Characters Breakdown

We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting.
We are looking for a strong group of Actor/Singers with a dynamic presence –
MUST BE STRONG SINGERS AND BE ABLE TO MOVE WELL, DANCE BACKGROUND AN ASSETT.
We are looking for actors of visible minority backgrounds where indicated in the character descriptions.
Please note: there is some course language and a simulated orgy in this piece.

CHARACTERS-14 roles-6 women-8-men

Lead/ “Queenie”/ female/28-38
Queenie...not young...not old..."what hips , what shoulders, what a back she had, her legs were built to drive men mad" ...think Jean Harlow/Clara Bow...could be of mixed race...a fading vaudeville chorine with sass, but appealing...she is the star of the piece...she MUST be charismatic and appealing to both sexes and a believable party girl..."she likes her lovers violent and vicious. Queenie was sexually ambitious". Looking for a dynamic actress with strong vocal chops.

Lead/”Burrs”/male/35-45
Queenie's boyfriend...he's sardonic...must be great with dark comedy. Burrs is a very successful Vaudeville clown/think a very edgy “Al Jolson”...has a brooding sexuality with a dark edge, think “brute”. Must have a strong falsetto/High baritone.

LEAD/”Kate”/female/28-35
Kate...Queenie's Best Friend...and biggest competition...a dagger tongued ex-chorine(chorus girl) and would be STAR...she shows up-LATE-with Mr. Black. Kate is women of color, “a Josephine Baker type”, must be a believable dancer type, must move well, and must be a knock out like Queenie. Looking for diversity in casting this role. Belter.

LEAD/”Mr.Black”/male/25-35
MUST MATCH QUEENIE'S CHARISMA...suave, cool, direct, of unknown Origin. Something vaguely innocent about him, but a sense of weariness as well. Could be a little younger(?) than Kate and Queenie...full of charm and grace...he's an escort who knows how to make a buck...must sing very well and must have charm, charm, charm but capable of vulnerability and strength. high Baritone

SUPPORTING/”Jackie”/male/25-32
a playboy of dubious sexuality...he calls himself..."ambisextrous"...and a big cocaine user. Jackie could be a little younger than Queenie...Daddy was a Preacher-man and kicked him out, so he does what he needs to do to get by and then some. Perfectly formed of face and full of grace. This charming “sex addict” attempts to rape Mae's little sister Nadine after introducing her to coke. lyric Baritone

SUPPORTING/”Mae”/female/28-35
a plumper, plainer version of Queenie, AN EX-CHORINE...she's married to Eddie. an EX_BOXER...Mae is ditzy but can hold her own...she has to...if not for her hubby...who is she? a passionate flirt. Think Leslie Anne Warren in “Victor Victoria”. Big belt voice ...comedy skills a must.

SUPPORTING/”Eddie Mackrel”/male/35-45
Eddie...a black, aging ex-champion of the boxing ring and Mae's Husband....'aggressive, fast, punishment-proof/each hand held a kick like a mule's hoof" the opposite of Jackie in looks... a short-ish , squat brute...and not so pretty... he's also got a really bad temper...when he drinks "bathtub" Gin especially...and that's all there is at this party...there is a sadness to this guy however..."a would have been great Hero if not for the booze ". Must be a believable boxertype with a strong voice. High baritone

SUPPORTING/”Nadine”/female/19-24
she's 16...actually 14...but wants to be older...cause she's wants to be on BROADWAY!!!...too excited, too thrilled, and too young to be at this party. She hails from a small town. and she is oh so happy to be at Queenie's tonight...it's a big deal for her. she might meet someone to help her get to the great white way. BIG BELTER...think high belt...then go even higher. must have great comedy /acting chops. She tries coke for the first time and LIKES IT!!! Diversity in casting a possibility here.

SUPPORTING/”Miss Madelaine True”/female/32-45
"Her Body was marvelous/A miracle had fused it/The whole world had seen it/ and a good part had used it"...could have been, would have been...ALMOST...nearly famous stripper. She comes to the party with her date Sally...a morphine addict...must be great with physical comedy...burlesque experience a HUGE asset. a little gruff but insecure underneath. Madeline is a Lesbian. Great part for the right actress/singer. Strong belt.

SUPPORTING/”Sally”/female/22-32
Has been in the chorus...but she's not sure these days...Miss Madelaine True finds her “writhing” on the street corner and believes it to be a Political performance Art piece. This heavy-lidded morphine addict, is visually and viscerally opaque…”an eerie Dadaist moppet". Very high soprano...must be physically fit...falls down a lot. brief nudity.

SUPPORTING/”Oscar D’Armano”/male/25-32
One half of a black/or Eurasian/or south Asian brother act..."an incestuous Nicholas Brothers-styled act"...nattily dressed, their powered and rouged...one plays piano ...both must sing and a little soft shoe. the epitome of "continental colored" Oscar has a brief intimate exchange with Jackie that almost leads to their breakup as an Act. High baritone/Tenor

SUPPORTING/”Phil D’Armano”/male/25-32
The other half of this black/or Eurasian/or south Asian brother act..."an incestuous Nicholas Brothers-styled act"...their powered and rouged...one plays piano ...both must sing and a little soft shoe. High baritone/Tenor PIANO PLAYING AN ASSET

SUPPORTING/”Gold”/male/45-60
a vaudeville Producer with Broadway ambitions...business Partner of GOLDBERG...these 2 are “HUNGRY FOR A HIT” and Burrs and Dolores make it their mission get these guys to hire them...2 great parts for 2 older character actors who sing well...comedy skills a must. High Baritones/Tenor. Takes the top harmony line/up to high A’s

SUPPORTING/”Goldberg”/male/45-60
a vaudeville Producer with Broadway ambition and willing to de-Jew himself if that's what it take to get “Uptown” to the Great white Way...GOLD's business partner...a great part for an older character actor who sings well...comedy skills a must. High Baritones.