Pacific Repertory Theatre Mamma Mia!
Monte Verde and Casanova streets between Eighth and Ninth, Carmel (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org
It wasn’t a latchkey kid with an obsession with Pac-Man, but PacRep was a child of the ’80s. It was founded in ’83, launched its first play series in ’84, got a lease in a New Monterey theater in ’86 and, according to founder Stephen Moorer, “erected a 300-seat tent at the top of Fisherman’s Wharf” for musical theater in ’88. It was, like, a totally awesome time. But things haven’t been too gnarly lately. They opened a charity resale shop, received a $2.3 million gift, and broke box office records with The Little Mermaid. PacRep urged fans to vote for The Little Mermaid as the Best Local Theater Production of 2018, but audiences can be fickle, and the people chose another PacRep show, Mamma Mia!… again. It won readers’ love in 2018, too. Can’t win ’em all. Or can you?