During his years at Elon University, Rob Marnell spent his summers acting in summer stock productions as a way to build up his resume. Now, several years and Broadway credits later, he is touring the country with Mamma Mia!
“It’s been a wild ride so far,” says Marnell, who plays British banker Harry Bright in the jukebox musical.
Mamma Mia! Comes to Richmond
The spirited Mamma Mia!, coming to Altria Theater December 10 through December 15, is based on the songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA. Their long list of hits includes, “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Voulez-Vous.”
“What attracted me to the show is just how joyous it is,” says Marnell. “The music is timeless. I grew up on some of these songs.”
Set in Greece, the musical focuses on Sophie, who is getting ready to marry her fiancé. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle, but there’s only one problem — she doesn’t know who that is. After skimming through her mother’s diary, she narrows down the possibilities to three men — Sam Carmichael, an American architect, Bill Austin, an Australian writer, and Harry Bright.
Marnell, 40, auditioned for a couple of the dad roles in the production and got called back for the role of Bright.
“I’m glad I landed on Harry,” he says. “I’m having so much fun with the role. I love doing the British accent.”
The show is “hilarious and the cast is incredible,” he adds. “I love my fellow dads. We have a nice sort of banter and chemistry.”
Acting Power Couple
Marnell knows firsthand what it’s like to be a dad. He and his showbiz wife, Laurie Harris, have a three-year-old son, Elliott.
He met his wife, who has been a standby for Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway for several years, during high school when the two appeared together in a version of Cinderella at a community theater in Raleigh, N.C.
The second time they appeared together was in Beautiful on Broadway. “We got to perform on Broadway playing a married couple,” he said.
Marnell, who has been with the tour for over a year, will continue through next June and is thankful that his family is accompanying him on this journey. “It will be two birthdays and two Christmases on the road for Elliott,” he says. “Such is the life of an actor.”
Tickets to Mamma Mia! are available at Altria Theater box office, by visiting BroadwayInRichmond.com, or by calling 1-800-514-3849(ETIX).
