Mews Small (born Mary Edith Wilard Small) is an American actress and singer. She was known professionally as Marya Small during the 1970s and has also been credited as Merrya Small, Mary Small Rusk, and Mary Small.

Acting career

Small got her acting start in a 1966 theatre production of ''

The Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, '' The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. ...

'' in

Stowe, Vermont Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,223 at the 2020 census. The town lies on Vermont Routes 108 and 100. It is nicknamed "The Ski Capital of the East" and is home to Stowe Mountain Resort, a ski fa ...

. She has since acted in numerous feature films and television shows. Small originated the role of Frenchy in the original Broadway production of the musical '' Grease'', with a cast including

Barry Bostwick Barry Knapp Bostwick (born February 24, 1945) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Brad Majors in '' The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' (1975) and Mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom '' Spin City'' (1996–2002). Bostwick has also ...

and

Adrienne Barbeau Adrienne Jo Barbeau (born June 11, 1945) is an American actress and author. She came to prominence in the 1970s as Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical ''Grease (musical), Grease'', and as Carol Traynor, the divorced daughter of Maude Findl ...

. She was later joined by cast members

John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta, His accolades include a Primetime Em ...

Patrick Swayze Patrick Wayne Swayze ( ; August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer. Known for his romantic, tough, and comedic roles in blockbusters and cult films, Swayze was nominated for three Golden Glob ...

Treat Williams Richard Treat Williams Jr. (December 1, 1951 – June 12, 2025) was an American actor, whose career on stage and in film and television spanned five decades. He received many accolades for his work, including nominations for three Golden Globe ...

, and

Marilu Henner Marilu Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress and author. She began her career appearing in the original production of the musical ''Grease (musical), Grease'' in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film ''B ...

. Small is best known for her roles as Candy in the film ''

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may refer to: * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Ken Kesey * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (play), a 1963 stage adaptation of the novel starring Kirk Douglas * ''One Flew Over the ...

'' (credited as Marya Small) and Dr. Nero in

Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...

's film '' Sleeper''. She also portrayed the

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...

-inspired role of Frankie in the animated rotoscope film '' American Pop''. Small appeared in the first episode of '' Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' in 1975. Mews is the lead singer of her band Mews Small and The Small Band, who has released a CD ''Do What You Do'' in 2008. She also sings regularly with Suzy Williams, and the two have written songs together.

Politics

Mews Small ran as the

Natural Law Party The Natural Law Party (NLP) is a transnational party founded in 1992 on "the principles of Transcendental Meditation", the laws of nature, and their application to all levels of government. At its peak, it was active in up to 74 countries; it co ...

nominee for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

for

California's 25th congressional district California's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district is currently represented by . The district includes all of Imperial County, California, Imperial County and parts of Riverside C ...

in 2000. She received 1.35% or 3,010 votes.

Filmography

*'' The Trouble with Angels'' (1966) – Nun (uncredited) *'' Sleeper'' (1973) – Dr. Nero *'' Maude – The Commuter Station'' (1974) – The Girlfriend *'' The Wild Party'' (1975) – Bertha *''

'' (1975) – Candy *'' The Last of the Cowboys'' (1977) – Alice *'' The Great Smokey Roadblock'' (1977) – Slave Girl No. 2 *'' Thank God It's Friday'' (1978) – Jackie *''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy television series created by Gy Waldron that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985, with a total of seven seasons consisting of List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes, 147 ...

'' (1979) – Frankie *''

Dreamer The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act, is a United States legislative proposal that would grant temporary #For conditional resident status, conditional residency, with the right to work, for Illegal ...

'' (1979) – Elaine *'' Fade to Black'' (1980) – Doreen (uncredited) *'' American Pop'' (1981) – Frankie *''

Zapped! ''Zapped!'' is a 1982 American teen sex comedy film directed by Robert J. Rosenthal and co-written with Bruce Rubin. The film stars Scott Baio as a high school student who acquires telekinetic powers. Plot At Ralph Waldo Emerson High Scho ...

'' (1982) – Mrs. Springboro *''

National Lampoon's Class Reunion ''National Lampoon's: Class Reunion'' is a 1982 American black comedy film produced by '' National Lampoon'' as the third film from the magazine. It was the second film released; although '' National Lampoon Goes to the Movies'' was filmed in 198 ...

'' (1982) – Iris Augen *''Young Lust'' (1987) – Connie *'' Five Corners'' (1987) – Woman in Deli *'' Puppet Master'' (1989) – Theresa *'' Man on the Moon'' (1999) – TM Administrator *''A Wake in Providence'' (1999) – Casting Director (voice) *''Raw Footage'' (2005) – Wedding Guest *''The Gift: At Risk'' (2007) – Mother Superior *''Boppin' at the Glue Factory'' (2009) – Mary LeDoux

References

External links

* * * *
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Small, Mews American stage actresses American film actresses American television actresses American women singers Living people 21st-century American women Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people)