Lesbian Characters in Broadway Shows?

[AbzugFan]

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

[Hanna from Hamburg]

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

Grand Hotel
Cowgirls (off Broadway)

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

[wildcat]

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

The Wild Party

[AbzugFan]

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?

[wildcat]

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

[Hanna from Hamburg]

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.

[jrb_actor]

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

There just aren't enough Lesbians in theatre!!

[AbzugFan]

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

[bwaysinger]

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...

[MargoChanning]

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

The Killing of Sister George

[JHartnow]

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!

[apdarcey]

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

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

[jrb_actor]

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

Laramie Project

[midtowngym]

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

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

[TheatreDiva90016]

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!"

[melissa errico fan]

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.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

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?

[sassypanz]

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

Wicked-2 lead girls
Rent-Maureen and Joanne

[Ourtime992]

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

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

[morosco]

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

Nick & Nora

[KindnessofStrangers]

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?

[broadwaystar2b]

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

Shirley the lighting designer from The Producers (character)

[BobbyBubby]

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

Peppermint Patty in Snoopy!!!

[Thenardier]

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.

[melissa errico fan]

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.