By Comox Valley Echo
Published January 27, 2012, in canada.com
http://www.canada.com/Mamma+sing+along+raises+hospital/6060558/story.html
DON MILLS, ONTARIO, CANADA—A sell-out crowd at the Sid Williams Theatre on Saturday helped raise around $8,500 for new equipment at the maternity unit of St. Joseph's Hospital, including a warming table for newborns.
Five hundred people turned out to sing along with the many ABBA songs from the movie musical 'Mamma Mia!,' including Dancing Queen, Take a Chance on Me, I Have a Dream, Super Trooper, The Winner Takes it All, and Mamma Mia itself.
Many of them were dressed appropriately for the occasion. Prizes were awarded for the most impressive costumes - some theatergoers choosing the Greek theme, as the movie is set on a Greek island, others adopting the ABBA look from the 1970s.
Many paraded across the stage to enthusiastic reception from the stalls and balcony before the film was shown.
Courtenay Kiwanis staged the fundraising event as a follow-up to its previous sing-along nights at The Sid featuring the 1960s musical movie 'The Sound of Music.'
Past president Robin Giles said the latest evening had been such a success they had already booked the theatre for another sing-along event next year, but the movie to be shown would not be decided until nearer the time.
"We were sold out for Mamma Mia almost a month before the night, and the Sound of Music events were also extremely well received," he told the Echo.
"Kiwanis have hit a winning streak here, where people have a great time and lots of money can be raised for good causes, and we want that to continue."