Hit play ‘Mamma Mia’ returns to the Grand

Based on the songs of the 1970s pop group ABBA, the hit play “Mamma Mia” returns to Macon for two performances Saturday at the Grand Opera House.

Set on a Greek island, “Mamma Mia” follows a young bride-to-be as she seeks the identity of her father from among three men from her mother’s past, according to a news release.

The upbeat musical comedy was written by Catherine Johnson and incorporates ABBA songs such as “S.O.S.,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Take a Chance on Me” and former No. 1 hit single “Dancing Queen.” The music and lyrics were written by ABBA founding members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog made up the other half of ABBA, who performed their last live concert together in 1980, according to the band’s website.

Since its debut in 1999, “Mamma Mia” has told the tale “of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found” to more than 50 million people worldwide, according to the release.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Hit play ‘Mamma Mia’ returns to the Grand."