TheaterMania celebrates Mother’s Day with a look at the mothers in 15 Broadway shows, including The Addams Family, Anything Goes, Good People, Mamma Mia!, and Wonderland.
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Bebe Neuwirth, Rachel Potter, and Roger Rees in
The Addams Family
(© Jeremy Daniel)
Adam Godley, Laura Osnes, Jessica Walter, John McMartin, and Colin Donnell in
Anything Goes
(© Joan Marcus)
Anything Goes
Evangeline Harcourt (played by
Jessica Walter) wants her daughter Hope (
Laura Osnes) to marry well, even if it means sacrificing Hope’s chances for true love in this musical confection, set on a cruise ship and featuring a classic score from Cole Porter.
Beth Leavel in
Baby It’s You
(© Ari Mintz)
Baby, It’s You
This musical revolves around Florence Greenberg (
Beth Leavel), a suburban 1950s housewife from New Jersey, whose daughter Mary Jane (
Kelli Barrett) introduces her mom to four high school classmates — whom Greenberg catapults to fame as The Shirelles.
Joseph Harrington and Laura Marie Duncan in
Billy Elliot the Musical
(© Carol Rosegg)
Billy Elliot the Musical
Laura Marie Duncan currently performs the role of Mum in this Tony Award-winning musical. Her character is already deceased as the show begins, but she appears to her son as he reads aloud a letter she left for him, which truly demonstrates her motherly affection.
Rachel De Benedet in
Catch Me If You Can
(© Joan Marcus)
Frances McDormand and Renee Elise Goldsberry in
Good People
(© Joan Marcus)
Good People
Frances McDormand delivers an outstanding performance as the newly unemployed South Boston native Margie Walsh, who is desperate for a job to support both herself and her birth-defect-challenged daughter. To that end, she looks up former boyfriend Mike (
Tate Donovan), and ends up in an altercation with both him and his wife, Kate (
Renee Elise Goldsberry), who is herself a new mother.
Edie Falco in
The House in Blue Leaves
(© Joan Marcus)
Brian Bedford in
The Importance of Being Earnest
(© Joan Marcus)
The Importance of Being Earnest
Brian Bedford directs and stars as the intimidating Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy. She is very particular about who her daughter, Gwendolyn (Jessie Austrian), will marry, much to the consternation of the girl’s suitor, Jack Worthing (
David Furr).
Lisa Brescia in
Mamma Mia!
(© Joan Marcus)
Mamma Mia!
Donna (
Lisa Brescia) has successfully raised her daughter Sophie (
Liana Hunt) without any help from a man. So, even though Sophie would still like to learn who her Dad is (and has invited the three most likely suspects to her wedding), the mother-daughter bond in this musical, featuring the songs of ABBA, is quite strong.
Megan Osterhaus in
Mary Poppins
(© Disney/Joan Marcus)
Mary Poppins
At the beginning of this Disney musical based on the classic film, Mrs. Winifred Banks (
Megan Osterhaus) is relying on nannies — including the title character (played by Ashley Brown) — to raise her children, but over the course of the show comes fully into her own and becomes a much better mother as a result.
Alexander Gemignani, Chip Zien, Donna Murphy, Joyce Van Patten, and Lewis J. Stadlen
in
The People in the Picture
(© Joan Marcus)
Luke Mannikus and Jessica Phillips in
Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical
(© Joan Marcus)
Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical
Marion (
Jessica Phillips) has been a single mother for years, raising her son Benji (played by Luke Mannikus at some performances, Ashton Woerz at others) the best she knows how. And yet, Marion also realizes that Benji should still have a father in his life, so contacts her drag diva husband Tick (
Will Swenson) to come and share in the parenting duties.
Victoria Clark in
Sister Act
(© Joan Marcus)
Sister Act
Victoria Clark portrays the Mother Superior in this musical, based on the 1992 film of the same name. Her quiet, contemplative existence is interrupted by brash nightclub singer Deloris (
Patina Miller), who is hiding out in her convent after witnessing a murder. While there is an initial clash of personalities, the two women learn from each other and expand one another’s horizons.
Seth Numrich and Alyssa Bresnahan in
War Horse
(© Paul Kolnik)
Carly Rose Sonenclar, Janet Dacal, and Darren Ritchie in
Wonderland
(© Michal Daniel)
Wonderland
A new Alice (
Janet Dacal) goes down the rabbit hole in this update to the
Alice in Wonderland mythos. But part of Alice’s journey of discovery involves her rescue of daughter Chloe (
Carly Rose Sonenclar), who has been kidnapped by the Mad Hatter (
Kate Shindle).