Best Leading Actress Coincidence!

[margot serena pilar]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:20am

Winner of the Best Actress (Musical/Play):
2009 - Alice Ripley, a bipolar mother
2009 - Marcia Gay Harden, an angry mother
2008 - Patti LuPone, a monster mother
2008 - Deanna Dunagan, a damaged mother

Seems like we have a pattern?
Coincidence or not?

And... do I hear 2010 - Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia Addams, the Addams Family?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:23am

I hope The Addams Family is great and Bebe is nominated!

[scott68]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:32am

I'd acknowledge all that's wrong with the original poster's argument, but I think ignoring him/her would be more likely to free up the wasted space that thing occupies.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:51am

Interesting enough thought, but sparse meat on the bone. For musicals, it stems back three more years (Ebersole, LaChanze, Clark) until we get to Idina Menzel in 2004, and for plays, the trend unfortunately ends with Julie White in 2007.

OP, be aware that the chances of an adult female character who has enough clout to be considered the Leading Actress (and who thus would have to have many a relationship with characters onstage) being a mother are pretty high. It's not so much a pattern as just, well... something that happens every once in a while.

Kudos to you, though. :)

[margot serena pilar]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 3:02am

Why the hate, Scott69? That response was extremely rude and unprofessional. I just said it was a coincidence. Did that offend you?
Updated On: 6/10/09 at 03:02 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 5:42am

Unprofessional?? On a public forum???


Mother is such an innoucous (sp?) word...its the heightened adjective that give the role the meat. A average, normal, happy mom is not going to garner much attention...no matter what.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 11:03am

I can't see Bebe winning for Addams Family. I kinda think it's going to be a flop.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:13pm

"Seems like we have a pattern?"

You are drawing a conclusion from two seasons, so I wouldn't say it is a huge coincidence. Look back at other years (I just listed musicals):

2007: Christine Ebersole - Grey Gardens
2006: LaChanze - The Color Purple
2005: Victoria Clark - The Light in the Piazza
2004: Idina Menzel - Wicked
2003: Marissa Jaret Winokur - Hairspray
2002: Sutton Foster - Thoroughly Modern Millie
2001: Christine Ebersole - 42nd Street
2000: Heather Headley - Aida

Also, cue people to go on about how Addams Family will be a flop (even before this production has unofficially opened onstage).

Updated On: 6/10/09 at 12:13 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:16pm

That response was extremely rude and unprofessional.

Yeah, let's all be professional anonymous internet posters!