Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

#1

Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:43pm

I know folks here will have the answer to this one: what Broadway shows have had lesbian characters? And what are the names of the characters? I'm looking for both musicals AND plays. The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are RENT (Maureen, Joanne) and FALSETTOS (Dr Charlotte, Cordelia), but there must be others.

Thanks in advance for your help on this mini-research project.

Updated On: 4/27/05 at 01:43 PM

#2

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:46pm

Grand Hotel
Cowgirls (off Broadway)

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". . . POP . . ."

Updated On: 4/27/05 at 01:46 PM

#3

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:49pm

The Wild Party

#4

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:50pm

I know Wild Party is Sally and Mae, but what are the names of the lesbian characters in Grand Hotel?

#5

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:54pm

Raffaela in GRAND HOTEL (the musical)
Martha in THE CHILDREN'S HOUR (play)
LULU (forgotten the character name..The Countess?)

Updated On: 4/27/05 at 01:54 PM

#6

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:55pm

Raffaela (played by Karen Akers) is secretly in love with the ballerina she assists, Elizaveta (played by Liliane Montevecchi ). Raffaela sings this song "How Can I Tell Her?" as a struggle with her feelings.

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". . . POP . . ."

#7

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 2:14pm

There just aren't enough Lesbians in theatre!!

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johnraymondbarker.com

#8

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 2:45pm

Totally. Which is funny, given how many gay men there are, both on stage and behind the scenes. You'd think they write some lesbian characters!

Speaking of which, are there any out lesbians (other than Cherry Jones) working in theatre? I can't think of any with the visibility of all the gay composers out there (Sondheim, Finn, Shaiman and Wittman, etc). Or with any visibility at all.

Edited to add--I wasn't asking anyone to out anyone. I was just curious if there were any lesbians who were ALREADY out.

Updated On: 4/27/05 at 02:45 PM

#9

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 2:51pm

Well, I hesitate to out anyone although I know of quite a few lesbians working in theatre, performing in musicals on Broadway even!

And there is another show that is actually ABOUT lesbians aborning now...I'm sure I just posted on a thread about it somewhere...

#10

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:01pm

The Killing of Sister George

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#11

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:08pm

I know it never was on Broadway, but we can't forget about Roberta and Kate from Zanna, Don't!

#12

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:11pm

mae isn't a lesbian in the wild party, it's madelaine and sally...

#13

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:16pm

Laramie Project

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johnraymondbarker.com

#14

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:24pm

where's our expert Rath? She lives her life inside a broadway show anyway.

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'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston

#15

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 3:33pm

The gym teacher in Hairspray

"Come on girls...who wants to take a shower? Okay, you...EXTRA CREDIT!"

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#16

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:24pm

"Speaking of which, are there any out lesbians (other than Cherry Jones) working in theatre? I can't think of any with the visibility of all the gay composers out there (Sondheim, Finn, Shaiman and Wittman, etc). Or with any visibility at all."

I believe that Sarah Paulson (Laura in THE GLASS MENAGERIE) is in a relationship with Cherry Jones. Whether she is gay, bi-sexual, stright, or whatever, I do not know.

#17

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:25pm

Isn't it generally accepted that Matron Mama from Chicago is a lesbian? And what about that random character in The Producers?

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[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.

#18

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:52pm

Wicked-2 lead girls
Rent-Maureen and Joanne

#19

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 5:16pm

Glinda and Elphaba, lesbians? I think you're stretching it a bit far there...

#20

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 5:18pm

Nick & Nora

#21

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:12pm

1926's The Captive was the first Broadway show with a lesbian character.

Others:
The Killing of Sister George, Rent, Falsettoland, I think there was a play just a few years back based on a story by Proust that featured a lesbian character, did Last Summer at Bluefish Cove make it to Broadway?

#22

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:23pm

Shirley the lighting designer from The Producers (character)

#23

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:32pm

Peppermint Patty in Snoopy!!!

#24

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:36pm

Mae isn't a lesbian in The Wild Party.

It's Madaleine True and Sally (Bway). I don't think Sally was in Lippa's.

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Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

#25

re: Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

Posted: 4/28/05 at 6:42am

In MY LIFE WITH ALBERTINE, there were several lesbian characters, including Mlle. Lea (the part Emily Skinner played). It also insinuates that Albertine had a lesbian affair.