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musical moms 1200x459
musical moms 1200x459

The Musical Mothers on Broadway

Mother’s Day is around the corner and we at Broadway Direct wanted to shine a light on all the mothers that can currently be seen on the Broadway stage in musicals. From moms who break your heart to ones who make your sides hurt from laughter, here’s a look at the musical mothers on Broadway.


Heidi Hansen of Dear Evan Hansen

Ben Levi Ross and Jessica Phillips in Dear Evan Hansen. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Ben Levi Ross and Jessica Phillips in Dear Evan Hansen. Photo by Matthew Murphy

The Tony-winning role of Heidi Hansen is the single mother of the titular character in Dear Evan Hansen. A contemporary and modern representation of the working mom, Heidi raising Evan all on her own comes with struggles between balancing her career and life at home. With songs like the rage-filled “Good for You,” and heartbreaking “So Big/So Small,” Heidi stands out as one of the most memorable mothers in recent musical history.


Rosie Brice of Funny Girl

Jared Grimes and Jane Lynch in Funny Girl. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Jared Grimes and Jane Lynch in Funny Girl. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Perhaps one of the better-known musical theater mothers, Rosie Brice is the mother of the “greatest star” Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. Currently portrayed by Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch in the Broadway revival, Rosie Brice packs a punch with her biting humor, but always-supportive spirit. Although proud of her daughter without fail, she lets the audience know that much of Fanny’s skill was inherited from her in “Who Taught Her Everything?”


Mrs. Paroo of The Music Man 

Benjamin Pajak and Marie Mullen in The Music Man. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Benjamin Pajak and Marie Mullen in The Music Man. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

The charming character of Mrs. Paroo is the mother to Marian and Winthrop in The Music Man. Between urging her daughter to find a romantic partner and encouraging her son to be confident, the joyous Mrs. Paroo represents a mother figure all audiences know. You can now see Tony Award winner Marie Mullen portray the role in the Broadway revival currently playing at the Winter Garden Theatre.


Tina Turner of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Living legend and mother Tina Turner is celebrated nightly at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. The musical explores the life of the Queen of Rock n’ Roll through her music and personal relationships, including the one with her children. All mothers are rockstars and you can see this literal rockstar of a mother live onstage!


Eliza Hamilton of Hamilton 

Krystal Joy Brown in Hamilton. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Krystal Joy Brown in Hamilton. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Could this mom be considered the titular character in Hamilton? Well, we say she’s definitely one of them! Eliza Hamilton can currently be seen as the loving mother and devoted wife at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Between tragedy and heartbreak, she rises above all these sorrows to be a strong and memorable character in the stage musical, as well as a real-life mother figure to many as the founder of the first private orphanage in New York City.