The Seattle Women's Chorus celebrates the women of Broadway

While Mary Tyler Moore's Laura Petrie slept in a separate bed from her husband, Rob, on the television sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and Barbara Billingsley's June Cleaver appeared perfectly coifed serving breakfast on "Leave It to Beaver," contemporaneous women characters on 1950s and '60s Broadway stages were, shall we say, leading somewhat more passionate lives.

"Broadway took the lead with women like Auntie Mame and Dolly," says Brenda David, a member of the seven-year-old Seattle Women's Chorus.

"There was Lola from 'Damn Yankees' and Maria from 'West Side Story,' " adds Rhonda Juliano, SWC's assistant conductor.

Broadway musicals also gave us Mama Rose from "Gypsy" and Annie Oakley from "Annie Get Your Gun." In more recent years, they produced Mrs. Lovett from "Sweeney Todd," the title character from "Evita," Elphaba Thropp from "Wicked" and Tracy Turnblad from the stage adaptation of "Hairspray."

All of these characters and more will be celebrated this weekend in Seattle Women's Chorus' musical tribute "Lullaby of Broadway" at Meany Theater.

"On Broadway you saw strong, independent women," says Dennis Coleman, artistic director and conductor of both SWC and its long-running male counterpart, Seattle Men's Chorus. "It's slightly more political for the women's chorus to celebrate Broadway musicals than it would be for the Men's Chorus. Broadway is one of the best places to look for broader examples of women's experiences and characters than one saw on television."

"Somehow it has been more acceptable in theater to see strong women," says David. "Theater brings everyone together and creates a broader community with greater diversity than you find elsewhere."

David adds that for the predominantly lesbian SWC, theater's spirit of inclusiveness and curiosity about people provides a voice for some who can't easily find one in other entertainment mediums.

"There's a song in 'The King and I' called 'We Kiss In a Shadow,' which speaks to hidden relationships," David says. "It's poignant for a lot of people, and it's the kind of thing that can reach those who otherwise don't get what life is like for people who have to hide who they are."

As with the Seattle Men's Chorus, Coleman says, "Lullaby of Broadway" is an example of SWC's mission to gently incorporate "gay social causes into entertaining shows."

"The show will be uplifting, and the music will be beautiful and fun, drawing from 45 musicals," says Juliano. "It will range from older, familiar material to more contemporary songs."

Among the highlights will be "Donna" from "Hair," a duet from "Rent," and a butch-versus-femme medley pitting such ladylike tunes as "How Lovely to Be a Woman" against the more swaggering "There's Nothing Like a Dame."

"There will be full staging and costumes," says David. "It's a lot of fun to put together."

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com