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This afternoon, it was announced that the first-ever Broadway revival of Chess will play at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre, beginning performances Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and officially open Sunday, November 16, 2025. Starring Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge), Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele (Funny Girl) and Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd), exclusive presale tickets will be available to fans who signed up on the official website beginning Wednesday, June 25 at 11Am Et. Tickets will be on sale to the general public beginning Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 11Am Et via Telecharge by calling 212-239-6200 or visiting Here through Sunday, March 15, 2026. Learn more about the history of Chess. Featuring a new book by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (“Dopesick”), with music and lyrics by Emmy and Tony Award nominees Abba’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Tim Rice (Evita), and based on an idea...

Lea Michele will have a homecoming on Broadway this year when she stars in the upcoming revival of Chess.

It was just announced that the musical will be playing the Imperial Theatre, which is the same venue where Lea made her Broadway debut 30 years ago.

Lea played the role of Young Cosette in Les Miserables from 1995 to 1996 at the Imperial Theatre. The Spring Awakening 15th Reunion Concert, which was filmed for an HBO documentary, also took place at the Imperial.

Chess will be Lea‘s sixth Broadway show and she’s starring alongside Tony winner Aaron Tveit and rising star Nicholas Christopher in the new production.

Keep reading to find out more…

Preview performances begin on October 15, 2025 ahead of an official opening night show on November 16, 2025.

An exclusive fan pre-sale begins on Wednesday (June 25) at 11am Et and the general public can buy tickets starting on Thursday (June 26) at 11am Et.

Chess, the first-ever Broadway revival of the Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Tim Rice musical which will star Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher, will begin previews at the Imperial Theatre on Wednesday, October 15, with an opening date of Sunday, November 16, producers announced today.

The production, previously announced, will feature a new book by Emmy winner Danny Strong (Dopesick) in place of Rice’s original (the musical is based on Rice’s original idea). Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) is on board to direct.

The fall revival will mark Michele’s return to Broadway following her acclaimed 2022-23 run in Funny Girl. Tveit is a 2021 Tony winner for his performance in Moulin Rouge!, and Christopher last appeared on Broadway in the 2023 revival of Sweeney Todd.

Additional casting and creative team will be announced shortly.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, June 26, a day after presale tickets are...

Like a lot of people, Amanda Seyfried has had enough of sequels. However, the actor says that she would be open to returning for another Mamma Mia!movie.

Speaking to Interview Magazine alongside Superman star Rachel Brosnahan, Seyfried shared her candid opinion about sequels. "I want original content," she said. "I think it's really scary and brave to do it. It's not scary and not very brave to do sequels. It's just for money, and it's frustrating." She went on to mention the one movie she would make an exception for. "I'd do Mamma Mia! 3 in a heartbeat," the actor added.

Seyfriend has previously been open about wanting to return to the world of Mamma Mia!, as well as the fact that conversations have played out behind the scenes about a potential third film in the series. However, there have been no official details or confirmation about a third Mamma Mia!film.

Glee makes it three straight at the Tonys.

When Darren Criss picked up a Tony Award on Sunday night for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his turn in Maybe Happy Ending, the veteran star became the third straight Glee alum to win a trophy on Broadway’s biggest night. He followed hot on the heels of Jonathan Groff, who won his first Tony last year for Merrily We Roll Along (and he was nominated this year in the same category as Criss for Just in Time), and Alex Newell, who won best featured actor in a musical for Shucked in 2023.

Criss accepts his Tony during Sunday’s ceremony. Theo Wargo/Getty Images

While the springboard from screens big and small to the stage is busier than ever, the wins deepen the validation for Ryan Murphy and his beloved Fox musical TV series,...

Having already found success with holograms, Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus has revealed that he’s writing a musical with help from another cutting-edge (and controversial) technology, AI.

“It is such a great tool,” Ulvaeus said at The Future of Entertainment panel Wednesday at SXSW London. “It’s unimaginable that you can bounce back and forth with a machine, or a software, which can give you ideas to go in various different directions.”

While Ulvaeus didn’t go too in detail about the musical, he said that his work on the project was three-quarters finished,...

Abba member Björn Ulvaeus continues to embrace groundbreaking technology. According to Variety, the Swedish hitmaker revealed he is writing a new musical with the assistance of AI during a talk held at SXSW London on Wednesday, June 4th.

“Right now, I’m writing a musical, assisted by AI,” Ulvaeus said during the chat, adding that he was “three-quarters” of the way through the creative process. The currently untitled project serves as the follow-up to the group’s innovative hologram-based “Abba Voyage” concert series.

Get Abba Voyage Tickets Here

Ulvaeus continued by elaborating on how AI can bolster the songwriting process: “It is such a great tool. It is like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame. It is really an extension of your mind. You have access to things that you didn’t think of before.”

However, Ulvaeus also acknowledged the current limitations of AI, stating...

Pierce Brosnan hints that Mamma Mia 3 may reveal Sophie's biological father. Released in 2008, the original musical introduced Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and the three men who may be her biological father: Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård). By the end, rather than finding out who her real father is, they all agree to share the role equally. Though the 2018 sequel, subtitled Here We Go Again, maintains the mystery from the first film, the upcoming Mamma Mia 3 may finally reveal the answer to the longstanding question.

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter for his new Paramount+ series MobLand, Pierce Brosnan hinted that Mamma Mia 3 may reveal Sophie's biological father. The actor, who plays one of Sophie's possible fathers in Sam Carmichael, says that he knows who her real father is, and that the third movie may finally reveal the answer to audiences. Read his full comments...

Just days after teasing that a big announcement was on the way, Lea Michele has confirmed that she will be back on Broadway this year!

Lea will be starring in a Broadway revival of the classic musical Chess alongside Tony winner Aaron Tveit and rising star Nicholas Christopher.

Chess features music written by Abba’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and Egot recipient Tim Rice. It’s billed as “the iconic musical where power and passion collide, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s America versus Russia at the World Chess Championship, where the espionage and romance are as complicated and exhilarating as the game itself. For the two players and the woman torn between them, everything—personal, professional, and political—is at risk… and nobody’s rules are the same.”

The revival will be directed by Michael Mayer, who previously worked with Lea on both Funny Girl and Spring Awakening,...

It's official! As BroadwayWorld first reported last week, Chess is coming back to Broadway. Tony Award winner Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge), Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele (Funny Girl) and Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) will lead the first-ever Broadway revival of Chess as Freddie Trumper, Florence Vassey and Anatoly Sergievsky, respectively, in Fall 2025 at a Shubert theater to be announced. Featuring a new book by Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (“Dopesick”), with music and lyrics by Emmy and Tony Award nominees Abba’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Tim Rice (Evita), and based on an idea by Tim Rice, this new production will be directed by Tony Award winner Michael...

Exclusive: Judy Craymer is the (dancing) queen, ruler of all things related to the Mamma Mia! stage musical and its movie iterations. Her default position is to remain tight-lipped about a third film, but tantalizing snippets emerge over lunch in Mayfair, London. There’s mention, for instance, of global phenomenon Sabrina Carpenter being sought for a role in the next picture.

There’s also talk of a possible TV version of Mamma Mia! too, but that’s way down the Greek beachfront.

Then, as we already know, Mamma Mia! returns to Broadway for a limited engagement at the Winter Garden Theatre with performances from August 2 and a gala official opening night on August 14.

The Winter Garden, located very nicely on Broadway between 50th and 51st streets, is prime real estate.

Craymer coos that that Mamma Mia! follows “gorgeous” George Clooney and the play Good Night, and Good Luck into that address.

Many might not know who they are today, but from the 1970s to the 1980s, pop group Abba was the only thing making waves around the world with its music. Before breaking off, the pop group dropped some of the most iconic songs that the world had ever seen.

Songs like Dancing Queen and Does Your Mother Know ruled people’s hearts when the band was at its peak of fame. Abba has a deep influence on America and its music culture. Unfortunately, one Abba legend recently passed away, and people paid a heartfelt tribute to him.

Abba legend Michael Tretow has passed away

Tretow was the sound engineer of Abba who had worked with the band for several years when the group was famous. The musician was a prominent figure in the Swedish music industry, and his death has affected thousands of people.

The members of Abba | Credits: Beeld en Geluid Wiki,...

Mamma Mia, here we go again—but not if Amanda Seyfried has a say in it. The Mamma Mia! star says there’s one iconic Abba hit she never wants to hear again, and for good reason.

Seyfried played Sophie in the 2008 movie-musical, the sun-soaked story of a spirited young woman raised on a dreamy Greek island by her single mom Donna (Meryl Streep). Ahead of her wedding, Sophie secretly invites three men—Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth. All of whom might be her dad, sparking chaos, nostalgia, and a whole lot of sequins.

Sun, sequins, songs- what could go wrong, right? Nope. Amanda Seyfried has a whole other reaction to it. Strap in, where finding out exactly which Abba song Amanda Seyfried can’t stand anymore.

Voulez-Vous… never again? Amanda Seyfried spills on the Abba song that haunts her Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as Donna and Sophie in Mamma Mia!

The Hives have announced their new album, The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, out August 29th via Play It Again Sam. They’ve also revealed a 2025 world tour and unveiled first single “Enough Is Enough.” Stream it below.

Co-produced by Pelle Gunnerfeldt and Mike D of the Beastie Boys, the group’s seventh album features 13 tracks recorded at a pair of studios in Stockholm: Abba member Benny Andersson’s Riksmixningsverket and a separate facility used by Yung Lean and the YEAR0001 label. Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme also contributed to the LP in an unspecified capacity.

“Enough Is Enough” is a kickass, propulsive track with lyrics perfect for these frustrating times: “Everyone’s a little fuckin’ bitch/ And I am getting sick and tired of it/ When to the doctor/ Cause I was sick/ Sick of everybody’s bullshit.” Watch the Eik Kockum-directed video below.

Kicking off...

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Dancing Queens, it’s time to lace up your shoes, throw on your favorite feathery boa, and head downtown because Mamma Mia! is officially returning to Broadway. The award-winning Musical (which was later turned into a major motion picture starring Meryl Streep) first opened on The Great White Way back in 2001 and, after 14 years, ended its run in 2015.

Buy tickets now

But starting on August 2, 2025, Abba fans and...

The hit musical Mamma Mia! is returning to Broadway this summer after a 10-year intermission.

The musical – with casting to be announced later – will begin previews at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on August 2, with an opening night set for August 14. The limited engagement will run through February 1, 2026.

The musical originally ran on Broadway from October 2001 to September 2015.

Since then, productions of the musical have appeared around the world, including North American and international tours, London and Toronto engagements, among others.

Mamma Mia! features music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus of Abba, book by Catherine Johnson, and direction by Phyllida Lloyd.

Mamma Mia! is returning to Broadway.

The hit musical, which ran on Broadway from October 2001 to September 2015, will return to the Winter Garden Theatre this summer starting Aug. 2. An opening night celebration will be held Aug. 14. The limited engagement will play in New York through Feb. 1, 2026.

“When Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway in 2001, the show had already launched productions in London and Toronto and played a sold-out North American tour. Despite the glowing reception we received in those markets, nothing could have prepared us for the outpouring of love and acclaim (and dancing in the aisles!) that overwhelmed us when we arrived in New York at the magnificent Winter Garden Theatre,” creator and producer Judy Craymer said.

“Last year, Mamma Mia! celebrated 25 successful years in the West End, and it’s truly fantastic to bring the original production back to its Broadway home after 24 years.

The show, which also launched...

Abba star Benny Andersson has developed and will appear in Siw, a feature documentary about Swedish music icon Siw Malmkvist, now in production.

The film is directed by Stina Gardell, and produced by Gardell and Frida Neema Jarnbert for Sweden’s Mantaray Film.It has been developed with executive producer Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson, for their Rmv Film.

The film will tell the story of the life and 70-year career of Malmkvist, a beloved Swedish artist of the schlager music style. Benny will join a host of creative figures in the documentary including Norwegian singer Wenche Myhre, Swedish schlager singer Ann-Louise Hanson,...

Pierce Brosnan believes a third 'Mamma Mia!' film is "doable" following a meeting with producer Judy Craymer over the summer.The 71-year-old actor has confirmed he would "welcome the opportunity" to return for another installment of the Abba-inspired films after previously appearing in the 2008 original and the 2018 follow-up 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'.He told The Hollywood Reporter: "['Mamma Mia!' producer] Judy Craymer is a dear friend, and we met during the summer, and I believe that my fellow thespians would all jump at the chance to go and do 'Mamma Mia 3'."I think it’s doable. Of course, it’s always the story. What is the story? I would definitely welcome the opportunity to go back into the world of 'Mamma Mia!', for sure."Craymer has previously admitted she's keen to get going on a third film, but she revealed Abba stars...

The members of Abba had a rare reunion Friday to receive one of Sweden’s highest honors at the royal palace in Stockholm.

Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were given the Royal Vasa Order by King Carl XVI Gustaf. The group was awarded the honor for their “very distinguished contributions within Swedish and international music life.”

The Royal Vasa Order is a knighthood given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden, as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments, the Associated Press writes. They are the first Swedish citizens in nearly 50 years to receive the honor.

The four members of Abba have not performed live together since 1982, and have only made a handful of appearances together over the ensuing decades. They most recently came together in 2022 at their avatar show Abba: Voyage in London. They used that occasion to to record 2021’s Voyage,...

The members of Abba staged a rare reunion Friday to receive one of Sweden’s highest honors at the royal palace in Stockholm.

Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were given the Royal Vasa Order by King Carl XVI Gustaf, with Abba awarded the honor for their “very distinguished contributions within Swedish and international music life.”

Abba marked the first Swedish citizens to receive the Royal Vasa Order — a knighthood that is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments,...

Doctor Who gained widespread recognition, majorly for its unique storytelling, bringing a fresh perspective on regeneration, and influencing a generation of viewers since the 1960s. The show features an intriguing concept of the Doctor’s regeneration, which allows the character to transform into a new form with a different personality.

Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who

As Ncuti Gatwa becomes the leading face in the latest season of Doctor Who, showrunner Russell T. Davies reflected on turning down one offer from Abba that could have contributed to making the franchise more iconic.

Russell T. Davies Reflects on Possible Musical Pitch for Doctor Who Universe

In an interview with GamesRadar, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies discussed being approached to expand the sci-fi show into the realm of musicals.

SUGGESTEDDoctor Who Series 14 Review: A New Doctor But the Same High-Energy Antics

He admitted that he rejected to meet with Benny Andersson and...

Abba fans the world over yesterday celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Swedish supergroup’s Eurovision victory in 1974, and one crowd were treated to a surprise appearance by band member Bjorn Ulvaeus.

It was the group’s Eurovision triumph 50 years ago with their song Waterloo that kickstarted their phenomenal success, an event marked by Abba fans all across the world on Saturday with special events. The BBC, who hosted the event back in 1974 when it all began, gave over their BBC Two Channel to “Abba Night”, including a new documentary charting the band’s fortunes over the last five decades.

On stage in London, the cast celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Mamma Mia! musical, and then had one more treat for the audience – with the appearance of Bjorn Ulvaeus – one quarter of Abba, and one half of the band’s songwriting duo (along with Benny Andersson).

When Ulvaeus took...

Exclusive: Judy Craymer would just love it if Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig could just make herself available to complete the Mamma Mia! movie trilogy.

“Hey, Greta, if you’re free to do anymore projects…” jokes Craymer, the driving force that has kept the “Money, Money, Money” pouring into the box office for musical Mamma Mia!, featuring the songs of Swedish pop stars Abba, for a quarter of a century.

Saturday night will mark an incredible milestone for a show that has taken over $5.685 billion at the box-office worldwide in ticket sales and is responsible for a further $17 billion in supplementary expenditure from spending on hotels, restaurants, transport and merchandising globally in the 25 years since opening night at the Cameron Macintosh-owned Prince Edward Theatre on April 6, 1999.

Those figures do not include the hundreds of millions of dollars that movie offshoots Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again have amassed.

The Hives are back with the announcement of new 2024 tour dates, which’ll take the Swedish rockers to cities across North America this fall.

Specifically, after The Hives finish up a European leg this summer, they’ll hop across the pond to the US for a number of dates opening for Foo Fighters and Green Day. After that, they’ll embark on a US tour of their own, stopping in cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and more, before wrapping with a final performance in Atlanta on October 2nd. Check out the full list of dates below.

Get The Hives Tickets Here

Tickets for the shows will go on sale on Thursday, April 4th at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Once tickets are on sale, you can also find them at StubHub, where orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s FanProtect program. StubHub is a secondary market ticketing platform,...

Hot Swedish helmer of Georgian descent Levan Akin is due to kickstart Berlin’s Panorama Feb. 15 with his feature drama “Crossing.” Nine years earlier, he walked the Berlinale red carpet with his youth sci-fi “The Circle,” showcased at Generation. Next to him were his Swedish producers of Rmv Film – Abba’s Benny Andersson and his son Ludvig Andersson.

The latter who met Akin over 20 years ago, has stayed by his side since his debut pic “Certain People” in 2011, serving also as executive producer on the 2019 Swedish Oscar entry “And Then We Danced,” and as co-producer this year of “Crossing”.

“Rmv Film spotted Levan from his very first film and has supported him all along,” confirms French Quarter’s Mathilde Dedye, producer of “Crossing” and “And Then We Danced,”, who believes “trust and continuity to be very important for the development of auteurism.”

“I met Ludvig through Levan and he is...

It is so common to hear actors say they had a blast filming a movie that you're allowed to be cynical when they talk about how the cast became like a family. The big exception, of course, is the "Mamma Mia" movies. Every scene from the "Mamma Mia" movies exudes fun. Sure, they are not the most visually vibrant, and the scripts have the complexity of a paper airplane. That being said, it's hard not to get caught up in the excitement, the dancing, the burning passion exuding from Cher and Andy Garcia singing "Fernando."

The adaptation of Catherine Johnson's smash-hit Broadway stage show of the same name from 1999 focuses on Sophia (Amanda Seyfried) and her mom Donna (Meryl Streep) who live in a hotel run by Donna on a Greek Island. The first film was set in the lead-up to Sophie's wedding, as she invites three men to the ceremony,...

The producer of Mamma Mia! is optimistic that a third movie will happen because everyone wants it, but she has been busy with a reality show and Abba members are focused on their reunion album. Universal Studios is on board for a third Mamma Mia! movie and the producer has a storyline in mind, but it could take time to convince Abba songwriters and producers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. With the television show completed, the producer may now shift her focus to the movie, potentially celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mamma Mia! with its release.

Mamma Mia! 3 has gotten a majorly optimistic update from one of its primary producers. The original 2008 smash hit movie Mamma Mia! was based on the jukebox musical of the same name, which used music from the Abba songbook to bring to life the story of Sophie, a young woman who invites her three possible fathers to her wedding,...

Patti LuPone — the Tony-winning, brassy Broadway legend with a penchant for strong opinions — let everyone know exactly how she feels about Abba and their hit “Mamma Mia!” musical in a new joint interview with Nathan Lane on Wednesdsay.

To hear her tell it on “The A24 Podcast,” LuPone has never even seen “Mamma Mia!” on stage or on film out of protest against the Swedish pop supergroup of 1970s fame.

“I’ve never seen ‘Mamma Mia!’ I’ve never seen any of the movies. Every time their music’s on, I turn it off,” LuPone said, detailing her hatred for the band. “I protest them.”

“How can you hate Abba?” Nathan Lane asked, shocked.

Turns out, it has to do with LuPone love of rock ‘n’ roll from the same era. The pop-dance stylings of members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad just never sat right with her.

Amanda Seyfried reveals that she hoped Stellan Skarsgård's character Bill was Sophie's real father in Mamma Mia, citing his strength and vulnerability in a scene as the reason. The possibility of a Mamma Mia 3 has been teased, with the cast expressing eagerness to return and director Ol Parker hinting at a trilogy. Abba members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have been reluctant about a third movie, as most of their well-known songs have already been used, but never say never.

The question of who is Sophie's dad in Mamma Mia has never officially been answered. Even after the events of the sequel movie provided flashbacks to before Sophie was born, the question lingers, prompting a lot of fan speculation about Sophie's father's identity. Fans and cast members alike have their own preferences for who Sophie might have called "dad." Mamma Mia star Amanda Seyfried reveals which one of Sophie's...

An intriguing theory suggests that, in the Mamma Mia! movies, Donna and the Dynamos are actually the ones behind Abba's songs, serving as a replacement for the band. The theory is supported by the fact that Abba is never mentioned by name in the films despite their songs being prominently featured. While the theory is fun, it raises questions about the fame of Donna and the Dynamos and when they would have had the time to record and release all the songs featured in the movies.

A fascinating Reddit theory about the Mamma Mia! movies completely recontextualizes the beloved films. Mamma Mia! is based on the stage musical of the same name, designed as a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Swedish pop group Abba. Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again feature fun, escapist plots and captivating performances from their talented casts. An Abba musical is an inspired concept,...

Cast members express excitement for a potential Mamma Mia! 3, but Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are hesitant due to lack of song options and the need for a compelling script. The challenge in making a third film lies in creating a compelling story and maintaining the sing-along quality that the franchise is known for. Mamma Mia! 3 would need to stretch the story even thinner and stray further from the character dynamics established in order to make it work.

The prospect of Mamma Mia! 3 excites some cast members, but not everyone is fully on board. Based on the music of hit Europop band Abba, Mamma Mia! was originally made as a jukebox musical for the stage, premiering in 1999. The musical was adapted into a 2008 movie of the same name. Mamma Mia! was successful enough to warrant a film sequel in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Related: Mamma Mia! 3 Updates: Will It Happen?...

The Hives have returned with their sixth studio album, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons. Stream the record below.

Spanning 12 tracks and packing-in an impressive amount of Hives-esque angst, antics, and rock ‘n’ roll prowess, the album proves that just because the popularity of rock has waned in recent years doesn’t mean that one of the genre’s greatest purveyors has lost their touch. In fact, The Hives think there might even be a correlation: “I’m just saying that The Hives don’t release a record for 10 years, [and] rock becomes completely unpopular,” frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist told The New York Times. “Coincidence? We think not.”

Thankfully, The Hives weren’t alone in this endeavor. The making of The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons began like how all of their albums begin: with input from their fictional “mentor and songwriter,” Randy Fitzsimmons. This time, though, Fitzsimmons seems to have helped them from beyond the grave.

When the Hives released their last album, in 2012, the Swedish garage-rockers didn’t plan on waiting 11 years to follow it up. Unfortunate, unforeseen events just kept getting in their way. The trouble started in 2013, when bassist Dr. Matt Destruction left the group due to health problems; continued in 2019, when drummer Chris Dangerous was temporarily sidelined following major stomach surgery; and the capper came in 2020, when the pandemic made it impossible for any of them to travel to America to record.

But the long Hives drought will end Aug. 11 with the...

Judy Craymer is determined to make a third 'Mamma Mia!' film.The 65-year-old producer has worked on both the original stage production and the two movies in the musical based on Abba's songs and hopes that another film can be made.Speaking to Deadline, Judy said: "It's in its earliest stages. I don't want to over-egg it, but I know there's a trilogy there."The producer revealed that her ideas for the new film involve bringing back popular characters such as Meryl Streep's Donna – who had died in the events of the 2018 film 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' – and Cher's Ruby, mother to Donna and grandmother to Sophie (Amanda Seyfried).Craymer said: "There is a story there, and I do think Meryl should come back – and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna."The producer...

Exclusive: As the West End production of Mamma Mia! enters its 25th year on stage, Judy Craymer, its creator and driving force, is expanding the Mm! universe with ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream talent show. Set on an idyllic Greek island, it’s aimed at finding Mm! stars of the future. There’s definitely a desire to see Mm! back on Broadway in 2025, Craymer confirms, and she says she’s also pushing to make the dream of a third Mm! film a reality.

“It’s in its earliest stages,” she says, revealing that she has come up with a way to bring back all of the previous movie’s favorite characters. Which is no mean feat given that those parts involve stars such as Meryl Streep, who played the independent, fierce and spirited Donna Sheridan onscreen, and Cher, who played Donna’s vivacious mother Ruby in 2018’s...

Abba have paid loving tribute to their longtime guitarist Lasse Wellander, crediting his “musical brilliance” and saying he played “an integral part in the Abba story.”

The Swedish guitarist, who died on Friday at 70, can be heard playing on hits including ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, ‘Thank You For the Music’ and the epic ballad ‘The Winner Takes It All’.

Abba said in a statement Monday: “Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist.”

Wellander first joined the Swedish supergroup as a session musician on their eponymous 1975 album, before becoming their main guitarist on subsequent records and joining the band on tour from 1975 to 1980. Following Abba’s split, Wellander worked with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson on the album for the musical Chess, and he played on the soundtracks of hit musicals Mamma Mia! The Movie and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Besides all his in-demand session work,...

Abba’s long-time guitarist Lasse Wellander has died aged 70.

The news was announced by the Swedish musician’s family, who told Wellander’s fans that he had died on Good Friday (7 April) “surrounded by his loved ones”.

“It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep,” their statement read, adding: “You were an amazing musician and humble as few, but above all you were a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather.

“Kind, safe, caring and loving... and so much more, that cannot be described in words. A hub in our lives, and it’s unbelievable that we now have to live on without you.”

The musician died of cancer.

In tribute, Abba released a statement to Pa, reading: “Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as...

Mike Shinoda wouldn’t want to perform with a hologram of Linkin Park’s late lead vocalist Chester Bennington.

Bennington died by suicide in July 2017, and his death is, understandably, “a very sensitive subject,” Shinoda said.

In a new interview with 94.5 The Buzz, Shinoda shared when talking about performing with holograms: “I feel like those are creepy. Even if we weren’t talking about us, if we weren’t talking about Chester, which is a very sensitive subject, and we would have our feelings about how we would represent that.

“For me, that’s a clear no. I’m not into that.”

Read More: Chester Bennington’s Widow Honours Late Linkin Park Frontman On 45th Birthday

Talk turned to Abba’s “Voyage” show in London, U.K., with fans paying to watch holograms perform on stage.

Insisting that’s different than performing when a band member has passed away, Shinoda shared,...

On Thursday morning, U2’s Bono and The Edge appeared on BBC Radio 2 and paid tribute to their longtime friends, Abba, with an orchestral cover the Swedish band’s 1975 hit “Sos.”

“I’ll tell you what, they’re just better songs,” Bono said of Abba during the broadcast on Radio 2’s Piano Room (on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer). “You can’t be empirical about everything in art, but sometimes songs are just better.”

The choice of “Sos” was well-suited for the intimate Piano Room. Switching out Abba’s sunshiney ‘70s arrangement for a slower acoustic affair, clad with strings and Bono’s signature croon, the duo’s version shows off some of the nuances of the track that can oh-so-easily get overlooked once you’re on the dance floor. “This is the great Abba… and this is a marketing gimmick from U2 called ‘Sos!’” Bono quipped before they played the song.

Abba Voyage show will soon travel “around the world”, organisers have reportedly said.

The virtual concert, which sees hologram- style “Abba-tars” of the pop band performing a full setlist in a purpose-built arena, has seen enormous demand.

The unique concert, which opened last May, has sold over a million tickets.

Following its success, Universal Music Group has reportedly said that the show will soon go on tour around the world.

“Plans are now in development to take ‘Abba Voyage’ around the world,” said Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grainge while on a company earnings call, reported Variety.

A representative for Abba Voyage declined to comment, but a source close to the project said that the focus was on London for the forseeable.

Abba, who formed in Sweden in 1972, are famous for multiple hits including “Dancing Queen”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) and “Mamma Mia”.

The group is made up of Agnetha Fältskog,...

Abba staged their first concert in 42 years in hologram form at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (grab tickets to upcoming shows here) last May, and now the Swedish pop legends are ready to take the show worldwide.

During a Universal Music Group earnings call on Thursday (via Variety), chairman Lucian Grainge said, “Plans are now in development to take ‘Abba Voyage’ around the world.” No further details have been revealed at this time.

For now, the only place to catch “Abba Voyage” is at the custom-built, 3,000-capacity Abba Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In order to create the production, George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic used motion-capture technology to create digital avatars (or “Abba-tars”) of how Agnetha Falkstog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad looked in 1979. The 90-minute concert spans from Abba’s classic 1970s catalog to 2021’s Voyage, their first release in 40 years.

“Abba Voyage” is currently...

Beyoncé made the biggest news of the night Sunday at the 65th annual Grammy Awards.

The singer led the 2023 Grammy Awards nominations with a total of nine. Beyoncé’s career total of 88 nominations set a new record — one tied by her husband Jay-Z, who earned five noms this year. During the Premiere Ceremony, the pop star picked up two Grammys, breaking her 28-win tie with Quincy Jones. She also won best R&b song during the live broadcast, for “Cuff It,” tying late conductor Georg Solti’s 31-win record. She wasn’t there to accept that award, having experienced a very L.A. annoyance — being stuck in traffic — but arrived later during the ceremony, with host Trevor Noah presenting her the Grammy while she was seated in the audience. Later in the show, she won best dance/electronic album for Renaissance, beating Solti’s record, with a total of 32 career wins.

The 65th Grammy Awards take place on Sunday 5 February, with music fans preparing for the rematch of the century: Adele vs Beyoncé.

Both artists are up for Album of the Year, six years after Adele took home the top prize for her third record, 25. The win over Beyoncé’s critically adored surprise album Lemonade was highly controversial; Adele herself famously declared that Beyoncé deserved the prize during her acceptance speech.

This year, the British singer is competing with her record-obliterating fourth album, 30, released in 2021. A four-star review in The Independent praised the songs as “handsomely crafted ballads about love and its various agonies”, with Adele’s voice, as ever, the main draw. “Adele possesses that perfectly imperfect voice, gargantuan and frail all at once,” critic Annabel Nugent wrote. “It’s epic without resorting to showy, melismatic affectations. It yawns into unexpected shapes and makes intonation fun.”

Beyoncé, meanwhile, surprised fans...

The 65th Grammy Awards take place on Sunday 5 February, with music fans preparing for the rematch of the century: Adele vs Beyoncé.

Both artists are up for Album of the Year, six years after Adele took home the top prize for her third record, 25. The win over Beyoncé’s critically adored surprise album Lemonade was highly controversial; Adele herself famously declared that Beyoncé deserved the prize during her acceptance speech.

This year, the British singer is competing with her record-obliterating fourth album, 30, released in 2021. A four-star review in The Independent praised the songs as “handsomely crafted ballads about love and its various agonies”, with Adele’s voice, as ever, the main draw. “Adele possesses that perfectly imperfect voice, gargantuan and frail all at once,” critic Annabel Nugent wrote. “It’s epic without resorting to showy, melismatic affectations. It yawns into unexpected shapes and makes intonation fun.”

Beyoncé, meanwhile, surprised fans...

The 65th Grammy Awards take place on Sunday 5 February, with music fans preparing for the rematch of the century: Adele vs Beyoncé.

Both artists are up for Album of the Year, six years after Adele took home the top prize for her third record, 25. The win over Beyoncé’s critically adored surprise album Lemonade was highly controversial; Adele herself famously declared that Beyoncé deserved the prize during her acceptance speech.

This year, the British singer is competing with her record-obliterating fourth album, 30, released in 2021. A four-star review in The Independent praised the songs as “handsomely crafted ballads about love and its various agonies”, with Adele’s voice, as ever, the main draw. “Adele possesses that perfectly imperfect voice, gargantuan and frail all at once,” critic Annabel Nugent wrote. “It’s epic without resorting to showy, melismatic affectations. It yawns into unexpected shapes and makes intonation fun.”

Beyoncé, meanwhile, surprised fans...

Click here to read the full article.

It sounds like Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again director Ol Parker might be ready to take a chance on pursuing another film in the musical franchise.

Parker, who helmed Universal Pictures’ 2018 follow-up to director Phyllida Lloyd’s 2008 hit Mamma Mia!, told Screen Rant in an interview published online Saturday that producer Judy Craymer has always intended to make a film trilogy. Craymer has credits on both films and also the Abba-centric jukebox musical of the same name, which was the basis for the first movie and has had runs on the West End and Broadway.

“Judy Craymer, the genius producer behind the musical and the first two films, always plans for it to be a trilogy,” Parker teased. “That’s all I can say. The first one made an enormous amount of money, and I think we made a fair amount too.

Mamma Mia! has been widely regarded as one of the best movie musicals in recent times, adapting the stage version perfectly and generally feeling like a warm hug with every single watch. So, it was only natural that a sequel was immediately being talked about. With constant rumors swirling and fan-made trailers galore, it felt like a dream come true when a sequel was officially announced. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again had all the tools to be as successful as its predecessor, with the original cast returning and even getting Abba members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson involved once more. While the sequel film is just as entertaining and chock-full of Abba’s biggest hits to get stuck in your head for days, it gets so much wrong about the history blatantly stated in its preceding film that it's impossible to ignore.

Exclusive: Darren Criss, Lena Hall, Ramin Karimloo and Solea Pfeiffer will perform a one-night-only benefit concert of the 1986 Benny Andersson-Björn Ulvaeus-Tim Rice musical Chess next month at a Broadway theater to benefit The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund).

The concert, which will be held at the the Broadhurst Theatre on on Monday, December 12 at 7:30 pm Et, was announced by the Entertainment Community Fund today. The benefit will be presented in association with Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman whose award-winning Broadway credits include Ain’t Too Proud, Green Day’s American Idiot and Spring Awakening.

Criss will perform the role of “Freddie Trumper”, Hall will be “Florence Vassey”, Karimloo will portray “Anatoly Sergievsky” and Pfeiffer will be “Svetlana Sergievsky”.

Ramin Karimloo and Solea Pfeiffer (Getty Images)

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

“We’re thrilled to help bring this new iteration...

The lengthy list of nominees for the 2023 Grammys have officially been unveiled.

On Tuesday (15 November), the Recording Academy announced the artists who have been nominated in each category, with Adele and Beyoncé battling it out for the top award, Album of the Year.

Winners will be announced on 5 February 2023 during the ceremony, which will broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. US audiences can tune in on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

You can see the full list of nominations below...

Album of the Year

30 – Adele

Voyage – Abba

Un Verano Sin Tee – Bad Bunny

Renaissance – Beyoncé

Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) – Mary J Blige

In These Silent Days – Brandi Carlile

Music of the Spheres – Coldplay

Mr Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar

Special – Lizzo

Harry’s House – Harry Styles

Record of the Year

“Don’t Shut Me Down” – Abba

“Easy on Me” – Adele

“Break My...