Take a Chance On Me

At Jaeb Theater of Straz Center in Tampa, Florida, on March 21, 2026, the Gay Men's Chorus of Tampa Bay turned in one of the most charming numbers of Out On the Dance Floor: David Maddux's arrangement of ABBA's "Take a Chance On Me," featuring soloists Jim Beaty, Jason Fields, Chuck McSorley, and Rob Tricarico.

ABBA's original is built on a piece of vocal scaffolding so memorable it's practically a meme — the relentless, percussive "take-a-chance-take-a-chance" tag that drives the song forward. Maddux's arrangement gives that hook directly to the chorus, who deployed it with metronomic precision and a knowing wink. Underneath, the harmonic motion stayed close to the original's bright Scandinavian pop, with sparkling block chords on the chorus and warmer, more conversational support on the verses.

The four soloists each took distinct turns in the spotlight, trading lines like a barbershop quartet that had wandered into a Stockholm dance club. Beaty's warm baritone added a touch of sincerity, Fields delivered with an easy lift, McSorley brought a confident flair, and Tricarico rounded things out with a bright, smiling tone. Their interplay — flirty, persuasive, slightly conspiratorial — landed every comedic beat in the lyric.

Audiences in the Jaeb's cabaret-style room responded the way ABBA audiences always do: smiling, swaying, and singing along by the second chorus. The acoustics let the rapid-fire backing vocals stay clean even at full ensemble, while the soloists' microphones gave their lines an intimate, just-for-you quality.

Within the broader sweep of Out On the Dance Floor, "Take a Chance On Me" provided exactly what an ABBA number should: pure pop joy, executed with care, and a reminder that some of the best dance-floor music is, at heart, just a love letter set to a beat.