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Dancing queens, it’s time to kick up your heels and say ‘I Do’ as the party of the century – ‘Mamma Mia! The Musical’ arrives in Adelaide.

Set on a Greek island and featuring 22 of ABBA’s best-known hits ‘Mamma Mia!’ brilliantly combines high energy dance routines with explosions.

ABBA fever has infected Adelaide as Mamma Mia! The Musical takes over the Festival Theatre with catchy tunes and moments of heartfelt joy, writes Anna Solding.

Mamma Mia! has played in dozens of countries since its original West End production but appears to have lost none of its allure, with this new version – produced in Australia by Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Linda Bewick – having its festive official opening in Adelaide last night at the end of an 11-month tour.

But after a year of touring Australia together, not to mention performing the songs of ABBA eight times a week, the trio say the experience has made them BFFs off the stage, as well. “The show was created by three women and it really understands and shows the relationships we all have as women,” says Jayde.

There was a great atmosphere at the Mamma Mia! opening last night. A real buzz in the audience. No matter what else you may expect from a musical theatre performance, Mamma Mia! is one show that will always be fun, and last night was no exception. The production team of Director Gary Young, Musical Supervisor Stephen Amos, Musical Director Michael Azzopardi and Choreographer Tom Hodgson did a fantastic job in bringing the story to vibrant life.

Currently playing at the Princess Theatre, it’s now time for Melbourne to experience the 2009 theatre incarnation of Catherine Johnson’snovel (or to some extent the 2008 film) Mamma Mia which revolves around a young woman called Sophie (Sarah Morrison) who is marrying her soulmate Sky (Stephen Mahy) on a Greek Island. So while Sophie plans for her wedding, she realises that something is missing and that is her father and although she was raised by a loving devoted single-mother called Donna (Natalie O’Donnell), she never knew who her father was.

A new production of Mamma Mia! opens this week in Melbourne, as part of an Australian tour that has been met with critical praise. It’s earned a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Musical, while choreographer Tom Hodgson and performers Natalie O’Donnell and Ian Stenlake are also up for awards.

Mamma Mia! was the first stage musical Sarah Morrison saw as a kid in 2001. “It was just me and my mum. I have a brother but it was like a treat, me and my mum going to the theatre.” She was vaguely familiar with Abba, having grown up with mum occasionally playing the band’s album Gold. “But I don’t think I understood just how famous their music was, is, will continue to be. I remember looking around and not quite understanding exactly how everyone in the audience knew all the words.”

“I clearly remember doing a scene with Sarah (Morrison) in the audition and I had no idea which way it would go but I said to Simon ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Sarah’,” O’Donnell says.

The Helpmann Awards are the premier celebration of Australia’s vibrant live performance industry. The Awards recognise distinguished achievement and excellence in Australia’s live performance sectors including musicals, contemporary music, comedy, opera and classical music, theatre, ballet, dance and physical theatre, presentations for children, regional touring and cabaret.

MAMMA MIA! The Musical has been nominated for the following:

BEST MUSICAL

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

After acclaimed stints in Brisbane and most recently Sydney, the cast felt at home on the stage in Perth, with Queensland talent Sarah Morrison (portraying lead Sophie Sheridan), on-point from the moment she stepped into the spotlight and serenaded the audience with the prologue, one of only a few intimate numbers throughout an action-packed, bright and fun evening.

Strange as it may seem considering I was around for the very start of the ABBA phenomenon and can remember the event that was the arrival of any new music from the group, last night, I heard some of the 22 songs included in Mamma Mia! The Musical, now showing at Crown Theatre Perth, for the first time.