Mothers and Sons is a play by Terrence McNally, which is a follow-up to his previous play, Andre's Mother about a mother who lost her son to AIDS. The play premiered in 2013 at Bucks County Playhouse,Gioia, Michael "Terrence McNally's 'Mothers and Sons', With Tyne Daly, Bobby Steggert and Manoel Felciano, Begins June 13 at Bucks County" playbill.com, June 13, 2013 before opening on Broadway in 2014.Gioia, Michael. "Terrence McNally's 'Mothers and Sons', Starring Tyne Daly, Opens On Broadway March 24" playbill.com, March 24, 2014 The play was nominated for the 2014 Tony Award for Best Play.

Plot The play takes place 20 years after the events in McNally's 1990 television play Andre's Mother.Haun Harry."‘Andre’s Mother’ Derides Again: Playwright Terrence McNally Revisits Old Sorrows and Finds a New Life" observer.com, March 19, 2014 Katharine Gerard lost her son to AIDS 20 years ago, and now Katherine visits her son's partner, Cal, who has married Will. The two attempt to reconcile.

Production history Mothers and Sons had its world premiere at the Bucks County Playhouse, Pennsylvania, in June 2013. Directed by Sheryl Kaller, the cast starred Tyne Daly, Manoel Felciano and Bobby Steggert.Gioia, Michael "Terrence McNally's 'Mothers and Sons', With Tyne Daly, Bobby Steggert and Manoel Felciano, Begins June 13 at Bucks County" playbill.com, June 13, 2013

Mothers and Sons opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on March 24, 2014, after previews from February 23, 2014. Directed by Sheryl Kaller, the cast stars Tyne Daly as Katharine Gerard, Fred Weller (Cal), Bobby Steggert (Will) and Grayson Taylor (Bud). The scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Jeff Croiter and sound by Nevin Steinberg.Gioia, Michael. "Terrence McNally's 'Mothers and Sons', Starring Tyne Daly, Opens On Broadway March 24" playbill.com, March 24, 2014Brantley, Ben. "'Mothers and Sons,' an AIDS Tale Starring Tyne Daly The New York Times, March 24, 2014 The play closed on June 22, 2014 after 104 performances and 33 previews.Gioia, Michael. " 'Mothers and Sons' Packs Its Bags; Terrence McNally Play Closes June 22 on Broadway" playbill.com, June 22, 2014

Regional and International The play was produced by the Philadelphia Theatre Company from February 6, 2015 to March 8, 2015, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg and starring Michael Learned as Katherine Gerard.Zinman, Toby. "Review. 'Mothers and Sons' philly.com, February 12, 2015 It ran at Speakeasy Stage Company in Boston from May 8, 2015 to June 6, 2015.Gans, Andrew. "Terrence McNally's 'Mothers and Sons' Will Play Philadelphia" playbill.com, June 19, 2014 The Aux Dog Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico presented the play from February 22, 2015 to March 15, 2015.Mothers and Sons abqtodo.com, accessed February 29, 2016

The play ran in Argentina since May 11. The play was produced by Ensemble Theatre in Sydney from August 21 to September 27, 2015."'Mother and Sons' Press Release" ensemble.com.au, accessed February 29, 2016

The play opened February 10, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio, produced by CATCO and closed February 28, 2016. catco.orgGrossberg, Michael. "Theater review | 'Mothers and Sons': CATCO finds heart of family drama" The Columbus Dispatch, February 13, 2016

Cast and characters CharacterBucks County Playhouse 2013Broadway 2014Katharine GerardTyne DalyWill OgdenBobby SteggertCal PorterManoel FelcianoFred WellerBud Ogden-PorterGrayson Taylor

Critical reception Ben Brantley, reviewing in The New York Times, wrote: " 'Mothers and Sons'... is, in essence, a debate play with fraught emotional underpinnings, and it doesn’t avoid the stasis of that genre. It also tends to sabotage its potential to move us by making the debate, rather than psychological credibility, its first priority.... Ms. Daly...again proves herself one of our most formidable stage actresses.... She and the play are at their strongest, though, not in what is spoken, however articulately, but in tacitly suggesting a sorrow beyond words that is always waiting to resurface."

Chris Jones, in his review for the Chicago Tribune wrote that the play is "moving, intensely resonant". He noted that "To a large extent, McNally is chronicling the revolutionary changes he has seen in the lives of gay Americans — and what playwright has more right to do so?"Jones, Chris. " 'Mothers and Sons' Broadway Review" Chicago Tribune, March 24, 2014

Awards and nominations 2014 Broadway production YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2014Tony AwardBest PlayBest Actress in a PlayTyne DalyDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a PlayDrama League AwardOutstanding Production of a Musical}Distinguished PerformanceTyne DalyOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actress in a Play

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