Among many songs written by the late, great Stephen Sondheim, “Children Will Listen” evokes a sense of great responsibility in any listening parent. And as we approach Mother’s Day, the lyrics remind us that our family matriarchs leave an indelible impression on the person whom we will become: “Children will look to you for which way to turn, to learn what to be.”

On the stage, as in life, mothers come in all shapes and colors. Both soft spoken and loud. Some stern and others nurturing. And those who say the right thing at the right time and lead us by example. As the song says, “Careful the things you say, children will listen. Careful the things you do, children will see.”

Over the years, our DCPA Theatre Company has brought many different mothers to life on stage. Some silly, others determined. Some self-absorbed and others fearless. But often with a glimmer of your own mother…or the mother you yourself may be. Enjoy this walk down memory lane in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Romi Dias as Ana Hernandez in the 2006/07 DCPA Theatre Company production of Living Out. Photo by Terry Shapiro

(l-r) Jennifer Le Blanc as Alice Heminges and Nance Williamson as her mother Rebecca in the DCPA Theatre Company’s 2017 world premiere of The Book of Will. Photo by Adams VisCom.

(l-r) Bianca LaVerne Jones as Rachel, Zaria Kelley as Sam and Keona Welch as Sam’s mother Monique in the DCPA Theatre Company’s 2019 world premiere of Last Night and the Night Before. Photo by Adams VisCom.

(l-r) Doreen Montalvo as Amalia and Jennifer Paredes as her daughter Lucha in the 2018 world premiere of American Mariachi, a co-production of DCPA Theatre Company and The Old Globe (CA). Photo by Adams VisCom.

(l-r) Mary Michael Patterson as Marianne Dashwood and Joanna Glushak as her mother Mrs. Henry Dashwood in the 2012/13 DCPA Theatre Company world premiere production of Sense & Sensibility The Musical. Photo by Jennifer M Koskinen.

(l-r) Aya Cash as Anne Frank and Deirdre Madigan as her mother Edith in the 2007/08 DCPA Theatre Company production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Photo by Terry Shapiro

The cast of the DCPA Theatre Company’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Adams VisCom.

Stephanie Berry as Alice Pettway and Nikki E. Walker as Sadie Pettway in the 2007/08 DCPA Theatre Company production of Gee’s Bend. Photo by Terry Shapiro

Kathy Brady as Sarah leads the cast of the 2008/09 DCPA Theatre Company production of Quilters. Photo by Terry Shapiro

(l-r) Brenda Withers as Jane Bennett and Jeanne Paulsen as her mother Mrs. Bennett in the 2007/08 DCPA Theatre Company production of Pride and Prejudice. Photo by Terry Shapiro