ITV announce nationwide search for aspiring musical theatre stars to compete for a leading role in West End production of Mamma Mia!
An exciting new ITV musical theatre competition will see contestants fight for a spot in the West End production of Mamma Mia! the musical.
The talent-show-style programme, Mamma Mia! I have A Dream, is set to launch nationwide in 2023 and will include an eight-part series airing on ITV1.
The series will search for two novices to perform the roles of Sophie and Sky, played by Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in the original films.
Take a chance: An exciting new musical theatre competition will see contestants fight for a spot in the West End production of Mamma Mia! (pictured Meg Hateley and Miles Henderson)
Contestants will be fighting to be the next West End star, performing for a panel of celebrity experts in both music and theatre, with viewers voting on who makes it through to perform the following week.
The show will be filmed against the backdrop of the Greek islands – where the original story is set.
The competition will culminate in a live finale, broadcast from a theatre in London’s West End.
The series is being produced by Thames, who also make Britain’s Got Talent and I Can See Your Voice.
The winner takes it all: The series will search for two novices to perform the roles of Sophie and Sky, played by Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in the original films (pictured)
The success of Mamma Mia! spawned two record-breaking blockbuster films, starring a host of stars including Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Lily James and Cher.
Creator and global producer of Mamma Mia!, Judy Craymer will co-executive produce the show and will be on hand to help the contestants.
Judy Craymer said: ‘Mamma Mia! has always been a show that has encouraged young actors and given opportunities to those making their stage debuts – just as our current Sophie and Sky in London (Meg Hateley and Miles Henderson) are making their West End debuts – so it feels the perfect fit for a TV show that will seek out new talent for musical theatre.
Meryl’s magic: The success of Mamma Mia! spawned two record-breaking blockbuster films, starring a host of stars including Meryl Streep (pictured)
‘In the lead-up to the celebrations for the stage musical’s 25th birthday in 2024, we’re really looking forward to working with Thames and ITV on this show and involving our well-loved musical as much as possible in the programme.’
Amelia Brown, Managing Director of Thames, added: ‘The excitement we have for making this show is like no other – it’s a dream come true for so many of us at Thames.
‘Merging the global brand of Mamma Mia! and all the talent at Littlestar with the power behind the talent show juggernauts such as Britain’s Got Talent will mean it’s a show that can’t be missed.’
Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV adds: ‘MAMMA MIA! I Have A Dream is everything we could want in an entertainment show – legendary music, an iconic West End theatre show, high energy performances, and a brand new search for talent, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous island.’
Thank you for the music! Creator and global producer of Mamma Mia!, Judy Craymer will co-executive produce the show and will be on hand to help the contestants
The new show will reboot the musical theatre casting talent show genre back on TV screens. Any Dream Will Do! and its successive shows, How do you Solve a Problem like Maria?, I’d Do Anything and Over the Rainbow, saw contestant compete to win roles on the West End.
In 2007, the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The show was hosted by Graham Norton, who announced Lee Mead as the winner of the final public telephone vote on 9 June 2007.
A year later, I’d Do Anything by the BBC, centred on a search for a lead to play Nancy and three young performers who would play Oliver Twist in the 2009 West End revival of the British musical Oliver!
The show, named after the Oliver! song I’d Do Anything, was hosted by Graham Norton with Andrew Lloyd Webber again overseeing the programme, together with theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh.
That’s the name of the game! The competition will culminate in a live finale, broadcast from a theatre in London’s West End
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