Mother's Day Wishes of the Stars
Need fresh inspiration for Mother’s Day? Ideas for a great gift to give your own dear mom, or for what to ask your loving family to give you? We asked some of the hardest working mothers we know—leading actresses on Broadway—to share their best Mother’s Day memories, along with their heart’s desire for 2009. And remember, a Broadway.com gift certificate is always the perfect choice.
CAROLEE CARMELLO
Mother of: Zoe, 13, and Ethan, 8
Currently Playing: Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!
Best Mother’s Day Ever: Last year, I was surprised and thrilled when I was dragged out to the driveway to see my gift... a shiny black motorcycle! OK, it was a Vespa, but it sure looked cool to me. I got on it and drove down the block, only to crash and tear my leg up pretty badly. I bandaged myself up and went to my matinee, a little shaken. I have since taken lessons and passed the test for my motorcycle license. It is so fun to ride, even if it bears the scars of last Mother’s Day.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: To get some rest! Always my biggest challenge!
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: A random unsolicited “I love you” or hug... just when you think they don’t even notice you anymore.
HAYDN GWYNNE
Mother of: Orlando, 11, and Harrison, 8
Currently Playing: Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot
Best Mother’s Day Ever: We were living in Cheshire where I was filming a TV series in an old Wharf house on a canal. A precious day off started with breakfast in bed I don’t care about the crumbs! with flowers from Dad and homemade cards from the boys. We then hired a narrow-boat for the day, to travel through the Cheshire countryside, with beer and a picnic on board for lunch. Once you get used to its stately pace approximately three to four miles an hour—it would once have been towed by a horse, you realize it is actually the best speed to travel the world.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: Cancellation or postponement of the Sunday matinee, as I and the rest of the cast and indeed the entire audience spontaneously decide to go off and do something similar to the above with our families.
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: Love, love, love. Buckets of it.
SASHA ALLEN
Mother of: Sierra, 3
Currently Playing: Dionne in Hair
Best Mother’s Day Ever: I’ve only had three Mother’s Days, so they’ve all been the best since it’s a day for me to recognize how lucky I am to have my daughter—and how happy she makes me. And of course, I love the beautiful drawings that she makes me.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: Well, from a three-year-old, I don’t expect much. All I would like is to spend time with my family. Having them around is the best Mother’s Day gift for me!
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: My daughter has shown me what true love is—and I thank motherhood for knowing what that really means.
TOVAH FELDSHUH
Mother Of: Garson Brandon, 25, and Amanda Claire, 21
Currently Playing: Irena Gut Opdyke in Irena’s Vow
Best Mother’s Day Ever: Every Mother’s Day that my blessed mother, Lillian Feldshuh, is alive and well she turned 98 on April 18, and any Mother’s Day that I spend with Amanda Claire and Garson Brandon Levy, my children with my husband, Andrew Levy.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: Peace in the Middle East, the end of the nuclear threat in Iran, and… to scrape the gum off the floor of the #6 train! Best gifts for Mother’s Day? Anything that engages the heart, from a great card with a handwritten inscription to an engraved photo compact from T. Anthony. My idea for a Mother’s Day gift? Eau Premiere Bath Gel by Chanel. For Mama Lily, I send a large bunch of rubrum lilies that are fragrant, rare and beautiful, like her. My children can do without the Chanel, and go more for clever, funny, sentimental gifts that give me even more satisfaction.
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: Spending time with the two great unconflicted loves of my life. It is a privilege to be their mother and Andrew’s wife.
JAYNE ATKINSON
Mother of: Jeremy, 10
Currently Playing: Ruth Condomine in Blithe Spirit
Best Mother’s Day Ever: When I gave birth to our son on April 8, 1999. My husband at my side, my newborn son in my arms, I became that awesome word, MOTHER! Mommy, Mama, Ima, Amma—what an amazing moment.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: My heart’s desire for Mom’s Day is that I have my son and husband with me and we do something my son loves to do we’re talking Toys 'R' Us probably and something I love to do—a family walk.
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: The unconditional love that comes from our son that teaches me and reminds me of all the good things in life!
PRISCILLA LOPEZ
Mother of: Alexander, 24, and Gabriella, 20
Currently Playing: Camila in In the Heights
Best Mother’s Day Ever: This didn’t actually occur on a particular Mother’s Day, but rather on June 24, 1984, at 5:21am when I became a mother for the first time, as my husband Vincent and I welcomed my our son, Alexander, into the beginning of our new family. That best day was recreated on April 4, 1989, at 2:29am when our family became complete with the arrival of our daughter, Gabriella.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: I’d like to win the Mega Millions... BIG TIME!
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: The process of raising my children has allowed me to relive and examine my own life. It has given me the opportunity to provide for my children avenues of communication that were sometimes difficult with my parents. It has happily allowed me to take the attention off myself as we exist in a narcissistic business and focus it on my children, giving them the support and tools to survive in this world. Every day that I see my children, I am reminded of the miracle of life. They are a living expression of the love and commitment between my husband and me. They have opened and filled our hearts with the gift of love.
LATANYA RICHARDSON JACKSON
Mother of: Zoe, 27
Currently Playing: Bertha in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Mother’s Day Ever: When my daughter, Zoe Dove, was 10 years old, she created a collage portrait of me wearing a blue tissue ball gown. I had it framed and it hangs in our home today. It actually looks like me!
Heart’s Desire for 2009: To know that Zoe is attaining complete wellness and is finding God’s joyous sufficiency in her life.
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: Knowing that I carried a whole person inside of me and lived to see it blossom. Good God!
ELIZABETH ASHLEY
Mother of: Christian, 41
Currently Playing: Mattie Fae Aiken in August: Osage County
Best Mother’s Day Ever: When they didn’t ask me for money.
Heart’s Desire for 2009: That they won’t ask me for money.
Favorite Thing About Being a Mom: When they stop asking you for money!