The ABBA jukebox favorite Mamma Mia! starts its Los Angeles run at the Ahmanson Theatre this week. First performance is Tuesday, June 23, 2026, opening night is Wednesday, June 24, and the show plays through July 19. It’s the 25th-anniversary touring production, so this is the full singalong, dancing-in-the-aisles version, not a stripped-down revival.
So is it worth a night out, where should you sit for a show like this, and how do you get in without overpaying? Here’s the honest version.
At a glance
| Show | Mamma Mia! (25th Anniversary Tour) |
| Venue | Ahmanson Theatre, Music Center, downtown LA |
| Dates | June 23 to July 19, 2026 |
| Opening night | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 |
| Runtime | About 2 hours 25 minutes, one intermission |
| Tickets from | About $40 all-in at the box office (resale runs higher) |
| Best for | Groups, multi-generation nights, anyone who wants to leave smiling |
Is it worth seeing?
Short answer: yes, if you want a feel-good night and you’re not expecting deep drama. Mamma Mia! is a comfort-food musical. The plot is light (a bride-to-be on a Greek island invites three men who might be her dad), but that was never the point. The point is 22 ABBA songs, a cast that commits all the way, and a finale that gets the whole room on its feet for “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo.”
This is one of the easiest shows in town to bring a mixed group to. Teens, parents, and grandparents all tend to walk out happy, because almost everyone knows the music whether they meant to or not. If you loved the movies, the live version hits harder. There’s an energy off a real crowd singing along that a screen can’t match.
Skip it if you only want serious, plot-driven theatre, or if a packed-house crowd singing back at the stage is your idea of a bad night. This is a party, not a quiet evening. For other options playing right now, scan our Broadway musicals in LA guide and what’s on in LA theatre.
Where to sit for a show like this
Mamma Mia! is a big, bright, ensemble musical with a lot of full-stage movement, so you want to see the whole picture, not just faces. That changes the seat math a little.
- Best for this show: center Front Mezzanine, rows A through D. You get the full sweep of the choreography and the set, the rake is steep enough that heads ahead don’t block you, and it usually costs less than the orchestra. For a spectacle musical, this beats the floor.
- Best on the floor: center Orchestra, rows D through N. Close and dead-center for sound.
- Cheap but fine: center Balcony, rows A through C. Steep, but you see the whole stage, which is what matters for a show like this.
- Skip if you can: the rear Orchestra under the mezzanine overhang, and the extreme side seats on any level. The Ahmanson is a wide room, so side angles get steep fast.
One quirk to know: the first 13 rows use continental seating, meaning no center aisle. You enter those rows from the far sides. The full breakdown, level by level, is in our best seats at the Ahmanson Theatre guide.
The cheapest way to get a seat
Box-office pricing starts around $40 all-in for this run, which is genuinely fair for a touring Broadway musical. A few ways to keep it low:
- Buy direct first. Start at Center Theatre Group before any resale site. Resale prices for a crowd-pleaser like this climb fast, and the box office often holds single seats the resale market hides.
- Check the digital lottery and rush. Day-of rush and lottery seats are the cheapest way into CTG shows. The full per-show playbook (including CTG’s free 25-and-under FreePlay program and student rush) is in our lottery and rush cheat sheet.
- Go midweek. Tuesday through Thursday seats run cheaper than weekend nights, and the room is calmer if a packed house isn’t your thing.
For the complete strategy, see how to get cheap LA theatre tickets, and to price a full evening, try our show-night cost calculator.
Plan the rest of the night
The Ahmanson sits in the Music Center complex downtown, so the logistics are the same as any show there:
- Getting there and parking: the post-show garage crawl is the part people underestimate. Sort it first with parking near the Ahmanson Theatre. The Metro B or D Line to Civic Center is the smartest way in if you’d rather skip the car.
- Dinner before: good options within a short walk are in our where to eat near the Music Center guide. Book early; a 7:30 curtain fills the nearby tables fast.
Showtimes, prices, and lottery rules can change during a run. Confirm with Center Theatre Group before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
When does Mamma Mia! open at the Ahmanson Theatre? First performance is Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and opening night is Wednesday, June 24. The run continues through July 19, 2026.
How long is Mamma Mia!? About 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one intermission. Check the exact curtain time on your ticket, since matinee and evening times vary.
What is the cheapest way to see Mamma Mia! in LA? Box-office prices start around $40 all-in. For lower, check the day-of rush and lottery, including CTG’s free FreePlay program for ages 25 and under. Buy direct from Center Theatre Group before any resale site, since resale prices spike for a popular show.
Where are the best seats for Mamma Mia! at the Ahmanson? For a big ensemble musical, the center Front Mezzanine (rows A through D) gives you the best full-stage view and usually costs less than the orchestra. Center Orchestra rows D through N are the best floor seats. See our full Ahmanson best-seats guide for the level-by-level breakdown.
