‘An ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show’ brings Swedish pop rock to Yountville

The Swedish pop band ABBA’s catalog of songs have remained popular for decades, inspiring a hit stage musical, “Mamma Mia,” followed by a big-budget movie version and its sequel.

And, of course, the world’s favorite Christmas songs have lasted a lot longer than that. So why not combine the two in one show?

Singer Marie-Claire Follett, who founded her own “The ABBA Show” tribute troupe in England 10 years ago, is taking a sharp turn toward the holidays this year with her new production, “An ABBA-Solutely Christmas Show,” coming Dec. 22 to the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater in Yountville.

Even before the holiday revamp, the Los Angeles-based company’s regular show has always been more than a routine tribute band concert.

“It’s a theater show,” Follett said. “It’s not just us playing the songs and singing like ABBA. We tell the story of the group and we play our roles. I play the role of ABBA’s Frida Lyngstad. The two men and the two women in the band were married, became famous, toured the world and eventually divorced. We deal with all of that.”

The rest of the cast includes Natalie Easton as Agnetha Faltskog, Jim Bob McGuiness as Benny Anderson and Follett’s husband, Andy Marshall, as Bjorn Ulvaeus. The act also features a backup bassist and drummer.

Going beyond the basic ABBA hit list and band bio, the new Christmas edition of the show adds a dash of Christmas spirit to the story.

“It’s seen through the eyes of two children, whose favorite band is ABBA. They make a Christmas wish that ABBA could come back. There’s sparkly, magical music and we appear,” Follett explained.

The two children’s roles will be played by the Follett and Marshall’s daughter Coco, 9, and son Django, 10.

When Marie-Claire Follett first tried out for an ABBA tribute band years ago, she was a London teenager just looking for a singing job. “I didn’t know it would be my life’s work,” she joked.

Follett and her husband moved to the United States six years ago, and put together its current American cast two years ago. She plans a full U.S tour next year, and also still manages two other traveling casts of “The ABBA Show” in Europe, including one in Sweden.

“Last year, we toured South Africa with a 50-piece orchestra. We started with ‘Mamma Mia’ and everyone in the audience knew the words,” Follett said.

In fact, spontaneous audience sing-alongs are a staple at every performance of “The ABBA Show.”

“We do two 45-minute sets, and every single song is a hit,” she said. “How many groups have that many hits? The Beatles, obviously, but beyond that, not many.”

In addition to such ABBA classics as “Waterloo,” “Super Trouper,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Money, Money, Money,” the new holiday version of the show also incorporates some holiday favorites, including “Let It Snow” and “Santa Baby.”

“There’ll be fake snow falling onstage and a children’s choir,” Follett said. “But most of all, we’ll be making people forget we’re not the real ABBA.”

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 707- 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.