The musical opened on the West End in 1999 before moving to Broadway in 2001. Due to the huge success of the stage musical, director Phyllida Lloyd stayed on to direct the film. Her involvement allowed for and highlighted the similarities between the stage play and the film, as she was extremely involved in the making of both. Many of the original production workers from the stage musical would be on board as well, with Ulvaeus saying that “If anyone knows this story, it’s her” (ABBA: The Official Site n.d., “In Focus: Mamma Mia! – The Movie”). The show was such a success that it went on to be performed not only in the United States but internationally as well. The first US tour took place in 2002 just one year after it premiered on Broadway, with tours to date taking place in 440 cities, with audiences totaling more than 60 million people (ABBA Site).
