Happy Mother's Day! Five Broadway Moms Kick Back with a Relaxing Morning at the Spa

It’s not easy being a Broadway mom. Between wrangling kids, running a household and (in the case of Matilda’s Mrs. Wormwood) doing cooter slams, playing a matriarch in a Broadway show is tons of hard work—and they do it in heels! Broadway.com invited five actresses who play hard-working moms on the Great White Way to enjoy a day of pampering at Dashing Diva Salon in New York City: Mamma Mia! headliner Judy McLane, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’s Enid Graham, Finding Neverland player Carolee Carmello, Tony-nominated The King and I star Ruthie Ann Miles and Matilda's Lesli Margherita. Happy Mother's Day!

CAROLEE CARMELLO
Madame du Maurier in Finding Neverland

Which line from Finding Neverland describes Madame du Maurier?
“I hope I’m not the crocodile.” J.M. Barrie bases the crocodile of Peter Pan on her. She doesn’t like the idea that a beast like that would be her legacy, but she brings it on herself.

Which item in your closet screams “mom”?
My white Keds sneakers that I wear when I’m going to my son’s soccer games.

Who is your favorite mom from a musical or from a play?
Momma Rose. I’ve always wanted to play that part, and as much as she’s a villain, I can totally relate to her. Not that I’m a theater mom, but the whole idea of pushing your kids and wanting them to be something great—I can see her tender side under there.

If your mother were here right now, what would she say?
I’ve gone through a lot of therapy to get over what she would say! [Laughs.]

What should every mother have at all times?
Patience. It’s the hardest thing for me, but I think it’s the most important part of motherhood. Just knowing that things will change if you can just wait it out.

RUTHIE ANN MILES
Lady Thiang in The King and I

How does Lady Thiang treat herself?
I imagine her taking off all of her jewels and the corset and crown at the end of the day and taking a rosewater bath.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received from one of your onstage children?
For my birthday, all of the royal kids made homemade cards and treats and origami flowers for me.

Which item in your closet screams “mom”?
Is it embarrassing to say I still wear a few of my nursing bras? Now that I’ve been called out I’ll remove those from my closet immediately.

What should every mother have at all times?
Lavender oil. If there’s a scrape, lavender will disinfect it. If they’re anxious, a dot on their temples will calm them down. It’s also good for sunburn!

If your mom were here right now, what would she tell you?
“Did you eat something?” and “Put on a jacket.”

JUDY McLANE
Donna in Mamma Mia!

Which song lyric from Mamma Mia! describes Donna?
“I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay.”

What is Donna’s ideal Mother’s Day present?
Having a great glass of red wine, sitting on the veranda with her daughter, just hanging out.

Who is your favorite mom from a musical?
The Baker’s Wife from Into the Woods. She has such a strong desire to be a mom, she would do anything to have a child.

What item of clothing in your closet screams “mom”?
I’m not a mom—well, I’m the mother to three cats. But it’s this cozy, off-white sweater with big pockets that I love to wrap up in.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received from one of your onstage children?
Every night when I say goodbye to Sophie and Sky, I call Sophie a different type of candy, like, “you’re my little Tootsie Roll.” So she [Elena Ricardo] gave me a huge bag of all of the different kinds of candy I call her.

ENID GRAHAM
Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

How does Judy treat herself?
She goes out for a drink at the pub—she probably drinks beer, but I think she would love to have French wine. She probably doesn’t get it very often.

What line from Curious Incident best describes Judy as a mom?
My character leaves her son and has a lot of flaws as a mother. But when she says “loads and loads of love,” because I think that’s the biggest strain that she feels, even if sometimes she has some challenges being a mom.

Which item in your closet screams “mom”?
Some sad, old baggy sweatpants that I wear way too often.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received from one of your onstage children?
Taylor Trensch, who is the alternate Christopher, gave me the most beautiful birthday card.

What should every mother have at all times?
A good sense of humor.

LESLI MARGHERITA
Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda

What is Mrs. Wormwood’s ideal Mother’s Day present?
For her children to go away.

How does Mrs. Wormwood treat herself?
Oh, she treats herself every day. But maybe she’d take some extra dance lessons.

If your mom were here right now, what would she tell you?
“Pick the brightest nail polish possible.”

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received from one of your onstage children?
One of the Matildas gave me a flask that says, “Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.” [Laughs.] A child gave me a flask. That child knows me well.

What should every mother have at all times?
Something to fill the flask.