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Women Who Shaped Theater: Sarah Bernhardt to Audra McDonald

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Women Who Shaped Theater: Sarah Bernhardt to Audra McDonald

Theater has long been a space for storytelling, creativity, and performance. Yet, for much of history, women struggled to claim their rightful place on stage and behind the scenes. Despite these challenges, countless women have shaped the theatrical world, pushing boundaries and redefining the art form. In this post, we’ll explore the women who shaped theater: Sarah Bernhardt to Audra McDonald.

As a woman myself, I am always aware of women’s contribution to theater. In particular, I want to focus not only Sara and Audra, but also Lorraine Hansberry, Ethel Merman, Julie Taymor, Rita Moreno and Sarah Bareilles. Each of these trailblazers changed the industry in profound ways, leaving a lasting impact on performers, playwrights, and audiences alike. If you’d like to learn about other theater artists, check out: Teaching Stage Legends: Burnett, Andrews, Jones, and Van Dyke 

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Women Who Shaped Theater: Sarah Bernhardt to Audra McDonald

Sarah Bernhardt

My mother used to call me “Sarah Bernhardt” and at the rip age of twelve I didn’t know who she was.  I think in my mother’s own way, she was trying to tease me.  But now that I know about Ms. Bernhardt, I’m flattered! Before Broadway, before Hollywood, there was Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923). A French actress renowned for her dramatic flair and commanding stage presence, Bernhardt became one of the world’s first global celebrities.

  • She was known as “The Divine Sarah” and performed in roles traditionally played by men, including Hamlet.
  • Bernhardt toured internationally, bringing high art to audiences around the world.
  • She defied expectations by continuing to perform even after losing her leg in her later years.
  •  Bernhardt originally planned to become a nun but instead enrolled in the Paris Conservatory when she was 16. However with the support and encouragement of her mother’s wealthy lover, her prolific theatrical career was ignited

Bernhardt’s daring choices and larger-than-life persona set the stage for future actors to embrace their individuality and take risks in their careers.

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Ethel Merman: The Queen of Broadway

If you think of Broadway belters, one name comes to mind first: Ethel Merman (1908–1984). Known for her powerful voice and impeccable comedic timing, Merman became one of the most influential musical theater performers of all time.

  • She originated some of Broadway’s most famous roles, including Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.
  • Her strong, brassy voice set the standard for musical theater vocalists.
  • She worked with legendary composers like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin—many of whom wrote songs specifically for her.
  • She was a favorite of Cole Porter, who wrote Anything Goes and DuBarry Was a Lady specifically for her.

Merman proved that musical theater could be just as electrifying as a dramatic play, paving the way for powerhouse performers like Patti LuPone and Idina Menzel.

Lorraine Hansberry: A Playwright Who Changed History

While many women made their mark on stage, Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965) changed theater history with her words. Her groundbreaking play A Raisin in the Sun (1959) was the first play written by a Black woman to be performed on Broadway. When teachers ask of a recommendation for someone to teach about during Black History month, I always suggest Lorraine Hansberry.

  • A Raisin in the Sun tackled themes of racial injustice, family struggles, and the pursuit of dreams, resonating with audiences of all backgrounds.
  • Hansberry was the first Black woman to win the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award.
  • She used her platform to advocate for civil rights, influencing both the arts and activism.
  • Her close friend Nina Simone wrote the song “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” in Hansberry’s honor after her passing.

Hansberry’s work opened doors for future generations of playwrights, including Lynn Nottage, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Dominique Morisseau, whose works continue to challenge and inspire audiences today. Pick up a FREE biography lesson about Cynthia Erivo!

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Julie Taymor: A Visionary Director

Women have historically been underrepresented in directing and design, but Julie Taymor (b. 1952) shattered expectations with her revolutionary approach to theater.

  • She became the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical with The Lion King (1997).
  • She designed over 230 puppets for The Lion King, blending African and Asian theatrical traditions.
  • Taymor has directed not only on Broadway but also in opera and film, proving that theatrical storytelling transcends mediums.
  • In 1991, she received the MacArthur Fellowship, recognizing her innovative approach to theater.

In addition, her work paved the way for other female directors like Diane Paulus, Rachel Chavkin, and Liesl Tommy, showing that women can lead bold, visually stunning productions.

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Audra McDonald: A Record-Breaking Star

No list of influential women in theater is complete without Audra McDonald (b. 1970). She is known for her astonishing vocal range and acting talent.  And get this:  McDonald has won more Tony Awards than any other performer—six and counting!

  • She is the only performer to win a Tony in all four acting categories (Best Actress and Featured Actress in both plays and musicals).
  • Her roles range from classic musicals (Carousel, Ragtime) to powerful dramas (Master Class, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill).
  • First Black Woman to Play Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music Live! (2013) and Bess in Porgy and Bess on Broadway.
  • She has used her platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion in theater, supporting young artists and underserved communities.

McDonald continues to redefine what it means to be a Broadway star, inspiring new generations of performers to pursue excellence on their own terms.

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Rita Moreno: A Trailblazing Triple Threat

It’s important to mention that women from many backgrounds and cultures blazed the trail for females. Few performers can match the versatility and longevity of Rita Moreno (b. 1931). One of the few EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winners, Moreno has influenced generations of actors in both film and theater.

  • She made history as Anita in the 1961 film version of West Side Story, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress—the first Latina to do so.
  • On stage, she starred in Broadway productions such as The Ritz (for which she won a Tony) and The Odd Couple.
  • She appeared in both the 1961 and 2021 versions of West Side Story—winning an Oscar for playing Anita in the original and portraying Valentina in the remake.
  • Moreno has long been an advocate for Latinx representation in entertainment, paving the way for performers like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

At 90+ years old, Moreno continues to perform, proving that great artistry knows no age.

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Sara Bareilles: A Modern Broadway Powerhouse

One of my personal favorite creators if Sarah Bareilles.  While many know Sara Bareilles (b. 1979) for her pop hits like Love Song and Brave, she has become a major force in modern musical theater.

  • She composed and wrote the lyrics for Waitress (2016), becoming one of the few female composers to write a full Broadway score.
  • She later stepped into the lead role of Jenna, proving her talent as a performer as well.
  • Her song “King of Anything” was a response to people constantly giving her unsolicited advice—especially about her music career.
  • Bareilles has continued her Broadway career with projects like Into the Woods and Girls5eva, inspiring more women to pursue composing and writing in theater.

Bareilles represents the future of musical theater, where women are not just stars but also creators shaping the stories we see on stage.

Preview of Drama Musical Theater Empowering Women Study Guides History Tony Awards 1

If you want to celebrate National Women’s Month in March, check out this bundle.  It’s full of information about four musicals which had women at the forefront and helm.

How have you celebrated National Women’s Month in your classroom?  Please share. You can email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

Woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

Should Students Read Biographies?

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The Reasons You Should Read Biographies

Should students read biographies? I say they should, especially theatre artists if that’s their interest.  

Here are the reasons students should read biographies.

I’m excited to share with you the new series of products I am creating.

Places Please is a series of short biographies about professional theatre artists.  There will be biographies about actors, directors, set designers, playwrights, costume designers and more.

Here is some terrific news on Lin Manuel Miranda!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lin-Manuel-Miranda-Family-Fund-Has-Committed-1M-To-Theater-Scholarships-For-Students-Of-Color-20200304

Places Please products include a short biography about the artist, plus a sheet with questions about the biography.  Links to particular works and sources are included as well and a link to a Pinterest board with additional photos of the artist.

Should Students Read Biographies?

Researching this idea, I stumbled upon an interesting article in Time Magazine by Jason Steinhauer, “America’s Students Need History–But Not for the Reasons You’re Hearing”

“The process of historical inquiry—and what it teaches students along the way—is history’s greatest reward. Studying history teaches that society is not stagnant. Studying history teaches us to question how and why things change, who drives those changes, whose interests are served by them and who gets left out of the equation. History teaches that human actions have consequences. Analysis of past events teaches students to ask probing questions, challenge preconceived assumptions and to recognize that humans have the capacity to be both very, very good and very, very cruel.

Analyzing historic documents teaches us to be careful readers. To be skeptical of one side of the story. To be aware of our own biases. Most critically, history teaches us who we are. I am a Jew, a New Yorker, a citizen of the United States, a grandchild of Holocaust survivors. These identities mean nothing without a historical backdrop to set them against. “We swim in the past as fish do in water,” wrote historian Eric Hobsbawm. “We cannot escape from it.”

Should Students Read Biographies?

Should Students Read Biographies?

Steinhauser continues, “Our students may not go on to all be historians, or even remember the hundreds of facts they learn in a given year. But through history they can become more disciplined and rigorous thinkers. They can be challenged to be more independent-minded analysts, and, I would argue, more compassionate human beings—skills that historical study inculcates and that lead directly to life and career success.”

What better way is there to demonstrate to our students that we all have struggles, failures and successes?

When I was a student, we never learned about anyone but historical figures. I knew a lot about George Washington (much of which was incorrect), Christopher Columbus (oh my gosh, don’t get me started) and Johnny Appleseed (really?).  Had I learned about people in my field of interest and their lives, I believe it would have helped me understand the initial challenges of the profession.

Check out: Video of Famous Theater Artists

Perhaps I might have gone further professionally? I don’t know.

That’s one of the reasons I became a teacher.  I thought there were some aspects of theater which had been ignored and I wanted to share my knowledge and expertise with students.

I found these really cool reasons to read more biographies by Kevin Eikenberry. There isn’t much reason to give you my thoughts when I agree wholeheartedly with his.

Should Students Read Biographies

Five Reasons to Read More Biographies“They allow you to stand on the shoulders of giants. In the 1670’s Sir Isaac Newton wrote in a letter to his friend Robert Hooke, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” That is exactly what reading biographies can do for you – allow you to see further because of what these people have achieved. Admittedly not every biography is about a “giant” but most are (and you can certainly pick from that list). However, even if the person you’re reading about is despicable and not worthy of praise or admiration, there likely are still many lessons to be gleaned from their life experiences and behaviors – even if most are “things you don’t want to do.”

They remind you that history repeats itself. George Santayana wrote in 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It was true long before then, it was true then and it hasn’t changed today. Reading about the real experiences of others gives context for the decisions and consequences that we all will face. History (recent or distant) will repeat itself because those who are making history were, and are, human beings. One of the best ways to take advantage of the experience of others is by reading biographies of historical figures, not academic tomes about history.

They promote self discovery. A good self help or professional development book will outline specific steps, tools, techniques and approaches to try. These can be valuable and successful shortcuts to help you make improvements and get results in most any area of your life. A biography, on the other hand, won’t be as direct. You will discover ideas and approaches on your own through the stories and experiences of others. This discovery learning process is often far more satisfying, and most always more lasting, than reading a list of steps.

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Expand Your Students’ World View

They allow you to see the world in new ways. Rather than being completely focused on your professional discipline, looking at the way you and your colleagues always look at things, reading about someone from a different era, a different background or a totally different set of life experiences will give you new perspective. In truth, most great innovations come from taking an idea from one situation, discipline or industry and adapting it to another. Reading biographies is one great way to do this.

They give you mentors at a distance.If you have read about the life of Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Winston Churchhill or anyone else you select, you have had a glimpse into their mind and now have the advantage or “knowing” them. These people can become your mentors at a distance, if you allow yourself the chance to think about what advice they might give you, or what they might do in a the situation or choice you are facing.”

So if you are a teacher looking for something different for your students, give these a look. They are a bargain, too!

I plan to release one each month until I have exhausted the subject. Because there are hundreds of theater artists, I think this series won’t end any time soon, because our students will enjoy learning whoever is up and coming as well as a veteran.

Granted, not every theater artist may appear important at first glance.  However, once a student reads about the artist’s struggles to become the person we know, everything becomes very transparent.

 

There are bundles of all of the artists available, too:

Theater Artists: Places Please

Distance Learning Famous Artists Bundle

Here’s a collection of 24 posters with quotes from famous theater artists.  I hope you like them.  Growth Mindset in Theater Artists This one below is FREE!

As you can tell, I really enjoy creating these biographies! I’d love to hear how these biographies go for you and your students.  Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

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