I Can Stay Young Till I Die - women's roles in musical theatre
August 27, 2019 11:52 AM Subscribe
So, I've been asked to participate in a conversation about what it means to be a woman in her 40s in community theatre. Help me create a list of musical roles for women in their 40s.
There are definitely roles, great roles, for "mature" women in musical theatre (and myriad more in book plays). However, I have, like, a twenty year gap where I wasn't following theatre and I don't know many great parts that are out there for women my age.
I'm in my 40s, but I've been aged up to play women in their 50s and have had roles re-aged so I can play them not in their 60s, but in their 40s. It's a tough spot to be in and I have a chance to speak to it. I want to bring with me a list of roles for women as they age through the decades, a resource that I can use while we talk. This is off the top of my head, but I'm willing to admit I don't know what I don't know and that I could use your help.
This question is about musicals only.
40s
Grizabella - Cats
Donna, Rosie, and Tanya - Mamma Mia
Ursula - Little Mermaid
50s
Mrs Lovett - Sweeney Todd
Momma Morton - Chicago
Mama Rose? - Gypsy
Mme Thenardier - Les Mis
Chaperone - Drowsy Chaperone
Violet, Roz - 9 to 5
Little Edie - Grey Gardens
60s
Dolly
Mame
Grandmother - Pippin
Fraulein Schneider - Cabaret
Mae Peterson - Birdie
70s
Big Edie - Grey Gardens
There are definitely roles, great roles, for "mature" women in musical theatre (and myriad more in book plays). However, I have, like, a twenty year gap where I wasn't following theatre and I don't know many great parts that are out there for women my age.
I'm in my 40s, but I've been aged up to play women in their 50s and have had roles re-aged so I can play them not in their 60s, but in their 40s. It's a tough spot to be in and I have a chance to speak to it. I want to bring with me a list of roles for women as they age through the decades, a resource that I can use while we talk. This is off the top of my head, but I'm willing to admit I don't know what I don't know and that I could use your help.
This question is about musicals only.
40s
Grizabella - Cats
Donna, Rosie, and Tanya - Mamma Mia
Ursula - Little Mermaid
50s
Mrs Lovett - Sweeney Todd
Momma Morton - Chicago
Mama Rose? - Gypsy
Mme Thenardier - Les Mis
Chaperone - Drowsy Chaperone
Violet, Roz - 9 to 5
Little Edie - Grey Gardens
60s
Dolly
Mame
Grandmother - Pippin
Fraulein Schneider - Cabaret
Mae Peterson - Birdie
70s
Big Edie - Grey Gardens
Joanne - Company (the Elaine Stritch part, if you don't remember all the character names)
posted by dnash at 12:01 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by dnash at 12:01 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, the multiple roles that include Beverly Bass in "Come from Away" are for a woman in her 40s, I believe.
posted by xingcat at 12:04 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 12:04 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Morticia Addams in the Addams Family musical is often played in her 40s
Grandma Addams is generally played by a woman aged up, but she's supposed to be 102.
posted by xingcat at 12:06 PM on August 27, 2019
Grandma Addams is generally played by a woman aged up, but she's supposed to be 102.
posted by xingcat at 12:06 PM on August 27, 2019
Fruma Sarah and Grandma Tzeitel - Fiddler on the Roof (which I loathe, but whatever)
posted by carmicha at 12:07 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by carmicha at 12:07 PM on August 27, 2019
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas:
40s -- Miss Mona
50s -- Jewel
posted by xingcat at 12:08 PM on August 27, 2019
40s -- Miss Mona
50s -- Jewel
posted by xingcat at 12:08 PM on August 27, 2019
Follies is full of women characters in their 60s and up. Many of the roles are small but they pretty much all get their own show stopping song.
posted by dnash at 12:09 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by dnash at 12:09 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Wiki tells me Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was in her 40s when she played Aldonza in the most recent Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:11 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by backseatpilot at 12:11 PM on August 27, 2019
There's also quite a few in Gilbert and Sullivan, e.g., Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, Katisha in The Mikado, etc. And they're all problematic too... suffering the usual paternalistic mocking.
posted by carmicha at 12:12 PM on August 27, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 12:12 PM on August 27, 2019 [5 favorites]
Meg (Joe's wife) in Damn Yankees is meant to be middle aged.
Nettie in Carousel, pretty vague, could be any age really.
How old is Miss Hannigan supposed to be? Not really finding anything on quick search.
posted by wellred at 12:13 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Nettie in Carousel, pretty vague, could be any age really.
How old is Miss Hannigan supposed to be? Not really finding anything on quick search.
posted by wellred at 12:13 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lillianne Le Fleur from "Nine" is usually cast by actresses over 60. (Sorry that this is so sporadic, I keep thinking of roles as I work.
posted by xingcat at 12:14 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by xingcat at 12:14 PM on August 27, 2019
The Sound of Music - the Mother Abbess and several other nuns
posted by FencingGal at 12:16 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 12:16 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
In her 50s, my wife played Grace Farrell in Annie and Ida Straus in Titanic.
posted by bondcliff at 12:19 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by bondcliff at 12:19 PM on August 27, 2019
Helen in Fun Home was played by actresses in their 40's and 50's. Bernadette Peters (the Witch), Joanna Gleason (Baker's Wife), and Kim Crosby (Cinderella) were all entering their 40's when they did Into the Woods. Cleo Laine also played the Witch when she was in her lat 50's and I think it covers a pretty broad age range of actresses. Imelda Staunton was in her mid-40's when she played the Baker's Wife.
posted by crush at 12:19 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by crush at 12:19 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
The Old Lady (George's mother)/Blair Daniels part in Sunday in the Park With George. (Most recently Penny Fuller was in her 70s when she played it, in the 1984 original Barbara Byrne was in her 50s but I think clearly playing much older.)
posted by dnash at 12:27 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by dnash at 12:27 PM on August 27, 2019
40s
Adult Alison Bechdel in Fun Home
MJ Healey in Jagged Little Pill
The mom (don't remember her name) in Dear Evan Hansen; though it's not the main role, I found it very touching.
posted by gideonfrog at 12:35 PM on August 27, 2019
Adult Alison Bechdel in Fun Home
MJ Healey in Jagged Little Pill
The mom (don't remember her name) in Dear Evan Hansen; though it's not the main role, I found it very touching.
posted by gideonfrog at 12:35 PM on August 27, 2019
Response by poster: These are amazing - please keep them coming!
50s
Norma Desmond - how could I forget her?
posted by ovenmitt at 12:38 PM on August 27, 2019
50s
Norma Desmond - how could I forget her?
posted by ovenmitt at 12:38 PM on August 27, 2019
The absolute best character in Bat Boy the Musical - Meredith, is a woman in her 40s.
posted by valoius at 12:39 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by valoius at 12:39 PM on August 27, 2019
Follies is full of women characters in their 60s and up.
Sally and Phyllis are supposed to be 49/50.
posted by betweenthebars at 12:56 PM on August 27, 2019
Sally and Phyllis are supposed to be 49/50.
posted by betweenthebars at 12:56 PM on August 27, 2019
60s
Spider Woman/Aurora - Kiss of the Spider Woman (Chita Rivera was 60 at the time.)
And speaking of Chita Rivera:
60s/70s or more (Not sure if the text specifies)
Claire Zachannassian - The Visit
posted by dnash at 12:57 PM on August 27, 2019
Spider Woman/Aurora - Kiss of the Spider Woman (Chita Rivera was 60 at the time.)
And speaking of Chita Rivera:
60s/70s or more (Not sure if the text specifies)
Claire Zachannassian - The Visit
posted by dnash at 12:57 PM on August 27, 2019
Sally and Phyllis are supposed to be 49/50.
I was thinking more of the others - Carlotta, Solange, Hattie... The setting is an early 1970s reunion of a 1920s/30s cast, so if they were in their 20s back then they must be 60s or above by the time of the show.
posted by dnash at 1:04 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
I was thinking more of the others - Carlotta, Solange, Hattie... The setting is an early 1970s reunion of a 1920s/30s cast, so if they were in their 20s back then they must be 60s or above by the time of the show.
posted by dnash at 1:04 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Mrs. Higgins - My Fair Lady
Not sure what age the character is supposed to be, but the original Cathleen Nesbitt was in her late 60s, and most recently Diana Rigg was 80 at the time.
Mrs. Pearce, the housekeeper, is also usually 50s/60s.
posted by dnash at 1:17 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Not sure what age the character is supposed to be, but the original Cathleen Nesbitt was in her late 60s, and most recently Diana Rigg was 80 at the time.
Mrs. Pearce, the housekeeper, is also usually 50s/60s.
posted by dnash at 1:17 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Caroline in Caroline, or Change is specified as 39, so she's skating the edge (FWIW, Tonya Pinkins, her originator, was 41 when she played Caroline off-Broadway and in her mid-forties in London).
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:30 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:30 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Grandmother in Billy Elliot. And does the ballet teacher in that show have a specified age?
posted by beaning at 2:28 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by beaning at 2:28 PM on August 27, 2019
Jeanette in The Full Monty
The Old Lady in Candide
Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County
Aunt Eller in Oklahoma
Belle, in Little Me, starts out young but ends up middle-aged, (at least in the original version)
Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man
Lucia in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (who, as a bonus, gets Invisible, one of the best songs ever for older women)
Annie in Broadway Bounty Hunter (new musical by Joe Iconis, written specifically for Annie Golden)
Annie Edison Taylor in Queen of the Mist
Mamie Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt in First Lady Suite
Dee Dee Allen in The Prom
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:31 PM on August 27, 2019
The Old Lady in Candide
Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County
Aunt Eller in Oklahoma
Belle, in Little Me, starts out young but ends up middle-aged, (at least in the original version)
Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man
Lucia in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (who, as a bonus, gets Invisible, one of the best songs ever for older women)
Annie in Broadway Bounty Hunter (new musical by Joe Iconis, written specifically for Annie Golden)
Annie Edison Taylor in Queen of the Mist
Mamie Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt in First Lady Suite
Dee Dee Allen in The Prom
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:31 PM on August 27, 2019
Sound of Music
40s - Baroness Schraeder and some of the nuns
60s - Mother Abbess and some more nuns
Sister Act
40s - The lead, Deloris, could be in her early 40s (Whoopi Goldberg was 37 in the movie)
Various ages - some of the nuns
Lion King
40s - Rafiki (male in the animated film but female in the stage play) and Sarabi, Simba’s mother (not a huge role, but)
Show Boat
50s - Parthy and Queenie
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:44 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
40s - Baroness Schraeder and some of the nuns
60s - Mother Abbess and some more nuns
Sister Act
40s - The lead, Deloris, could be in her early 40s (Whoopi Goldberg was 37 in the movie)
Various ages - some of the nuns
Lion King
40s - Rafiki (male in the animated film but female in the stage play) and Sarabi, Simba’s mother (not a huge role, but)
Show Boat
50s - Parthy and Queenie
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:44 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
There's also the French 2002 film '8 Women', which isn't actually a musical theatre standard... But maybe should be.
posted by ovvl at 3:06 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 3:06 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Either of the moms in Dear Evan Hansen (Evan's and Zoe & Connor's)
Trish in Kinky Boots
The older version of Cher (Star) in The Cher Show
Velma and Roxie in Chicago have been played by women of all ages. (Christie Brinkley played Roxie when she was in her 50s and 60s.)
posted by SisterHavana at 3:19 PM on August 27, 2019
Trish in Kinky Boots
The older version of Cher (Star) in The Cher Show
Velma and Roxie in Chicago have been played by women of all ages. (Christie Brinkley played Roxie when she was in her 50s and 60s.)
posted by SisterHavana at 3:19 PM on August 27, 2019
In The Heights:
Camila Rosario (Nina’s mother, listed as 40-50 years old in a character breakdown I found online)
Daniela (the salon owner, listed as 35-50 in the character breakdown)
Abuela Claudia (listed as 50-60)
posted by creepygirl at 4:27 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Camila Rosario (Nina’s mother, listed as 40-50 years old in a character breakdown I found online)
Daniela (the salon owner, listed as 35-50 in the character breakdown)
Abuela Claudia (listed as 50-60)
posted by creepygirl at 4:27 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Historically speaking, Emma Goldman would have been about 37 during the year in which Ragtime takes place, but you’ll see a lot of 40- and 50-somethings in that role — which I think makes sense, given the character’s hardscrabble background and resulting fearlessness.
And Angela Prysock/Princess Puffer in Drood is “mature” — she at least has to be old enough to have been the ingenue’s nanny a generation ago.
Both are brilliant characters.
posted by armeowda at 6:17 PM on August 27, 2019
And Angela Prysock/Princess Puffer in Drood is “mature” — she at least has to be old enough to have been the ingenue’s nanny a generation ago.
Both are brilliant characters.
posted by armeowda at 6:17 PM on August 27, 2019
High Society:
50s/60s - Margaret Lord
30s/40s - Liz Imbrie
A Little Night Music:
40s/50s - Desiree Armfeldt
60s/70s- Madame Armfeldt
30’s/40’s - Charlotte Malcolm
Also the chorus, Mrs. Nordstrom; Mrs. Segstrom and Mrs. Anderssen can be played at any age and have great songs.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:30 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
50s/60s - Margaret Lord
30s/40s - Liz Imbrie
A Little Night Music:
40s/50s - Desiree Armfeldt
60s/70s- Madame Armfeldt
30’s/40’s - Charlotte Malcolm
Also the chorus, Mrs. Nordstrom; Mrs. Segstrom and Mrs. Anderssen can be played at any age and have great songs.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:30 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
How old is Miss Hannigan supposed to be?
Dorothy Loudon who played Miss Hannigan in the original broadway production was ~52. The actresses who followed her in the role ranged in age from early 40s to mid 60s, but were mostly in their early 50s.
Nell Carter was ~49 when she played Miss Hannigan during the 1997 broadway revival.
Carol Burnett was ~49 when she played Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film.
Cameron Diaz was ~42 when she played Miss Hannigan in the 2014 version of the film.
I found a recent-ish casting call for the character that requests someone who appears somewhere in the age range of 35-55.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:52 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Dorothy Loudon who played Miss Hannigan in the original broadway production was ~52. The actresses who followed her in the role ranged in age from early 40s to mid 60s, but were mostly in their early 50s.
Nell Carter was ~49 when she played Miss Hannigan during the 1997 broadway revival.
Carol Burnett was ~49 when she played Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film.
Cameron Diaz was ~42 when she played Miss Hannigan in the 2014 version of the film.
I found a recent-ish casting call for the character that requests someone who appears somewhere in the age range of 35-55.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:52 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
vera Charles is mame's contemporary best friend with a featured song
posted by brujita at 12:21 AM on August 28, 2019
posted by brujita at 12:21 AM on August 28, 2019
30’s/40’s - Charlotte Malcolm
Canonically, Charlotte is probably much younger than that. We know that her younger sister was classmates with Anne, who is maybe 22 at the very oldest. She's definitely been played by actresses in their 40's, but they tend to be the sort of 40-year-old actresses who can pass for being 30, which is not necessarily helpful for these purposes.
posted by firechicago at 5:00 AM on August 28, 2019
Canonically, Charlotte is probably much younger than that. We know that her younger sister was classmates with Anne, who is maybe 22 at the very oldest. She's definitely been played by actresses in their 40's, but they tend to be the sort of 40-year-old actresses who can pass for being 30, which is not necessarily helpful for these purposes.
posted by firechicago at 5:00 AM on August 28, 2019
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder has several women of a certain age or older, although exact ages are not given, as far as I know:
Miss Shingle
Lady Hyacinth
Lady Eugenia
posted by Icterus at 1:57 PM on August 28, 2019
Miss Shingle
Lady Hyacinth
Lady Eugenia
posted by Icterus at 1:57 PM on August 28, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
Anna - The King and I
Desiree - Little Night Music
50s?/60s
Carlotta - Follies
posted by ovenmitt at 11:54 AM on August 27, 2019