Photos provided by Joan Marcus

Throughout the three decades since Robin Williams transformed into “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the movie’s become an ageless classic known just as much for its comedy and cross dressing as its underlying heart.

And now that it’s become a full-blown Broadway musical, a whole new generation is getting the chance to fall in love with the leading “lady” all over again, including those inside the James M. Nederlander Theatre on opening night, where it continues until Sunday, March 10.

The tour finds New York originator Rob McClure stepping back into both the titular role and Daniel Hillard next to Maggie Lakis as Miranda, who’s his fictional and real life wife, a fun fact to further enhance their rapport.

Either way, they’ve got a grand slam of a show on their hands thanks to direction from four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks, a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, plus music/lyrics by Karey and his Grammy Award-winning brother Wayne Kirkpatrick, who previously teamed on “Something Rotten!,” while the latter’s multitude of superstar songwriting credits include Eric Clapton, Garth Brooks and Amy Grant.

Though the premise centers around the relatively common portrayal of parents fighting in the midst of a divorce, often as the result of a youthful father who hasn’t quite accepted adulthood, his decision to don some drag and become the elderly Euphegenia Doubtfire to nanny the couple’s three children is anything but ordinary.

In fact, it’s practically unreal to watch a multitude of over the top transformations, all while trying to keep straight his role as a regular dad with a strict court order of a single weekly visit and the unlikely alter ego who helps extend the limit.

Naturally, this zany plan leaves room for a ton to go wrong and it definitely does, from general household hilarity, to the extreme awkwardness of needing to constantly change clothes when Daniel and Euphegenia each have an appointment at the exact same time and location.

“Mrs. Doubtfire” doesn’t necessarily end in any of the directions it seems to be heading, but it leaves no ambiguity when it comes to showing someone’s sincere love for their kids and an especially timely suggestion that families can nonetheless come in many meaningful forms.

“Mrs. Doubtfire” continues at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through Sunday, March 10. For additional details, visit MrsDoubtfireBroadway.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

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