Chorus Member Joined: 2/2/05
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
Grand Hotel
Cowgirls (off Broadway)
Chorus Member Joined: 2/2/05
I know Wild Party is Sally and Mae, but what are the names of the lesbian characters in Grand Hotel?
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
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.
There just aren't enough Lesbians in theatre!!
Chorus Member Joined: 2/2/05
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
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...
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
The Killing of Sister George
I know it never was on Broadway, but we can't forget about Roberta and Kate from Zanna, Don't!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
mae isn't a lesbian in the wild party, it's madelaine and sally...
where's our expert Rath? She lives her life inside a broadway show anyway.
The gym teacher in Hairspray
"Come on girls...who wants to take a shower? Okay, you...EXTRA CREDIT!"
"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.
Isn't it generally accepted that Matron Mama from Chicago is a lesbian? And what about that random character in The Producers?
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
Wicked-2 lead girls
Rent-Maureen and Joanne
Glinda and Elphaba, lesbians? I think you're stretching it a bit far there...
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/05
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?
Shirley the lighting designer from The Producers (character)
Peppermint Patty in Snoopy!!!
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.
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.
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