Ready to be a Dancing Queen (or King)?

Mamma Mia!, a Film Based on ABBA Music, Coming to DeSoto as a Singalong 

Combo of Dressing Up and Dancing Certain to be a Smashing Success

Rome, GA – June 21, 2023 – The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) and The Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation (DeSoto) are teaming up for another singalong movie event, this time for adults, with a Mamma Mia! Singalong at the DeSoto Theatre on Saturday, July 8, at 7 pm. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Doors open at 5:45 pm, Scott and Jeff Sherwin of Sweet Pickles will draw a name from the entries of those who dress in costume to win a disco prize pack at 6:55 pm, and the movie follows immediately afterward. Concessions will also be available – featuring the usual cinema treats like hot buttered popcorn, and new and exclusive to this adult movie event – Newby Farm and Vineyard’s famous wine slushies, complements of Billy and Shannon Newby. The July 8 Mamma Mia! Singalong will display lyrics clearly on the screen during musical numbers, so everyone can confidently belt out every song.

“After our wildly popular, sold-out Encanto Singalong in April, many people told us that an adult singalong was the Name of the Game for the next film in our musical event series. They said they wanted the opportunity to dress up and kick up their heels – they were looking to become a Dancing Queen (or king). We heard their SOS and chose Mamma Mia! When All is Said and Done we believe the takeaway from this event will be a big ‘Thank You For The Music’ to the wonderful songs of ABBA,” noted Leanne Cook, executive director of RIFF, with a smile.

The film Mamma Mia! features the music of ABBA, one of the most wildly popular bands of all time, with 400 million albums sold as of 2022. The band is credited with 15 #1 hits and fomenting a fascination with disco’s flashy clothing and wild, spikey hair. ABBA’s music has also spawned two musicals, including Mamma Mia! The musical version is the ninth longest running in the history of Broadway, and the sixth in London. The 2008 film features stars like Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, and Colin Firth. With only a budget of $52 million the film grossed more than $640 million in theatres.

“We’re encouraging attendees to dress up to enjoy the full ABBA and Mamma Mia! Singalong experience,” continued Cook. “Anytime grownups can wear costumes and strut their disco stuff is guaranteed to be great fun! And anyone who dresses up can enter our sweepstakes to win a fun disco prize package. We invited our good friends from Sweet Pickles restaurant in downtown Rome, owners Jeff and Scott Sherwin, to draw the winning name just before the movie -- at 6:55 pm.”

Tickets are selling briskly and can be purchased through the Facebook event attached to both RIFF and The DeSoto’s pages, and a link on www.riffga.com or www.thedesoto.org.