir/Choreo, CCPA); Pippin (Dir/Choreo, AMDA); No Way To Treat A Lady (Colony Theatre); Kiss Of The Spiderwoman (Musical Theatre Guild); Little Fish (The Blank Theatre Co); Wild Party (The Blank Theatre Co, LA Weekly and Beverly Garland Awards, Ovation and NAACP Award Nominations); Ring Of Fire (La Mirada, Fullerton, AR Rep, and Denver Center); Johnny Guitar (Off-Broadway at The Century Theatre and La Mirada); Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Pippin (Associate Choreographer, Fifth Ave Theatre Seattle); Kiss Me Kate (Musical Theatre West); Nightingale (Vineyard Theatre NYC); and the workshop of Big Rosemary, written and directed by Blake Edwards. Other credits include choreographing and producing the short art film Spells, starring John Glover and John Lithgow, and Not Your Time, a short film she choreographed and co-produced starring Jason Alexander and Valarie Pettiford which won Best Short Film Awards at the Boston International Film Festival and New Media Film Festival LA. Jane is also the Head of Musical Theatre Dance Concentration program for CCPA at Roosevelt University.

ROBERTA DUCHAK (Music Director) returns to Drury Lane after musical directing Little Shop of Horrors and South Pacific. Drury Lane MD credits include: 42nd Street, Rock of Ages, Chicago, Saturday Night Fever, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Jeff Nomination), Crazy for You, Hazel, Billy Elliot, Les Misérables (Jeff Nomination), West Side Story, White Christmas, Young Frankenstein, Hello, Dolly!, Oliver, The Sound of Music (Jeff Nomination), Sweeney Todd (Jeff Nomination), Ragtime (Jeff Award), Spamalot (Jeff nomination), Gypsy, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Miss Saigon (Jeff nomination). Chicago MD credits: Brigadoon (Goodman), The Story of My Life directed by Richard Maltby Jr. (Biograph), The Original Grease (ATC), The Little Mermaid (Chicago Shakespeare), Rocky Horror (Mercury), and musical supervisor for A Little Night Music at Writers. Roberta has two busy vocal studios in the Chicago area. She was the vocal coach for Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman for the film Les Misérables. Acting credits: Broadway: Ragtime (Mother); National Tours: Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge, Magnolia and Ellie in Showboat, and Rona Lisa Peretti in Spelling Bee (Chicago and national tour companies). 

SUSIE MCMONAGLE (Donna) Ms. McMonagle returns to Drury Lane after appearing in Anything Goes, Something’s Afoot, Billy Elliot, and Next to Normal, for which she won a Joseph Jefferson Award as Diana. Other Chicago credits include: Gretta in James Joyce’s The Dead and Man of La Mancha (Court Theatre); Candida in Rock ‘n’ Roll (Goodman Theatre); Suzannah in Black Pearl Sings, Jane Grant in At Wit’s End, and Daisy in Sideshow (Northlight Theatre). McMonagle has performed at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Appletree Theatre. Additional Chicago credits include: Flora in Indian Ink, Mae in Dirty Blonde, Shelby in Spitfire Grill, Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, Ellen in Miss Saigon, Reno in Anything Goes, Grizabella in Cats, Eva Perón in Evita, and Florence in Chess. First National tours include: Mrs. Wilkinson and Mum in Billy Elliot. Other National Tours include Donna in Mamma Mia!, Fantine in Les Miserables, and The Secret Garden. McMonagle appeared on Broadway as Fantine in Les Miserables. She is a recipient of After Dark Awards, a Critics’ Circle Award, and a Joseph Jefferson Award as well as eleven Joseph Jefferson nominations. She received her BFA from Stephens College.

JEFF PARKER (Sam) returns to Drury Lane where his credits include Young Frankenstein, On the Twentieth Century, Annie, and Grand Hotel (Drury Lane Water Tower). Notable Chicago credits include Wonderful Town and Bounce (Goodman Theatre), The Brother/Sister Plays (Steppenwolf Theatre), King Charles III and As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Parade (Writers), The Secret Garden (Court Theatre), Mothers and Sons and Discord (Northlight Theatre), Samsara (Victory Gardens Theater), and Nine (Porchlight Music Theatre/Jeff Award Nomination). Regional credits include Candide (Huntington Theatre), My Fair Lady (Asolo Repertory Theatre), 1776 (American Conservatory Theatre), and Winesburg, Ohio (Kansas City Repertory Theatre). Television credits include Early Edition (CBS), Prison Break (Fox), and Chicago P.D. (NBC). Jeff has a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Southern California.

REBECCA HURD (Sophie) makes her Drury Lane Theatre debut with Mamma Mia!. Her recent credits include: Mary in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, An Enemy of the People at the Goodman Theatre, and The Importance of Being Earnest at Writers Theatre. She has also worked regionally with the Guthrie Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Players Theatre, and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. Her TV credits include Chicago PD. She is an active volunteer with 826CHI, a non-profit writing, tutoring, and publishing center for Chicago youth, and holds a BFA from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater.

LIAM QUEALY (Sky) returns to Drury Lane Oakbrook where he most recently appeared as Tony Elliot in Billy Elliot. Favorite Chicagoland credits include Pepper in Mamma Mia!, Georg in Spring Awakening, and Munkustrap in Cats at Marriott Theatre; Cousin Kevin in The Who’s Tommy, Skimbleshanks in Cats, and Mark in A Chorus Line at Paramount Theatre; Claude in Hair at Mercury Theater; and Huey Calhoun (Jeff Nomination, Performer in a Principal Role – Musical) in Memphis at Porchlight Music Theatre. Other regional credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers Theatre, and The Old Globe. Off-Broadway, Liam performed in Dear Edwina, and he toured the nation in Fiddler on the Roof. He also recently appeared as a guest star on Chicago Fire. 

MICHAEL ACCARDO (Bill) has been performing professionally for more than 30 years, on stage, film, and television. Chicagoland theaters include Steppenwolf Theatre, Mercury, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott, Paramount, Drury Lane Water Tower, and The Broadway Playhouse. Regionally, Milwaukee Rep, Arkansas Rep, and The Springer Opera House.

MCKINLEY CARTER (Tanya) returns to Drury Lane where she was last seen in Death Trap. Recent credits include Macbeth (Chicago Shakespeare); The Book of Will (Northlight Theatre); Fun Home (Victory Gardens); and Parade (Writers Theatre). Other Chicago credits include: My Way (Theatre At The Center); The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes (Mercury Theatre); The Merry Widow, Carousel (Lyric Opera); Road Show, Sunday In The Park With George, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Putting It Together (Porchlight Theatre); The Sound Of Music, Ragtime (Drury Lane Theatre); Blind Date, Turn Of The Century, The Visit (Goodman Theatre); James Joyce’s The Dead, Cymbeline, and Pericles (Court Theatre). 

ELIZABETH LEDO (Rosie) returns to Drury Lane where previous credits include Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple. Chicago credits include: Tug of War-Civil Strife, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Amadeus, and Funk It Up About Nothin’ (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); One Man Two Guvnors, The Secret Garden, Tartuffe (Jeff Award), The Misanthrope, The Illusion, The Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus, Uncle Vanya, and The Real Thing (Court Theatre); The Matchmaker, Boleros for the Disenchanted, and three seasons of A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Charm and The Chalk Garden (Northlight Theatre); Bright Half Life, Le Switch, The Homosexuals, and Say You Love Satan (About Face Theatre); Isaac’s Eye and Arms and the Man (Writers Theatre); The How and The Why (Timeline Theatre); The Old Curiosity Shop (Lookingglass Theatre); Homebody/Kabul and Morningstar (Steppenwolf Theatre). Regional credits include: Our Town, Almost Maine, The Crucible, Escape From Happiness, Wit, Lonesome West, Anna Karenina, and 8 seasons of A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep); Russian Transport (Renaissance Theaterworks); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (co-pro Indiana Rep/Syracuse Stage); Boeing Boeing and Arcadia (Indiana Rep); Richard III, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, The Comedy of Errors, and Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare at Notre Dame). Elizabeth was honored to be nominated by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and chosen as one of 2016 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows. She is a voice over actress who can be heard on many commercials, video games, and The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas. Elizabeth is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago.

STEF TOVAR (Harry) returns to Drury Lane, where he was seen in Oliver!, A Flea in Her Ear, Ragtime, Sugar, and Boeing Boeing. He has been a professional actor for over 25 years in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Favorite Chicago credits include Harold Hill in The Music Man at Paramount Theater directed by Rachel Rockwell, Luther Billis in South Pacific (Jeff nomination) at Marriott Theatre directed by David Bell, and Franz in Appropriate at Victory Gardens directed by Gary Griffin. Recently, Stef was seen as Doug in Boy for TimeLine Theatre and Knute Rockne in Something in the Game for AMTP. He is the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Route 66 Theatre Company. Television and film credits include Proven Innocent, Boss, Chicago Fire, Olympia, Widows (with Colin Farrell, directed by Steve McQueen), and Contagion (directed by Steven Soderbergh), where Stef gives some very bad news to Matt Damon as Dr. Arrington.

KATHERINE LEE BOURNÉ (Lisa, Ensemble) returns to Drury Lane Theatre where she was last seen in this season’s production of A Christmas Carol. Other recent credits include: Heartbreak Hotel (BIC Broadway Playhouse); Marie Christine (Boho); NFSB 1959 (Porchlight); Songs for a New World (Blank); and Vivid (Auditorium Theatre). Katherine is a recent graduate of CCPA’s BFA Musical Theatre [Dance] program helmed by Jane Lanier. She is also the music director/arranger of family vocal group, The Bournés, who were recently featured on ABC7’s Windy City Live.

KEVIN CORBETT (Pepper, Ensemble) A recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s Department of Theatre & Drama, this is Kevin’s first production at Drury Lane. Hailing from a small town outside of Michigan’s capital city, Kevin is new to the Chicago area. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, fishing, and curling up on the sofa with the latest fantasy novel to hit the shelves.

YANDO LOPEZ (Eddie, Ensemble) returns to Drury Lane. He was last seen in Drury’s A Christmas Carol and Paramount Theatre’s Legally Blonde. Favorite credits include Jinx in Forever Plaid at TATC (Jeff Nomination), Lin-Manuel Miranda in Spamilton at the Royal George (Jeff Nomination), and The Christians at Steppenwolf. He’s also worked at Porchlight Music Theatre, Court Theatre, Goodman, American Blues Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, the Other Theatre Company, and Brown Paper Box. He’s a Northwestern alum and AEA member.

SIERRA SCHNACK (Ali, Ensemble) returns to Drury Lane where she was last seen as Babette u/s in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Anytime Annie in 42nd Street. Other Chicago credits include Kate in Shrew’d at First Folio Theatre and Ensemble/Swing in Legally Blonde at Paramount Theatre. Sierra has a BFA in Musical Theatre with an emphasis in Dance from CCPA at Roosevelt University. 

Drury Lane’s 2018/2019 season will conclude with the global smash-hit Mamma Mia! featuring the music of ABBA (February 7 – April 14, 2019). The 2019/2020 season will include two award-winning Regional Theatre premieres – the imaginative Matilda (April 26 – June 23, 2019), based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, and the beautifully captivating Gershwin musical An American in Paris (January 31 – March 29, 2020). The thrilling season also includes Agatha Christie’s edge-of-your-seat murder mystery And Then There Were None (July 12 – September 1, 2019); the revival of the exhilarating The Color Purple (September 13 – November 3, 2019), based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel; and the magical musical for all ages Mary Poppins (November 15 – January 19, 2020). 

Subscriptions for the 2019/2020 Season are priced from $172 to $203.50 and are currently on sale. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, flexible ticket exchanges, and early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com. 

The performance schedule for all productions during the 2018/2019 season is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Student group and Senior Citizens rates are available, as are dinner and show packages. For individual ticket on-sale dates and ticket reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111 or TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com. 

About Drury Lane Theatre  

Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation’s leading actors, artists, writers, and directors. Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works. 

Throughout its 50-year history, Drury Lane has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre moved to its current Oakbrook Terrace home more than 30 years ago and remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies, and unforgettable concert events.