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After almost 14 years, Mamma Mia! is closing up shop on Broadway Sept 12. Back when Mamma Mia! opened, it was one month after the 9/11 attacks, and the infectious joy and fun on stage at the Winter Garden Theatre gave this city exactly what it needed 鈥� an escape. Mamma Mia! instantly became a hit, as it had been in London and Toronto where it played before the Broadway engagement. The show spawned countless tours and international productions, a movie starring and a Broadway run of over 5,000 performances.
Let's take a look back at Mamma Mia!'s original Broadway company and find out what they've been up to over the last 14 years, in this edition of Where Are They Now: The Original Broadway Company of Mamma Mia!
(Swing)
Shortly after acting as a swing in the original company of Mamma Mia!, Barrett Foa got his big break replacing as Princeton and Rod in . He followed that up by replacing as Leif Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, appearing alongside his former Mamma Mia! castmate . He's now on television as a series regular on "NCIS: Los Angeles," portraying Eric Beale.
(Swing)
Jon-Erik Goldberg has continued to appear in Mamma Mia!, as recently as summer 2014. He also works as a producer with Stage17, a new organization that attempts to connect traditional theatre with new media. They create original work, both scripted and unscripted, in collaboration with Broadway's best, in addition to working on creating and distributing films of entire live theatre productions.
(Swing)
Hollie Howard followed up her time with the original Broadway company of Mamma Mia! with an appearance in the original Broadway company of , where she played Tammy and understudied Penny. After Hairspray, Howard created The Broadway Dolls, a performance group of female Broadway performers that tour the country singing and dancing to "The Best of BROADWAY, MOTOWN and ROCK N' ROLL," according to their website.
Janet Rothermel (Swing)
Janet Rothermel performed as a swing in the original company of Mamma Mia!, but she was also the dance captain. Before long, she was also the associate choreographer. Over the last 14 years, Rothermel has flown all over the world to prepare and maintain new companies of Mamma Mia!, including the Broadway production. She has also served as associate choreographer for and, most recently, .
(Ensemble)
Brent Black is a Mamma Mia! lifer; he opened in the original company as a member of the ensemble, and he's still with them today. Black also understudies the roles of Bill Austin and Sam Carmichael.
(Ensemble)
After Mamma Mia!, Tony Carlin has remained on Broadway with very few breaks in her schedule. In the almost 14 years since Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway, Carlin has appeared in 19 Broadway shows, including , , and . Most recently, he replaced as Dr. Stiles in .
Bill Carmichael (Ensemble, Father Alexandrios)
After a long career in the theatre, Bill Carmichael made Mamma Mia! his final Broadway appearance, trading New York City for Vergennes, VT, where he operates the beautiful Emerson House Bed and Breakfast there.
(Ensemble)
Adam Monley performed in the Ensemble of Mamma Mia! while also understudying the role of Sky. After he left the company, he has continued to perform Off-Broadway and regionally, appearing in Fanny Hill, The Life + Death of Kenyon Phillips and HAM: A Musical Memoir. Most recently, he made a return to Broadway in the current revival of . He played the Bishop of Digne and Combeferre in the original company, moving up to the role of Javert during 's summer hiatus in 2014.
Chris Prinzo (Ensemble)
Following his time in the Mamma Mia! ensemble, Chris Prinzo has been working as a performer on television. He has appeared on "Modern Family," "Kirstie," "Up All Night" and "American Dreams." He also works as a voice trainer and vocal performance coach, a skill he utilized as one of the coach/judges on ABC's 2008 reality competition show "High School Musical: Get in the Picture." Currently, he is on faculty at the Theatre and Film Institute in LA in addition to teaching master classes and workshops nationwide.
(Ensemble)
After Mamma Mia!, Peter Matthew Smith appeared in a string of Broadway shows including Rent, Hairspray, and . He continues to perform; regionally, he's appeared at The Fulton Theatre and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and he also recently appeared in the national tour of . He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, television news anchor Amy Lutz, and their daughter.
(Ensemble)
Japanese-born Yuka Takara followed up her Broadway debut performance in Mamma Mia! with appearances in , , Rent and the most recent revival of , in which she played Connie. Now back in Japan, Takara continues to perform and has also released several albums.
Sara Inbar (Ali)
After originating the role of Ali in Mamma Mia!, Inbar replaced as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in . During her time in Spelling Bee, Inbar started working on a separate career, attending Teachers College part-time. After Spelling Bee closed, Inbar completed her Master's degree in Curriculum and Teaching. She's currently a teacher at the Brooklyn School of Inquiry, which is tailored to gifted children and self-directed learning.
(Pepper)
Since creating the role of Pepper in Mamma Mia!, Mark Price has continued a prolific performing career. On Broadway, he created the role of Boris in , appeared in the 2003 revival of , created the role of Dennis in , and, most recently, created the role of Robertson Ay in the Broadway production of . Regionally, he appeared as Charles Guiteau in Milwaukee Rep's and Hercule in 's 2014 production of Can-Can. He just recently completed a run as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at .
(Eddie)
Michael Benjamin Washington created the role of Eddie in Mamma Mia!, after which he played Jacob in the 2004 Broadway revival of . In 2006, he played the Tin Man in 's , but primarily he's been working in television, appearing in "Law & Order," "Glee" and "30 Rock." Recently, Washington added "Playwright" to his resume; Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin played La Jolla Playhouse in February 2014, in a production directed by .
(Rosie)
Of the original Broadway cast, Judy Kaye brought with her the most prior Broadway experience. She was already a Tony winner for her performance as Carlotta Guidicelli in and she created the role of Emma Goldman in as well. Since making her Tony-nominated turn in Mamma Mia!, Kaye has never been far from the Great White Way for long. She played Mrs. Lovett in the 2006 Broadway revival of during 's two vacations, portrayed the legendary Florence Foster Jenkins in , and won a second Tony Award for her performance as Duchess Estonia Dulworth in 2012's . Most recently, she replaced as Marie in , playing the role through the production's closing night on Broadway.
(Tanya)
Karen Mason received a Drama Desk nomination for her performance as Tanya in Mamma Mia!, after which she played Velma Von Tussle in the final Broadway company of Hairspray and The Queen of Hearts in . Apart from Broadway, she continues to perform around the country in musical productions and as a cabaret artist. Her current cabaret show, Next to Norma (Desmond, that is!): From Broadway to Beatles, played a sold-out run at Don't Tell Mama and will soon inaugurate the Rrazz Room at the Prince in Philadelphia.
(Bill Austin)
Ken Marks has had a persistant presence on Broadway since his performance in the original company of Mamma Mia!. He appeared in , Spring Awakening, Rock 'n' Roll, Hairspray (alongside former-Mamma Mia! castmate Karen Mason) and before making his most recent Broadway appearance in .
David W. Keeley (Sam Carmichael)
Before starring as Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, David W. Keeley was primarily known as a Canadian film actor. After he left the production, he returned to Canada and its busy film and TV industry. Most recently, he's appeared on episodes of "Murdoch Mysteries," "Republic of Doyle," "Saving Hope" and "Copper." He's also father to two children, Aiden and Leah.
(Sophie Sheridan)
Tina Maddigan came back to Broadway after Mamma Mia! in 2006, replacing as Julia Sullivan in . She now lives in Kansas City, Kansas with her husband and two children. She teaches aspiring young performers, while continuing to perform locally. In 2012, she played Rona Lisa Peretti in The New Theatre's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
(Sky)
In his Broadway debut, Machota created the role of hunky Sky on Broadway, and he hasn't performed on Broadway since. He's been too busy becoming one of the entertainment industry's most powerful agents. He joined Creative Arts Agency in 2005 and was able to nab high-profile clients such as , , and . In 2013, he was made head of CAA's theater department, where he remains today. He may not be performing anymore, but he is certainly an active part of the Broadway industry.
(Donna Sheridan)
As the leading lady of Mamma Mia!, Louise Pitre made quite a splash with her performance as Donna Sheridan. She won a TheatreWorld Award for her performance, and was nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Tony Awards as well. Since then, she hasn't yet returned to Broadway, but has continued to perform at major regional theatres steadily. She took on the roles of Mame at Goodspeed Opera House in 2012, Mama Rose in at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2014, and she was just recently announced to appear as The Snake in a new musical adaptation of "The Little Prince," with a score by Nicholas Lloyd Webber (son to Andrew).
(Logan Culwell is a musical theatre historian, 半岛体育's manager of research and curator of 半岛体育 Vault. Please visit .)
