Raising Our Voices
In year four of sharing a dressing room at Broadway’s Jersey Boys, hosts Cara Cooper and Jessica Rush found themselves in uncharted territory, juggling motherhood and eight shows a week. Knowing they weren’t alone in the struggle, they founded a support group for mothers in the business of show, called Broadway Baby Mamas. Join Cara and Jessica as they discuss in depth the usually funny, always emotional and very frank comedy and tragedy of motherhood with today’s great mamas of Broadway and beyond.
“Mamas Talkin’ Loud” debuted an outstanding season of almost 40 episodes on the Broadway Podcast Network in October 2019, and their second season began in September of 2020. Since launching on BPN, Broadway Moms Cara and Jessica, and their podcast, have inspired listeners from all walks of life, and, most importantly during this time, have built a community of support, and comfort, continuing to bring their in-depth and meaningful conversations to listeners, even as life went into lockdown.
Whether it’s a light-hearted chat, their series with special needs mothers (co-host Cara Cooper is one herself), or the month of content celebrating PRIDE, many Tony winners and Broadway stars have graciously joined them ‘in the dressing room’ to share their stories. Some of the guests are Tony Award winners Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Heather Headley, Laura Benanti, Daisy Eagan, Tonya Pinkins, Stephanie J Block, Karen Olivo, LaChanze, Annaleigh Ashford, and Celia Keenan-Bolger, as well as fan favorites Robyn Hurder, Cheyenne Jackson, Patti Murin, Kara Lindsay, Caissie Levy and Natasha Yvette Williams. Mothers in our industry from the other side of the table who’ve joined the ladies to share their insight include writer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, casting director Tara Rubin, writer & director Schele Williams, choreographer Lorin Latarro, composer Georgia Stitt, and Disney Theatrical producer Anne Quart...there’s even a chat with The Rockettes thrown in for a special holiday episode! Cara and Jessica adore bringing this podcast to the community, as well as building visibility and awareness of the working artist parent. Visit our episodes page to start listening!
Cara and Jess at the Broadway Podcast Network launch party October 2019
Where it all began…Jersey Boys on Broadway, 2011.
MEET THE MAMAS
CARA COOPER
Co-Host
Cara is an actress most recently on Broadway in the critically acclaimed musical The Prom. Prior to that, she was the longest running Mary Delgado in the Broadway company of Jersey Boys. During her run in JB, she had not one, but two babies. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Graham Bowen, and the aforementioned babies, Elin and Finn (who are no longer babies). Before kids, her Broadway career included the original companies of Elf, The Wedding Singer, All Shook Up, Urban Cowboy, replacing in Legally Blonde, and waking up for a matinee at 10am… She has appeared on Showtime’s “City on a Hill” and in the films Adult Beginners and The Great Gilly Hopkins (both of which she shot while pumping in the trailer). As the mother of a child with special needs (her daughter is autistic) she is keenly aware of the specific challenges of raising children of different ‘abilities’ and fights for this community of warrior parents to feel seen and supported. She is also the co-founder of Broadway Baby Mamas and keeps her sanity with equal parts exercise, wine and tortilla chips.
JESSICA RUSH
Co-Host
Jessica is a mom, wife and award-winning actress currently seen as Rhonda in the original Broadway company of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. She most recently completed a successful run in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, where she stood by for both Cynthia Murphy and Heidi Hansen. Last season she originated the role of Joyce Bogart in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Jess had the honor of closing the Broadway run of Jersey Boys as the longest running Lorraine, and prior to that, appeared in Guys and Dolls and stood by for Laura Benanti in Gypsy with Patti LuPone. Television credits include appearances on “Billions”, “White Collar” and the award-winning web series “Then We Got Help”. She was the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for her portrayal of Louise in Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and is co-founder of the Broadway Baby Mamas. Ms. Rush enjoys a charcuterie board, rosé, pumpkin spice, and all things basic, while raising her voice in the fight for awareness and equality. She is married to actor Eric Anderson, and mom to their daughter, Elliot.
