For a few hours, Colorado Springs won’t be Colorado Springs at all.

Instead, the Pikes Peak Center will transform into a Greek island paradise filled with wedding preparations, long-lost romances and long-buried family secrets. Not to mention enough ABBA hits to have audiences singing all the way home.

The 25th Anniversary Tour of “Mamma Mia!” will take over 190 S. Cascade Ave. June 16-21 with eight performances of one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals.

Since premiering in London’s West End in 1999 and on Broadway in 2001, “Mamma Mia!” has become a global phenomenon, inspiring two blockbuster films. 

Built around the music of ‘70s icon ABBA, the story follows bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan as she secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding in hopes of discovering which one is her father.

For Jessica Crouch, who plays Sophie’s mother Donna Sheridan, the musical’s appeal extends beyond its iconic soundtrack.

“There’s so much heart in this musical,” Crouch said. “It’s definitely in the movie, but I think the reason why they even made the movie in the first place is because the musical was so successful in the way it tells this beautiful story of all different kinds of love. Family, mother-daughter relationships, friends, new and old relationships, they all hit on different levels than the movie, and you get such a deeper experience seeing it on stage.”

Victor Wallace, who plays Sam Carmichael, one of Donna’s former love interests and possibly Sophie’s father, said “nothing really compares to hearing live music in a live performance.” 

“Even with the show coming before the movie, it’s amazing to see how the movies have turned it into such a cultural phenomenon,” Wallace said. “This ABBA music from the ‘70s, because of this show, has been reintroduced to a whole new generation.”

From headphones and radios to wedding dance floors around the world, ABBA’s hits have remained part of pop culture for decades. Audience members can expect to hear favorites such as “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Super Trouper,” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Waterloo,” among others.

“I think people forget how many hits ABBA had and the brilliant way the book writers of the show made these songs into an actual story,” Wallace said. “They were able to actually use the music to further the plot. I think people don’t really expect to fall in love with these characters in the journey they’re on, and that always surprises people.”

Since its debut, “Mamma Mia!” has been performed in dozens of countries and 16 different languages, grossing more than $7 billion at the box office.

“It just moves you when you don’t expect it to,” Wallace said. “It’s so fun and joyful, and the world needs joy right now. It also reminds you of who’s important in your life, like good friends and family. I think that’s why people are so drawn to it, and there’s so many people that come to see the show again and again.” 

Colorado Springs audiences will have eight opportunities to experience the production. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. June 16-19, while June 20-21 feature both matinee and evening performances.

“I will say it’s one of the most special experiences getting to meet with the audience and seeing how much this has touched their lives,” Crouch said. “It just hits people in ways that they don’t always expect. You’ll leave this show with so much love, joy and energy, but you’ll also be wanting to make a phone call to someone you care about.”

IF YOU GO

What: The 25th Anniversary Tour of “Mamma Mia!”

When: 7:30 p.m. June 16-19, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 20-21

Where: Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave.

Price: $50-$148, americantheatreguild.com