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‘Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show’

Iconic comedienne to showcase her characters at Thrasher-Horne Center

By Kylie Cordell For Clay Today
Posted 1/26/23

ORANGE PARK – Emmy Award-winning comedienne Vicki Lawrence, best known for her roles on CBS’s “The Carol Burnett Show” and her comedy series, “Mama’s Family,” will be performing her Two …

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‘Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show’

Iconic comedienne to showcase her characters at Thrasher-Horne Center


Posted

ORANGE PARK – Emmy Award-winning comedienne Vicki Lawrence, best known for her roles on CBS’s “The Carol Burnett Show” and her comedy series, “Mama’s Family,” will be performing her Two Woman Act at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.

The multi-talented entertainer reached national stardom for her colorful characters, but she did not reach that success alone. Despite her decades-long television career, Lawrence was not always passionate about the stage.

“I would say that show biz kidnapped me. It wasn’t at all what I thought I was going to do. To tell you the truth, I was going to be a dental hygienist, but Carol sidetracked me from that one,” she said.

Burnett “discovered” Lawrence in 1967 in Inglewood, California. Lawrence was 17 years old.

Burnett was expecting her second child, yet focusing on putting together an ensemble for her upcoming variety show. Two weeks overdue from her baby’s scheduled arrival, Burnett was going through fan mail from her prior series, “The Gary Moore Show,” when she stumbled upon a photograph of Lawrence and a handwritten note from her. The letter included details of the upcoming Miss Fireball Competition being held near Burnett’s home.

“She answered my fan letter and arranged to see me at the Miss Fireball competition,” Lawrence said. “She crowned me when I won.”

The two women kept in touch and Burnett decided to give Lawrence a screen test along with another candidate for the show.

“She asked me if I wanted to audition to play Carol’s sister,” Lawrence said. “It was all just serendipitous timing.”

Despite having no formal training, Lawrence was given the role.

“I had not studied acting growing up, so I think I was just very, very raw. They had to train me. At some point, all the suits went up to Carol and said, ‘Don’t you think we should replace her and get a real actress because she’s kind of rough? And she, ‘She’s a diamond in the rough. We’re keeping her.’”

Vicki went on to become part of the now-legendary cast, developing into one of the most well-known comediennes of all time.

“I started on the Carol Burnette Show when I was 18,” she said. “I like to say that I went to the Harvard School of Comedy in front of America. I had the best teachers in the world.”

One such teacher was Harvey Korman, Carol’s leading man on the Carol Burnett Show.

“Harvey really took me under my wing and taught me everything I know about comedy,” she said.

Soon after, Lawrence started taking a plethora of characters.

In the seventh season and hundreds of hilarious sketches later, Vicki created her most endearing character to date, the sassy midwestern Thelma Harper, or “Mama” as she is better known to her fans.

“I was playing Carol’s mother. Betty White was on the show, and I played her mother,” she said. “I played a lot of old ladies on Carol’s show.”

After the Burnett Show, Vicki went on to star in “Mama’s Family,” which consistently topped the ratings for its entire six-year run of original shows.

“Moma is in everyone’s family. That’s why she’s been so popular,” she said. “Everyone can relate to her, and she’s fun. She’s just been, thankfully, an old lady, so I can really grow into her character. We’re getting old together.”

More than 20 years after the show’s finale, Mama is taking the stage again.

“I think people will get a kick out of the things Mama has an opinion about. We’re creating new material with a more modern and cutting edge. Where Mama is concerned, expect the unexpected. There’s really nothing she can’t do,” she said. “I hope people will be pleasantly surprised by the side of Vicki they may never have seen… I know they will be looking forward to Mama, and for her part, that crazy old gal will be up to the challenge.”

Ticket prices start at $29 and can be reserved by calling (904) 276-6815, at boxoffice@sjrstate.edu or at the box office.

This event is for those 16 and older.