‘Mamma Mia!’ Packs Its Bags on Broadway for Broadhurst Theatre

“Mamma Mia!” is downsizing.

The production will transfer from its current home at the Winter Garden Theater to the Broadhurst Theater this year. Both locations are owned by the Shubert Organization.

“Mamma Mia!” has been running at the Winter Garden since it opened on Broadway in 2001. The production currently is the 10^th longest-running Broadway show of all time.

Though there has not been an official announcement, the New York Times reports that the move is being made to make way for the new musical “Rocky.” The paper sources two anonymous theater executives as saying “Rocky,” which premiered in Hamburg last year, will take over the Winter Garden in spring 2014.

“Mamma Mia!” will lose about 370 seats (according to the Times, Variety.com estimates the loss at 315) in the transfer, but sources report it may save up to $100,000 per week in operating costs at the new location. That total cost currently is estimated to be between $600,000 and $700,000 per week. The Times reports that it grossed $750,520 last week.

The Winter Garden has a history of long-running musicals. Before “Mamma Mia!” opened, the venue was home to the 18-year run of “Cats.”

The Shubert Organization did not reveal much information in a statement about the move, but co-CEOs Philip J. Smith and Robert E. Wankel did say they plan to keep the musical running.

“‘Mamma Mia!’ is a very important show to us and we expect the production to keep playing at the Broadhurst Theatre for a very long time,” the two said in a statement.

Here’s how the show is described on its official website:

On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives!