When producers Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman and former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus came with the idea of writing a musical show based upon the band’s famous Pop songs, they couldn’t imagine that it was going to set a precedent for musical shows in Las Vegas. Mamma Mia!, which premiered on February 13^th, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, has celebrated over 2200 performances and has been enjoyed by more than 2 million viewers only in Las Vegas, and seen by over 32 million people all over the world, surpassing a gross of $2 Billion in box office sales.

"I am so grateful to the audiences who have supported MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas over six record-breaking years. I am proud that the popularity of the production in Las Vegas has opened the doors for other musicals to play on The Strip.  This has been an extraordinary year for MAMMA MIA!, with the worldwide history-making success of the movie, as well as a glorious finish to a triumphant run at MandalayBay.  We are leaving on such a high." said global producer Judy Craymer.

However, after almost six years running at the MandalayBay, the ABBA musical will present its final performance next Sunday, January 4^th, 2009 to leave the room for the "The Lion King" musical, which according to the show's producers, is expected to make its debut in April, 2009. According to Craymer, the reasons to cancel the show have nothing to do with declining numbers or the economic crisis, and even when the Vegas production is coming to an end, "Mamma Mia!" will keep running in more than a dozen locations worldwide, including London and Broadway.

"For us it was producing and creativity coming to the end of a cycle. We were thrilled to have such a successful show, one that had such life to it. We kind of beat the path for Broadway coming into Vegas. I remember years ago people being kind of doubtful. But we were never going to make it a 90-minute special, it was always intended to be the full Broadway show. That's what sustained us and made us attractive to the audiences." she says.

The performance schedule for MAMMA MIA! at the Mandalay Bay Theatre is Sunday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. & 10 p.m. For information on how to buy tickets for the last shows, please visit WDIAV ticket section or click here.