Will Louise Pitre Sail to Broadway in the Sting Musical The Last Ship?

Will Tony nominee Lousie Pitre go from ABBA to Sting? The original star of Broadway’s Mamma Mia! recently participated in readings of the rocker’s long-in-the-works musical The Last Ship, revealing to The Star early plans for the show’s eventual Broadway production.

Pitre, who starred as Donna Sheridan in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!, told the Star that The Last Ship was financially ready for a planned Broadway staging in 2014. The timeline fits in snugly with the rumors of the show’s hopeful Broadway run, and if Pitre sticks with the show following the reading, it would mark the first major Broadway return for the actress since Mamma Mia!.

The musical is based on Sting’s concert album The Soul Cages and tells the story of a family of shipyard workers who embark on a global voyage as the shipyard that employs them prepares to close.

The Last Ship was inspired by Sting’s childhood experiences growing up in Newcastle and features music by Sting, lyrics by Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) and a book by Yorkey and John Logan (Red, I’ll Eat You Last). Wicked director Joe Mantello has also been attached to the show.