| Character Breakdown |
|
MALES
|
|
Jerry Lukowski - Tenor - (Triple threat....actor, singer, dancer....the lead.)
Unemployed mill worker; was the foreman at the steel mill in Buffalo, NY, 32,
or somewhat older. (Actor must be old enough that we believe he is the father
of a 12 year old) He is divorced from Pam and in debt. He’ll lose custody of his
son Nathan if he can’t make his $700 monthly payment. He is a proud, blue-
collar guy; loves his beer and hanging out with the guys. He is handsome, tough
and cocky, partly due to his insecurities over being out of work. He is somewhat
athletic with a good sense of humor. The ladies comment that he has a great ass.
He loves his son more than anything. Best friend to Dave. We’re pulling for Jerry.
|
|
Dave - Tenor - (Triple threat, singer, actor, dancer. Actor must be overweight
and also comfortable to appear on stage in his underwear. A big stomach is an
asset. Great comic timing. Second male lead.) 30’s or 40’s, he is an unemployed
Buffalo mill worker and Jerry’s best friend. Tender hearted guy with an
inferiority complex about his weight and also his state of unemployment.
Good person we feel for and identify with. His wife is employed, and he’s
home doing housework. Things aren’t good in the bedroom due his esteem issues.
|
|
Malcolm - Tenor - (singer, actor, dancer) Late 20’s, 30’s. or early 40’s. Beautiful
tenor voice. Still lives with his sickly wheelchair bound mother. He’s an
unemployed mill worker. Now works as the night security guard since the plant
has closed. He’s a sensitive guy. He longs for a place of his own someday. He’s
lonely and has no friends until Jerry and Dave save him from suicide in one of
the funniest numbers in the show "Big Ass Rock".
|
|
Harold - Baritone- (singer, actor, dancer) 40’s or 50’s. Good dance partner with
his wife Vicki who runs a dance studio for couples. He worships Vicki, but
continues to lie to her, not telling her he was laid off at the mill. Jerry and Dave
bring him into the Monty six to help assemble a group and to teach them all
HOW to dance for the one night only Monty event. He is older and more
authoritative than Jerry, Dave, and Malcolm. He is somewhat of a stuffed shirt
cynic. Has an MBA from Wharton School of Business. Has higher standard of
living with even bigger debts to pay, which is motivation to become a part of
the Monty event.
|
|
Ethan - Baritone/Tenor- (actor, mover, singer) Late 20’s or 30’s. He can pull of
the physical stunt of running across stage several times throughout show, trying
to recreate Donald O’Connor’s run up the wall trick in SINGING IN THE RAIN,
his favorite movie. He is handsome, energetic and eager to please. He moons
the audience in Act I during a very funny scene when he’s auditioning to be
one of the Monty six.
|
|
Horse - Baritone/Tenor- (actor, mover, singer) Appears to be 50’s or 60ish or
younger actor who can pass for older with the help of special effects. He is
African-American. He connects more with Jeanette, the older piano player.
He enters frail. Not cheerful; funny curmudgeon traits, yet comes alive in his
number "Big Black Man" with some great funky chicken moves.
|
|
Keno - (actor, dancer) from 20’s to 40. He has a great acting scene with Jerry
and Dave in the first part of the show. Some good laugh lines. Has a great body;
a showman; comfortable and athletic with stripping to g-string in big number at
the top of the show; has an edge of gay confidence and practicality; knows who
he is and quite comfortable with it; takes no crap from Jerry; also has a
boyfriend; been in the business for some time and takes it seriously; a successful
Chippendale that hasn’t been negatively affected by the recession; we like this guy.
|
|
Nathan - (actor) 12- 14 years old (or looks like he’s 12) He very much loves his
dad Jerry, who gets visitation rights on weekends. Sometimes it
appears Nathan may be more mature than his dad actually, as he bounces
between both parents as he seems to be the grounding force in Jerry’s life. He
likes soccer, hockey, and other sports. He jogs with his dad in the park. He is
level headed and wise for his age. A terrific acting role for a young man,
however the role requires someone who is mature enough to handle the language
and content of this play, who is also comfortable around a lot of adults. The
actor’s parents must also be on board as part of the support team in providing
this opportunity for the young man.. The very real father/son relationship drives
the plot of the whole story and their interaction presents some of the most
satisfying and touching moments in the play.
|
|
Teddy - (actor) 30’s or early 40’s He is a handsome guy who is Pam’s live-in
boyfriend. She hasn’t said yes to marry him yet. He is everything he is not,
starting with his finances. He has a job in which he wears a suit and tie to work,
does yoga classes with Pam, buys hockey tickets for him and Nathan, and plans
a vacation with Pam to Cape Cod. He can provide stability for Pam and Nathan
that Jerry cannot.
|
|
Reg - (actor; moderate amount of singing) 30 - 50 unemployed mill worker;
union leader; has several kids at home; does a very funny unsuccessful strip
audition to Elvis’s "Heartbreak Hotel"
|
|
At least 3 ensemble male roles (Tony, Marty, Gary) 20’s - 50’s (some singing
and dancing depending on part assignments) who juggle various roles, more than
one identity: unemployed mill workers, club owner, second humorous strip
auditionee, another non dancing Chippendale with Keno, dance instructor at
Vicki’s studio, dancers in couples at Vicki’s studio, repo man 1, repo man 2,
guys on the street, joggers in the park, police sergeant, minister at funeral
|
|
FEMALES
|
|
Georgie - Soprano 2/alto 1 with a Belt- (actor, singer, dancer) late 20’s-40;
Dave’s wife; great emcee; fun-loving organizer of the Chippendale night for
ladies that opens the show; outgoing blue-collar wife - not extremely refined;
terrific comic timing; heart of gold; understanding; adores her husband; things
aren’t good at home in the bedroom because of Dave’s insecurity and esteem
issues; husband Dave is the one with the weight problem so Georgie can’t be.
|
|
Pam - Alto - (actor, singer, mover) late 20’s - 40; Jerry’s attractive estranged
wife and Nathan’s mom. She is a little more refined, with a college degree, but
still a good sport and friends with the girls. She thinks Jerry never grew up after
Nathan was born and is concerned about Jerry’s parenting skills. She is strong and willing to prohibit his custody rights if he can’t make his support payments
|
|
Jeanette - Alto - (actor, singer, mover) She has great comedic timing and can
convincingly play 60’s-70’s; a piano player of indeterminate years. (actress
doesn’t have to actually be able to play the piano)She has a great song and dance
number with the boys as her backup. Jeanette is retired, lives with her 8th
husband Lou in Buffalo. She is an old showbiz pro who has seen it all. She
curses when it’s called for; calls it like she sees it; and is comfortable with the
guys...especially Horse. She is a special inspiration for all those of the AARP.
|
|
Vicki - Soprano 2/alto 1 with a Belt (actor, singer, dancer) 30-40’s; Harold’s
dancing wife with has a good belt voice. She moves with elegance and ease She
owns the dance studio. She adores Harold and he worships her. She is always
positive and upbeat; ebullient; funny; a bit sassy - in a good way. She has a fun
cha-cha number "Life with Harold".
|
|
Estelle - Soprano 2/alto 1 with a Belt - (actor, singer, mover) 20’s-40 Jerry’s
occasional girlfriend who is a bit crude and a tad trampy. Estelle is a comedic
role. She is another blue collar gal who is featured with Georgie, Susan, and
Joanie, in "It’s a Woman’s World"
|
|
Joanie - Soprano 2/alto 1 with a Belt - (actor, singer, mover) 20’s-40 She is
Georgie’s funny friend. She has a lesbian sister. She is an African-American,
blue collar gal who is featured with Georgie, Susan, and Estelle in "It’s a
Woman’s World"
|
|
Susan - Soprano 2/alto 1 with a Belt - (actor, singer, mover) 20’s - 40 She is
Georgie’s fun-loving friend. She’s another blue collar gal who is featured with
Georgie, Joanie, and Estelle in "It’s a Woman’s World"
|
|
At least 3 ensemble female roles (Molly, Delores, Betty) - 20’s - 50’s to play
various roles including Malcolm’s wheelchair bound mom Molly.
|