Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show Coming to George Street Playhouse

Vicki Lawrence brings her touring production, Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show, to the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for two performances on November 13 and 14, 2026.

The show marks the 25th anniversary of a project that blends stand-up comedy, music, and character work. The performances are hosted at the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater inside the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, located at 11 Livingston Avenue.

According to WBGO, Lawrence developed the show in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks. She told the outlet that her original goal was to provide audiences with a 90-minute escape from global events, a mission she maintains two and a half decades later.

The performance is split between Lawrence’s autobiographical reflections and the return of her iconic character, Thelma Harper, known to audiences as “Mama.” Lawrence noted that her half of the show remains largely autobiographical because of the “crazy things” she has experienced throughout her life.

Lawrence describes the “Mama” portion of the show as a vehicle for expressing sentiments that are typically considered too impolite for daily conversation. “When Mama comes out that’s my chance to say what all the things that we would like to say but we’re too polite to ever say them,” Lawrence told WBGO.

New Jersey Stage reports that the production will feature updated, modern material for the character, promising that “expect the unexpected” where Mama is concerned.

The entertainer’s career began in 1967 when she joined The Carol Burnett Show as a teenager. Lawrence credits Carol Burnett with providing her foundational training in comedy. “I say all the time that I went to the Harvard School of Comedy in front of America,” Lawrence stated in her interview with WBGO.

She noted that network executives were initially skeptical of the variety show format, having intended to slot Burnett into a traditional sitcom, but they honored their contract and kept the show on the air. Burnett had personally sought out Lawrence to play her sister after seeing the teenager win the Miss Fireball of Inglewood contest.

Lawrence Performed with The Young Americans and Achieved Musical Success

Before her television breakthrough, Lawrence performed as a high school student in Inglewood, California, with the musical group The Young Americans. During her tenure with the ensemble, the group performed at the Oscars, where Lawrence had the opportunity to meet legendary entertainers including Johnny Mathis, Louis Armstrong, and Henry Mancini. Lawrence also maintains a connection to the jazz world through her brother-in-law, the acclaimed drummer Jeff Hamilton.

Beyond her television work, Lawrence achieved success in music with her 1973 #1 hit, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” She told WBGO that the song’s release was serendipitous, noting that her husband’s producer had struggled to find an artist willing to record it, as many considered the lyrics offensive.

The track eventually earned Lawrence a gold record. Reflecting on the period, she noted that the process ended in divorce, but she “did get the dog and a gold record.”

The production at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center follows a long history of performances for the George Street Playhouse. The venue, which is entering its 52nd season, is a central hub for regional arts.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint, who served from 1997 to 2025, the organization filled a unique role in theatre and arts education for the city, state, and greater metropolitan region. In January 2026, the Playhouse appointed Edgar Herrera from Managing Director to Executive Director. Performances are scheduled for Friday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 14, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for the event range from $62 to $102.

Lawrence continues to balance her personal history with the enduring popularity of the characters she created. While the Mama’s Family sitcom concluded its original run in the 1980s, the character retains a cult following.

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