World's Greatest ABBA Tribute Comes to New Jersey

Alison Ward's ABBA mania began early. As the daughter of musicians, a never-ending variety of records including those by the Swedish pop mega-group played constantly in the Liverpool, England, native's home. Now Ward is starring as Agnetha Fältskog in the acclaimed tribute production ABBA MANIA, bringing her life-long love of the group and the joy of the music to audiences throughout the globe. For those who never got the opportunity to see ABBA onstage, ABBA MANIA is as close as it gets.

ABBA MANIA has been giving spectacular, energetic shows since its debut in 2000, one year before Abba mania was resparked in America by the Broadway debut of the musical"Mamma Mia." Ward joined the ensemble in 2010. She exudes effervescence onstage and off and says she still gets goose bumps after a decade in the show. For those who want to experience ABBA MANIA, the group will be performing this Saturday, Nov. 20, at Bally's Atlantic City. For more information on ABBA MANIA and tickets for the show, visit www.abbamania.com and https://lincstar-events.myshop...

We recently spoke with Alison Ward.

Q. How did you get introduced to ABBA?

I'm a singer born and raised in a music family. My mom is a singer as well. There was always music on and I fell in love with ABBA immediately. I still love performing the music all these years later. It hasn't gotten old at all. I think everyone is an ABBA fan at heart and has fallen in love to the soundtrack of an ABBA song.

Q. What was it about ABBA that captivated you?

As a performer it's always the music itself it but it was also the blend of the two females in the group. They knew it was going to be music people loved.

Q. Are there any songs that especially resonate with you?

We'll start with the obvious one. The minute the intro of "Dancing Queen" starts, the amount of screams and roars and joys from the audience, I still get goose bumps to this day. I also love "Fernando" and "The Name of the Game." Really I love everything.

Q. How did ABBA MANIA come about?

As a company it started in London's West End. I started in 2010. It's a pretty straightforward concept of having a good time. We do the costumes and even the Swedish accents. We do the movements just like them. It's probably why we're still going strong. And of course "Mamma Mia" (the show) made people fall in love with it all over again.

Q. Do you have any favorite stories or ABBA bucket list items?

In my travels I made it a point to get myself to the ABBA Museum in Stockholm. I got there a few years ago and I must have been the most annoying person because I was singing all the songs from the minute I arrived until the minute I left!