Stageloft Presents: I Remember Mama

The great Richard Rodgers’ final musical tells the tale of a Norwegian immigrant family living in San Francisco at the turn of the 20th century. The story is told through the Hansens’ eldest daughter, Katrin, who schemes to meet a famous female author to gain traction in becoming a renowned wordsmith, as well.

Through Katrin we experience familial hardships and triumphs, including the near loss of their home, Papa’s desperate return to Norway when he can no longer find work in America, and the sale of her first story: this one.

But, of course, it’s Mama she remembers most of all, always guiding the family’s precarious journey with a firm hand and a warm heart.

Rodgers’ last musical notched a short Broadway run in 1979 because of audiences’ preference, at the time, for more sharp-edged material. Still, the play deftly recalls an America that was, and resonates with audiences today.