Jim Newman’s casting in the national tour for “Mamma Mia!” — which will play at the Academy of Music Aug. 6-11 — is a little unusual given his feelings for the original musical featuring the songs of pop group ABBA.
“The truth is, I saw the movie and hated it,” Newman said of the 2008 film version, starring Meryl Streep. “I did not like the movie, and I never saw the show on Broadway because I didn’t think it was my thing, to be honest, because I’m not a huge jukebox musical fan.”
After his previous gig with the disco group the Village People started winding down, Newman wanted to get his feet wet in acting again (he has several stage and screen credits under his belt, most notably the LGBTQ+ web series “Daddyhunt: The Serial.”) His agent ultimately sent him on an audition for “Mamma Mia!” By his third callback, he was reluctant to take on the role but decided to take it because it would be “a great way to pay off COVID debt.”
However, Newman’s attitude eventually shifted when he got to rehearsal.
“I had an amazing experience,” he said. “This show has been running in several countries for over 25 years, [and] the creative team does not plug you into a machine. They let all the actors, every time, create their own version of a character, which feels like you’re doing it for the first time. So for an actor, it was a dream.”
“Mamma Mia!” centers on a young woman who is about to get married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. However, she has no idea who her father is. After reading her mother’s diary, she narrows his identity down to three potential men and invites all of them to the wedding. Naturally, high jinks ensue — to the tune of ABBA’s greatest hits.
Newman portrays the role of Bill Austin, one of the potential fathers.
“He’s a fun character to play because he’s sort of a happy guy,” Newman said on his interpretation of the role. “He’s afraid of commitment. He travels, he writes travel books, and he’s here just having a good time. So the fact that he may have a daughter throws a big wrench in his whole life. He doesn’t even really know how to process that. And what does that mean? Is he going to have to give her away at the wedding? He’s really a fish out of water.”
One of Newman’s favorite numbers to perform in the show is “Take A Chance On Me,” which is a moment of comic relief after a series of serious moments in the story. He performs this song with Carly Sakolove, who plays Rosie.
“Carly, who plays Rosie, is so great, and [the audience wants] her to have her song,” Newman said. “And this is her song. The audience cheers before we even really get into the song. They’re on board already. They can’t wait for us. I’ve never been in a position like that where you’re the song they’re waiting for. It’s a really nice position to be in.”
After being involved with the tour for some time, Newman came to appreciate the work of “Mamma Mia!” playwright Catherine Johnson.
“She’s a genius, and crafted this story that is a very feminist show, because it’s really about a woman who has unprotected sex and doesn’t know who [the father of] her daughter is,” he said. “There’s something really feminist in that there’s no mention of shaming her for that, because women do get shamed for that. The show flips that. These women do not apologize for their sex, they do not apologize for who they are. It’s interesting. The writers said, ‘We’re not going to shame you. This is the story. They’re good moms. They’re good people. So it’s sort of subversive. And I don’t think I picked up on that in the movie, but in the show, I see what she’s doing now, and I have appreciation for the writing now.”
“Mamma Mia!” is popular with LGBTQ+ audiences for various reasons, including the inclusion of a gay character, and when asked about why that is, Newman’s answer is simple.
“First of all, gays love disco,” he said with a laugh. “We have really good taste in music. We make stars. We make icons. We always have. We get behind them because we appreciate what they do. And we have really good taste.”
Newman was echoing a memorable quote from singer Liza Minelli, with whom he performed as part of the six-man singing and dancing backing ensemble for her 1999 Broadway show “Minnelli on Minnelli.” When asked why gay audiences gravitate toward the likes of divas, like Minelli and her mother Judy Garland, Minelli responded, “I think the answer is simple: They have good taste.”
“I think that’s true. Look at our icons with their amazing talents. We don’t just follow anybody. We’re discerning. Plus, the bell bottoms, the spandex — we like to have a good time, and we are not afraid to be a little extra. We don’t apologize for that. Look at my social media,” Newman said with a laugh. “I know when I got the show, I was terrified. I was like, ‘I hope they check my social media’ because it’s…it’s extra.”
Newman can be found on Instagram and TikTok posting thirst traps and musical numbers for his followers. Additionally, he gained quite a following on OnlyFans during the COVID lockdown. Newman does not post pornographic content on the platform, but his following has a lot in common with the audience of “Mamma Mia!”
“I started singing songs for people, making funny videos, walking around in my underwear, and I found a loyal audience, mostly women. It’s the same audience as ‘Mamma Mia!’ And I think [the casting director] just had a realization. That’s why they were OK with it,” Newman laughed.
Whether it’s spreading positivity on social media or onstage, Newman aims to give audiences what they want. With “Mamma Mia!,” he hopes to provide an escape during fraught times.
“In a divided country, during a time on this planet where you turn on the news and it’s just all bad news, it’s nice to be a part of something that’s just joy — just joy for us and for the audience,” he said. “It’s a really good climate to be spreading joy.”
“Mamma Mia!” will play as part of Ensemble Arts Philly’s 23/24 Broadway Series Aug. 6-11 at the Academy of Music, 240 S Broad St. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ensembleartsphilly.org.
