Boardman's McGovern plays matriarch role

The Boardman High School grad has a powerful voice.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
When Maureen McGovern was first approached for the role of matriarch Marmee in the Broadway production of "Little Women, The Musical," the Youngstown native considered what she could bring to the stage for this popular Louisa May Alcott novel.
"I'm obviously too long in the tooth for Jo," said McGovern, calling from her Cleveland hotel room. "I believe in every young woman beats the heart of a Jo March, but I loved the idea of playing Marmee. I based the character not only on my own mother but my sister [Pat] who raised three girls, because Marmee is sort of the best essence of all of our mothers."
Early on in the Broadway run, for which McGovern received a 2005 Drama Desk Award nomination, she was asked to lead the touring production of "Little Women, The Musical," which is running through May 21 at Playhouse Square Center's Palace Theatre. After weighing not only the popularity of the novel but also the times in which we live, she readily accepted the offer.
"I play a woman who is raising her four girls on her own while her husband is away as an Army chaplain during the Civil War," McGovern said. "Something timeless and yet timely for men and women today whose spouses are away and the dilemma of raising your family on your own and trying to be everything to everybody. I think it resonates very strongly these days."
Her biography
During the 34 years that have passed since McGovern left Northeast Ohio, her success has been as diverse as it's been long. Recording artist, actress, singer and composer, the Boardman High School graduate has done it all, yet she attributes her biggest influence to that of her father, James.
"My dad sang in a barbershop quartet, The Poland Clippers, and every Tuesday night the guys would come and sing around our dining room table," said McGovern. "And when I was 5 years old, I'd start going around and singing everybody's parts."
Known early on as a powerful singer, eventually she'd earn the title of "The Stradivarius Voice," McGovern had a No. 1 hit "The Morning After" from the feature film "The Poseidon Adventure" and earned an Oscar Award for "We May Never Love Like This Again" from the movie "The Towering Inferno."
A fun role
McGovern laughs that this came during her disaster theme period in the '70s, which she said ended with the release of the absurd comedy "Airplane!," in which she plays the role of a guitar-playing nun.
"I was thrilled to do it," McGovern said. "It was such fun. Oh my God, they could do a couple of movies on just the outtakes. But the writers had a very specific and clear picture of what they wanted. In fact, everything was spelled out in the script so it leapt from the page."
As for her future when "Little Women, The Musical" ends later this summer, McGovern plans on returning to her vocal performance schedule this fall, including an Akron date planned for late winter. In the meantime, she's hoping fans young and old come out to spend a marvelous evening with Marmee and the March girls.
"It's a quintessential coming-of-age story," McGovern said.
"You'll see some of yourself up there, some of your family. It's incredibly moving, funny and silly. I think it's just a wonderful evening for the whole family."