Liana Hunt had never seen “Mamma Mia!” when she tried out for one of the show’s lead roles.
“I was a little hesitant,” says the 22-year old, who is now playing the bride-to-be Sophie in the musical. “I didn’t know too much about ABBA or what the whole craze was with ‘Mamma Mia!’”
The show, based on ABBA’s hit songs of the ’70s and ’80s, revolves around Sophie’s quest to identify the father she’s never met so he can walk her down the aisle. Hilarity ensues — partly from the characters’ outrageous beaded and bedazzled costumes.
Thanks to the 2008 “Mamma Mia!” movie, even younger audiences know the words to the show’s songs, says Hunt.
“We get to do this really fun ABBA mega-mix,” she says. “The house lights come up and the audience gets to get up and dance and sing along.”
Despite its overarching themes of love and girl power, Hunt insists everyone will feel the show’s energy.
“By the end, all the men that come are up next to their wives dancing in the aisles,” she says.
‘Mamma Mia’
Through Dec. 27
Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$43-$91, 617-880-2460
bostonscolonialtheatre.com
