The old W. C. Fields adage about not working with animals or children was never more tested than by Sacramento singer/actress Teal Wicks, whose latest Broadway role lumps her with both species of scene-stealers. Fortunately, the star loves them all.

Backstage, Wicks embraces the wooly pooch who plays Porthos in “Finding Neverland”—a musical prequel to J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan”—and coos: “I know I’m supposed to hate you. But I just want to love you.” A big juvenile cast also gets plenty of hugs. “I’ve never worked with this many kids before,” Wicks said. “These boys are incredible. They make me feel lazy because they’re balancing school and performing. They just blow my mind.”

Another new experience for the willowy thespian is onstage voluptuousness. “Mary Barrie is supposed to have a Gibson-girl figure,” she explained. “So I pull on my padded hips and thighs. My Spanx go on over the top. It was hard to move around and keep my balance at first. Now I like my curves. I’m experiencing a ‘me’ I’ll probably never be.”

J.M. Barrie’s upwardly mobile wife is not the female lead. But for the 33-year-old former star of “Wicked” productions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and on Broadway in New York, playing Mary Barrie comes as a welcome plum. “It’s an easy role,” she said. “Mary only has one solo song. But the part gives me time to do for outside concerts and other jobs. After ‘Wicked,’ anything’s easy.”

A “wicked” perk was Teal’s kinship with an elite bunch of actresses who survived the role and formed the Elphaba Alumni club. “We don’t often see each other but we text,” she explained. “We commiserate. We all have some battle scars from bing Elphaba.”

Exhaustion was among them. Three years performing eight shows a week (with no understudy) left the diva little time for trips to Carmichael to see mom. Happily, Gail Allen is a have-daughter-will-travel parent who ventured 25 times across the country for “Wicked” and has so far enjoyed five Neverland performances. “It’s a beautiful show,” she confirmed. “Mary Martin’s ‘Peter Pan’ was Teal’s favorite movie, growing up. For Neverland, I always take my handkerchief. I get very involved in the characters.”

Heavyweight characters are foils for her daughter’s current role. Matthew Morrison (from television’s “Glee”) plays J.M. Barrie. After several months’ absence, “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer recently returned to his scene-grabbing role of Captain Hook.

“Matthew’s hardworking and genuine,” Wick said of heartthrob Morrison. “He’s kind to everyone. He has such a laid back, easygoing attitude. That’s what you want in the leader of your show. Kelsey Grammer is so much fun and such a joker. He’s hosted dressing room parties for the whole company. My mom crashed one and got to chat with him. My boyfriend Tom and I have hung out with Kelsey and his family on our days off.”

From theater stalls, Teal’s mom sometimes pinches herself. “Every time I see Teal, it’s a new experience,” mused Gail Allen. “I also like to watch the audience, and see how people respond. I’m thrilled for her. Every parent wants to see their child living her dream.”