Sky News wrote: “Close your eyes and it could have been ABBA.”
The newspaper is referring to ABBA MANIA, an ABBA tribute group that originated in London in 1998, and has performed to sold-out crowds in England, Australia and the U.S., among other countries.
ABBA MANIA comes to Genesee Theatre with American English Feb. 1 and to Arcada Theatre Feb. 3 wearing glittering costumes and boots and singing in harmony tunes the audience will likely know, including “Mamma Mia,” and “Waterloo.” Four singers replicate the voices and harmonies of the Swedish group, which formed in 1972 and consisted of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
Kirbi Jo Long, who performs as Agnetha in ABBA MANIA and lives in Great Britain, answered questions about her role in the group and what the audience will hear via email from a cruise ship where she was performing.
Q: How and why did you get involved with ABBA MANIA?
A: A friend and colleague of mine had played the part of Agnetha and there was an immediate opening for the role of Anni-Frid, and so I initially played that role for a few years until taking over the role of Agnetha.
Q: Did you grow up listening to ABBA?
A: Honestly, the only music of ABBA that I knew before performing in ABBA MANIA was ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Mamma Mia.’ I had no idea the group had such an enormous following until studying the roles and the group and its history … it quickly occurred to me that I had been missing out on an incredible catalog of music. I love that their music tells stories, and they were amazing in the recording studio, absolute perfectionists with harmonies and blend.
Q: What has kept ABBA’s memory and music alive event though they disbanded years ago?
A: Groups like ABBA MANIA and ‘Mamma Mia the Musical!’ definitely had a huge impact on the return of ABBA, although many fans would say that ABBA never left. Their music is timeless, and while much of their music is born of the disco era, if you listen to the lyrics and harmonies, I believe it took that generation of music and put its own unique and frankly, brilliant spin on it. The fans have really kept it alive, and we are here to cater to them … ABBA has gone down in history as the best of the best. I am truly honored to be able to carry on their legacy in a small way, but there will never be another ABBA.
A: What do people like about ABBA’s music?
Q: Universally, ABBA speaks to so many cultures. For example, with ‘Fernando,’ you hear a song that not only tells the story of two Mexican freedom fighters, but it also sounds like a song you hear playing in that region of the world. Who would have thought two Swedish men wrote it, but they did. They also created music in different languages. ‘Fernando’ for example had a Spanish, English, and Swedish version, which allowed them to target a giant universal market.
Q: What are your favorite ABBA songs and why?
A: That is tough. I love ‘Winner Takes It All.’ Its melody is incredibly catchy … It is my favorite solo. As a full group number, I absolutely adore ‘Chiquitita.’ Personally, it speaks to me on a very deep level … The lyrics are truthful and revealing. The most important line for me, ‘But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you, let me hear you sing once more, like you did before, sing a new song.’ I had a tough year a few years ago, with lots of grief, lots of sadness, and ABBA MANIA was one of the first shows I performed again when I returned to the stage after some time. My friend Alison, who played Agnetha alongside me at the time, was one of the important people who helped lift me off the floor if you will, and when we got to that song it really hit me … ‘Chiquitita’ is gorgeous song. Harmonically it is also one of my favorites.
Q: When you come to the Genesee Theatre and Arcada Theatre in February, what will the audience hear and see?
A: You’ll hear your favorites like ‘Dancing Queen,’ ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘Waterloo.’ It is an interactive show with lots of dancing … It feels much more like a rock concert rather than a musical theater show. It is truly the most fun I have ever had on stage. It is also an aerobic workout for the female singers, and at the end of the show, we feel completely depleted of all energy and usually collapse to the floor dramatically backstage … We literally give it everything we have, and when the audience gives it back, you know you did your job well.
ABBA MANIA
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 1
Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Tickets: $28-$48
Information: 847-263-6300; www.geneseetheatre.com
When: 5 p.m. Feb. 3
Where: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles
Tickets: $39-$59
Information: 630-962-7000; arcadalive.com/event/abba-mania/
