Regarding Awareness of Intimacy: Participants in the production, acknowledge should they be offered a role, that there will be moments of staged physical and emotional intimacy between characters. This can include physical touch, romantic situations, emotional closeness, and scenarios that require performers to explore vulnerability within their roles. The goal of staging intimacy is to enhance storytelling while maintaining a safe respectful environment for all participants.
Regarding Awareness of Violence: Participants in the production, acknowledge should they be offered a role, that the production contains scenes depicting moments of violence as an essential part of the storytelling, understanding that these moments are to be carefully staged for dramatic effect and do not reflect real-life behavior or encourage violence in any form.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
The age range listed with each character is the age the character should present on stage, not the age of the actor playing the role.
*Special note: Though the characters in the piece are cis-gender, non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming actors are encouraged to audition.
Specific Intimacy will be listed with each character.
Specific Fight Choreography will be listed with each character.
LAUREY WILLIAMS: Soprano. (Range: D4-E5 (opt. A5) (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18 – 30) Emotionally available, a young woman who is independent, strong-willed (stubborn?), who lives with her Aunt Eller on a farm. She has an innocence yet an air of knowledge and quiet dignity about her. A young woman coming into her own strength and femininity, she is grappling with the idea that she must start to ‘adult’ in a world she does not yet fully understand. The dynamics of that world, namely a world where her fate is subject to a man’s will, is what is bubbling just under her surface. She longs to lead in the community and even run the ranch but the communities’ standards dictate something else for a young woman. A strong graceful dancer desired; partnering experience a plus. Intimacy with Curly through physicality and kissing will happen multiple times through the show. Physical intimacy with Jud likely as well as a single kiss. Fight Choreography likely.
CURLY MCLAIN: Baritone. (Range: Db3-F4 (opt. F#4) (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 20-35) Hailing himself as the “best bronc buster” in the territory, Curly thinks everything’s going his way. A cowboy with a confident swagger, one is forced to question if he is in love with Laurey or if he’s merely in love with the idea of ‘winning’ Laurey in what has been one long game of cat and mouse. His perceived rivalry with Jud Fry over Laurey’s affections is most certainly a callback to a deep–rooted toxic masculinity that has been masked by his exuberance, charisma, and bravado and is only brought into stark relief when you realize that he doesn’t quite understand why Laurey hasn’t fallen instantly for him. He does not see Jud as a ‘real man’ and that marks the biggest threat to Curly’s identity. He is the most handsome man in the whole county, and he knows it, as sure as he knows his position in this community. He yields his gifts like a stealth weapon creating a public persona that made him a man every woman wanted to be with and every man wanted to be friends with. A performer who is a strong athletic mover strongly desired; able to play acoustic guitar a plus. Intimacy in the form of physical touch and kissing will occur with Laurey multiple times within the show. There will be physical intimacy explored with Jud in the form of invading personal space. Fight Choreography needed to stage the wedding fight with Jud.
ADO ANNIE CARNES: Soprano. (Range: C4-E5 (opt. F5) (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) A vivacious and sincere free spirit who is headstrong and “boy-crazy” – or so the community would say. While she most certainly is in love with Will Parker, her dalliances with Ali Hakim and anyone else she sees fit, shows a remarkable sense of autonomy over her body, her sexuality, and femininity. She has a hunger for life and while Ado Annie “Can’t Say No”, it is important to recognize she says Yes first and foremost to herself, to her own wants, needs, and desires. Her shot-gun toting father, a pillar of patriarchal authority, has some say in how it ought to turn out but what she wants is for everyone to be happy and to find that happiness freely. A performer with strong physical and comic timing desired. Intimacy is needed in the form of kissing, hugging, & petting with the characters of WIll Parker & Ali Hakim. There is also the potential of physical intimacy with members of the chorus.
WILL PARKER: Tenor. (Range: Eb3-F4) (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) A cowboy who is in love with Ado Annie, Will is without a doubt the true ‘good man’ of the show. What some might call ‘not the brightest bulb in the bunch’ this charming, goofily thick-headed, prize-winning steer roper sees the world in black and white where what is right is good and what is wrong is bad. He is a strong singer and dancer with great comedic timing. Despite his poor judgment and comic inability to handle money, Will manages – somehow – to win Ado Annie’s hand. As a cowboy skilled enough to compete in rodeo, an actor who is athletic enough to do rope tricks is desired. Traditionally a dance role with a strong tap background, experience with gymnastics and tumbling is a plus. Intimacy with Ado Annie through physicalization and kissing will happen multiple times during the show. Fight Choreography likely.
JUD FRY: Baritone. (Range: D3-C#4) (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 20-35) A quiet, introspective, and truly sensitive farmhand who lives with Aunt Eller and Laurey, he is lonely, mysterious, and perhaps rough around the edges – creating a character who is socially awkward despite his physical strength. He has a questionable past and ‘needs’ to be in love with Laurey. Described as dark and brooding by others, Jud takes care of the ranch Laurey and Aunt Eller live on but finds true solace in his books, magazines, and journals. Jud is truly desperate for connection in this community where he does not fit in; he is seen by most as an outsider but that distance is hiding a greater secret. He may like Laurey, but he is not in love with her. Rather, he has chosen Laurey to be the object of his affections and sees a marriage to her as a way to achieve respected status in the community. Curly, a man he could never be like, represents the biggest obstacle to finding his place in the community. A strong vocal storyteller desired with potential of a good mover a plus. Intimacy will be explored with Laurey & Curley. Deep emotional exploration will be asked of this performer who will execute Fight choreography in staging the wedding fight that will result in the character’s death.
AUNT ELLER: Mezzo. (Range: D3-A4): (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 45-65) A respected no-nonsense woman in the community who is a mother figure to everyone despite never having mothered a child herself, she represents an interesting anachronistic idea in the community. She is a hearty woman of power and means who is self sufficient and has no man answering for her responsibilities. She employs a farm hand and directs him to the work of the farm. Despite being a widow, we hear nothing of her late husband, rather only hearing that after his death, Aunt Eller was able to make the farm thrive. Unwilling to suffer foolishness, Aunt Eller keeps the peace while holding a protective eye over her community. By request of the crowd, she acts as auctioneer for the Box Social which is interesting when you stop to consider there are men at the social who are of more considerable notoriety and stature in the community. This is not only a sign of respect in this tight community, but her authority. There may be a moment in which Aunt Eller simulates firing a pistol.
ALI HAKIM: Baritenor. (Range: F3-D5) (Masc Presenting, PERFORMER OF COLOR, 20-40) A mysterious, smart, opportunistic, & shrewd traveling salesman who claims he’s from Persia (presently south western Iran), he most certainly is not telling the truth. A seducer, machismo, he, like Jud, is an outsider to this community but not feared by most. He likes pretty things and prettier women. A performer who is quick on their feet with excellent physical comic timing desired. A person of Middle Eastern descent (ie. Persian, Syrian, Arab, Turk, Kurd, et. al) is preferred but not required. An individual who can do multiple accents (Mexican, Middle Eastern, and even British) a plus. Intimacy in the form of physical touch and possible kisses will be explored with Ado Annie & Gertie Cummings. Fight Choreography likely.
ANDREW CARNES: Tenor. (Range: E3-F4) (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 45-70) The local judge, a farmer and hunter of rabbits described by the community as Salt of the earth, Andrew is the over protective father of Ado Annie who is skeptical of cowmen, especially Will Parker, whom he believes to be living a risky and unreliable life in the rodeo. To prove this isn’t true, he asks Will to maintain $50 to have his daughter’s hand in marriage
GERTIE CUMMINGS: Mezzo or Soprano. (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 20-35) An annoying girl from Claymore who has her eye on Curly. She is Laurey’s chief rival for Curly’s attention. Infamous for her startling, memorable, & grating laugh. She has eyes on Curly and isn’t waiting for Laurey to say no to him. Intimacy in the form of physical touch and possible kisses will be explored with Ali Hakim.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS FROM THE ENSEMBLE INCLUDE:
CORD ELAM: (Range: F#3-A3) (ANY ETHNICITY, 20-50) An honest cowman and federal marshal. Fight Choreography Needed.
FRED: (Range: E3-B3) (ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) one of Curly’s friends. Fight Choreography Needed.
ELLEN: (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) Laurey’s friend, she sings with Laurey in “Many A New Day” and has solos in “Out of My Dreams”.
IKE SKIDMORE: (Range: D3-F4) (ANY ETHNICITY, 25-50): Owns the ranch where the Box Social takes place. Fight Choreography likely.
KATIE: (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) Laurey’s friend, she sings with Laurey in “Many A New Day” and has solos in “Out of My Dreams”.
MIKE: (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 20-35) A cowboy who attends the box social to support the new schoolhouse with his fellow ranchers, farmers, and cowboys. Fight Choreography likely.
VIVIAN: (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) A young woman who occasionally tells fortunes. Vivian has solo lines in “Out of My Dreams”.
VIRGINIA: (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 18-30) One of Laurey’s friends, she sing with Laurey in “Many A New Day” and has solo lines in “Out of My Dreams”
DANCE CURLY – Dancer. (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 16-35) A strong dancer with ballet, contemporary, and/or modern dance training. The performer should have a passing resemblance to the actor portraying Curly. The character will double as another character in the ensemble.
DANCE LAUREY – Dancer. (Femme Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 16-35) A strong dancer with ballet, contemporary, and/or modern dance training. The performer should have a passing resemblance to the actor portraying Laurey. The character will double as another character in the ensemble.
DANCE JUD – Dancer. (Masc Presenting, ANY ETHNICITY, 16-35). A strong dancer with ballet, contemporary, and/or modern dance training. The performer should have a passing resemblance to the performer portraying Jud. The character will double as another character or in the ensemble.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS FROM THE ENSEMBLE: Aggie, Armina, Chalmers, Ellen, Jess, Joe, Sam, Slim, Sylvie; (Cis, Trans, & Non-Binary, ANY ETHNICITY, 16+)