Happy Thanksgiving! Or not, as the case may be. Being with your family can be great—it’s so fun to catch up with everyone. Or it can be kind of awful, having to face the endless questions: Why are you still single? When are you going to get married? When are you going to get a real job? Are you going to do something about the fact that half of your body is aquamarine? Oftentimes, the best intentions of your loved ones can feel stifling. So it’s only natural to escape from your real family into the lives of a fictional one, where you don’t have to actually answer the uncomfortable questions.

And so, we present our list of theatrical families who give us some great schadenfreude. And while there are plenty of families in shows who are totally dysfunctional, we hope that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, you’ll be thankful for what we did include (and forgive our omissions!).

The Goodmans from “Next to Normal”
Okay, so there’s not much fun to be found in the Goodman family. Their story is pretty bleak—Diana, the mom, has bipolar disorder; Dan, the father, is well-intentioned, but unable to fix everything; Gabe, the son is the Golden Boy, but he’s around so little, sometimes it’s like he’s not even there; and Natalie constantly feels overlooked and overworked. But man, is their story powerful and cathartic, and helps us remember that even when it seems like our family doesn’t care about us, they do care about us, very deeply (even if it is so deep that they themselves don’t realize it).

READ MORE: Theater Review: 'Next To Normal' At The Ahmanson Theatre

The Pollitts from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
Tennessee Williams is great at illustrating messed-up family dynamics, and nowhere is that better on display than in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” While at first glance, the story is primarily about Brick and Maggie’s strained marriage, Williams also gives us a peek at the dynamics of the rest of the family, particularly Big Daddy and Big Mama, and how they deal with Big Daddy’s cancer (it’s not really a spoiler at this point). And who can’t relate to Maggie’s exasperation with Gooper and Mae’s “no-neck monsters” running around the house?

The Youngers from “A Raisin in the Sun”
“A Raisin in the Sun” is, at its core, about how important it is to care about your family and respect each other. Everyone is trying to make sure that the family is doing well, but they sometimes get so caught up in their own worlds that they lose sight of what is really important to them—each other.

READ MORE: Theater Review: 'A Raisin In The Sun' At The Kirk Douglas Theatre

Tevye’s family from “Fiddler on the Roof”
Though Tevye’s family’s last name is never mentioned, it doesn’t make them any less close. Tevye and Golde really do love their family, and the musical is a heartwarming reminder that no matter what life throws at you, family is the most important thing.

The Alphabet City Avant-Garde from “Rent”
They’re not related by blood to each other, but it’s hard to argue that there is a tighter-knit family in all of theater than the characters in Rent. They serve as proof that even if your biological family isn’t always there to support you, your friends can become your new family, carrying you even through your darkest days.

READ MORE: Theater Review: 'Rent' Off-Broadway

The Westons from “August: Osage County”
“August: Osage County” is an alarmingly accurate representation of large family gatherings, with more bickering and throwing each other under the bus than anyone can rationally keep track of. Though the struggles of the Westons might hit a bit too close to home (much like the Wyeths from “Other Desert Cities”), playwright Tracy Letts has drawn a compelling portrait of American family life in the 21st century. Look for the movie adaptation starring Meryl Streep to come out on Christmas Day.

The Sycamores from “You Can’t Take It With You”
One of my personal favorite families in theater, the Sycamores are the rose-colored version of everyone’s family at their best and wittiest. It’s impossible not to love Penny, Paul, and co. as they take delight in their own quirks and unique outlooks on life. Kaufman and Hart’s play serves as one of the best reminders that life is much better when you take the time to actually enjoy it.

READ MORE: Theater Review: 'You Can't Take It With You' At The Antaeus Company

Honorable Mentions:  The Lomans from “Death of a Salesman,” the MaGraths from “Crimes of the Heart,” the Webbs and Gibbs from “Our Town,” the Von Trapps from “The Sound of Music,” the Tyrones from “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”

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