Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Judi Koski
You can be a dancing queen and have the time of your life. Re-live the ABBA magic with Abbamania live at Fraser auditorium Jan. 17 at 8 p.m.
ABBA was a Swedish pop music group. The band consisted of Benny Andersson (Sweden), Björn Ulvaeus (Sweden), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Sweden, of Norwegian-German origin), and Agnetha Fältskog (Sweden).
They topped the charts worldwide from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. The name ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letters of each of the group member's given names (Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid).
After winning the Eurovision song contest in 1974, ABBA gained immediate international acclaim. Their popularity was credited to infectious, catchy song hooks and interesting lyrics.
As their popularity grew, they were sought-after to tour Europe and North America, drawing crowds of fans. Even today, they remain a fixture of radio playlists and are considered one of the world's best-selling bands. 
Their hits included: Waterloo, Honey, Honey, Dancing Queen, SOS, Fernando, Knowing Me Knowing You, Super Trooper, The Winner Takes it All, Money Money, and Mama Mia, to name but a few.
"Abbamania was formed in 1998 and has become recognized as one of the most authentic ABBA re-creation bands in the world," said their promoter Garry Lichach, of Bounty Enterprises.
They have hit gold with their re-creation of ABBA in concert and will have you dancing in the aisles with their fabulous live show featuring nearly two hours of pure ABBA nostalgia.
Abbamania is an all-Canadian cast and is the largest production of ABBA in the world. It recreates ABBA as they were onstage in concert, with authentic costumes, concert lighting, a live band with studio musicians, singers and a 60-piece orchestra.
The group has played with the London symphony, San Diego symphony, and the Denver symphony. They have entertained in Louiseville, Boston, Jacksonville, Hartford, Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal, Edmonton, and Toronto, to mention a few. They have also performed twice for the cast of Mama Mia.
The show features Andrea Pressburger as Agnetha Fältskog, Nick Pattison as Björn Ulvaeus, Ewan Fernie as Benny Andersson, and Monica Tietz as Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Sudburians will be pleased to note that Fernie has family in Sudbury.
Tickets are $37.50 each and a second ticket can be purchased for $18.75. They are available at the Sudbury Theatre Centre box office or by calling 674-8381.
