Voices in Alliance Presents Mothers and Sons

November 5th, 2025

The inner workings of a person’s social circle that tether people together can be both beautiful and layered or complicated and painful. Local nonprofit Voices in Alliance presents their latest play, Mothers and Sons, a story that shows an intimate glimpse into the lives of four individuals and the ties that bind them together. Mothers and Sons will be performed at the Shelterbelt Theatre beginning November 5.

Mothers and Sons is the latest production by Voices in Alliance, an Omaha nonprofit
dedicated to celebrating LGBT+ stories through theater. Written by four-time Tony award winning playwright Terrence McNally, the play follows Katharine, a recent widower. Katharine travels to visit her deceased son’s ex-lover, Cal, to help her cope with her grief. After losing her son Andre to aids 20 years prior to the play’s story, it is through the influence of Cal, Will and their son Bud that Katharine finally begins the healing process.

Katharine is both shocked and dismayed to learn that Cal has moved on from her son’s death, a feat she herself had never achieved, and that he is now married to his husband Will. Together, the two are raising their son, Bud. Charleen Willoughby, actress performing as Katharine in the play, says that the character of Katharine spends the length of the play settling into her new life without her husband and son.

Randall Stevens, Voices in Alliance President and Producing Artistic Director, originally contacted Willoughby to audition for the role of Katharine. Willoughby agreed and a few
days later she got the news that she had been chosen to perform the role of Katharine. A departure from many of her prior roles, the sheer complexity and nuance of Katharine’s role in the play drew Willoughby to the character.

Joining Willoughby on the stage for Mothers and Sons is Justine Parsley in the role of Cal, Bowen Nowak in the role of Will and Owen Ferron in the role of Bud. Mothers and Sons will continue through November 15 with performances from Wednesday through Saturday each week.

For more information about the play Mothers and Sons or Voices in Alliance, visit viaomaha.org.