By Angelica Ingram
May 10 2016
It’s difficult to find anyone who is not familiar with the infectious music of ABBA.
A pop group who originated from Sweden ABBA has spanned the music landscape for many decades with their catchy hits such as Knowing Me Knowing You S.O.S. and Dancing Queen.
Sean Pennylegion still remembers details from a concert the musical group performed at the Maple Leaf Gardens some 40 years ago.
“I saw ABBA” he said. “Benny the guy who plays the piano he had a hydraulic white grand piano. This thing came out of the floor and spun. They had a full horn section six back-up singers three keyboards three guitarists. A big big band. And their white jumpsuits with the blue stripe.”
If you’re a fan of their music you won’t have the chance to see ABBA live but you’ll soon have a chance to sing along at a fundraiser for the Highlands Summer Festival (HSF).
On May 21 the organization will be hosting their second annual sing-along event at Pinestone Resort and Conference Centre where the movie Mamma Mia! will be broadcast.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with mingling followed by the movie at 7:30 p.m. said Pennylegion.
The movie which was released in 2008 stars Meryl Streep Amanda Seyfried and Pierce Brosnan and is set on an island off the coast of Greece.
“I have seen the movie and it’s great fun” said Pennylegion. “The music is infectious.”
Adapted from a broadway production with the same name Mamma Mia! features many of ABBA’s famous hit songs as audience members watch a comedic plot filled with twists and turns all centred around Seyfried’s wedding day.
The goal of the fundraiser is to raise money for the HSF and bring awareness to the public about the not-for-profit organization said Pennylegion who is on the HSF board of directors.
The HSF provides seven weeks of live theatre in Haliburton County with this year’s line up to include Oliver! Old Love and Fallen Angels.
“Set buildings and rehearsals are full tilt right now” said Pennylegion in regards to the upcoming season. “This [fundraiser] is an opportunity to showcase the Highlands Summer Festival and have some fun and make some money.”
Inspired by the movie and its exotic locale the fundraiser will include complimentary Greek appetizers and all-you-can eat popcorn. There will also be a cash bar.
There will be an intermission halfway through the film.
Aside from the sing-along the event will include a silent auction with items up for grabs including Blue Jay tickets rounds of golf at Pinestone Resort restaurant gift certificates and tickets for Shaw and Stratford Festival performances.
Pennylegion is looking forward to the show and reliving his ABBA days.
Tickets for the event are $30 per person and can be purchased at Pinestone Resort McKecks restaurant or online at www.highlandssummerfestival.on.ca.
