SINGERS – Wide open but a few considerations follow. All should be comfortable performing in pop styles. This version indicates 4 SINGERS. The piece has been performed with a different singer or group performing each song, making for a total of 18.
JUDITH – Soprano. BUD's sister, so those roles need to be co-ordinated.
DOUG – Baritone. Has traditionally been black.
BRIAN – Tenor. Should be believable as RAY's friend.
ANGELA – Alto. CLAUDIA's secretary. Has often been black.
PATRICK – A man in his 30s or 40s (old enough to have achieved success as a designer). Important that the actor can find the humor in the monologue.
BILLY – Young, early 20s, a typical all-American mid-Western boy.
MITCH – Any type, traditionally has been costumed in leather.
JOSH – A clown and ring-leader of the group of friends (the first four characters plus DOUG).
TIM – A teenager who can find the laughs in this. The younger and more energetic the better.
TRACEY – Young, gorgeous, sexy and spoiled. She should find the laughs and stay away from pathos.
CHARLOTTE – A young, tough drug-abuser.
FRANCIS – A gentleman of a certain age. Outrageous.
RAY – A regular guy, party animal, athletic. His friendship with BRIAN should be easily accepted.
PACO – An hispanic teenager, the younger the better.
SALLY – Many possibilities as long as she's not too old to have recently given birth.
ORVILLE – Middle-age, middle-class, "an ordinary Joe."
NICK – Drop-dead gorgeous, traditionally costumed in a towel, so a great body is a plus. The audience should be seduced by his charm and beauty.
PATRICK – Could be any type who can play comedy.
DWIGHT – A typical, young, Broadway-chorus-boy type, Southern accent can work.
REBECCA – Mid-Western, typical housewife.
CLAUDIA – A high-power corporate executive. A contrast to her secretary, ANGELA, is helpful. British accent can work.
ROSCOE – A big old drag queen.
HELEN – A typical grandmother.
WALTER – Old enough to attend a high school reunion, different somehow (ethnic? heavy? off-beat?) so we can see why he was something of an outcast.
LAMAR – A black, street-hangin', story-tellin' drug abuser. Essential that the actor find the humor here.
RAFAELLA – A very young hispanic mother.
NANCY – Wide open as to age and type, but a no-nonsense kind of woman.
KHADIJA – Experience has proven that small, eight-year-old girls work best. Younger is heart-breaking but often includes projection problems. An ethnic minority is highly preferable.
PAUL – A strong, leading man type with a great speaking voice. Old enough to have served in Vietnam (though he could have died from AIDS in the early 80s. He should be at least in his 30s).
NAT – A fire and brimstone orator, traditionally costumed as a priest or minister. Should be at least 50 or preferably even older.
JOANNE – Best comedienne available.
BERTHA – Preferably black, middle-aged.
BUD – Believable as JUDITH's brother.
JOE – A comedian of any type or age, as long as he can get the laughs.
GRACE – A professor type, strong dramatic actor. Often played by a man (GRANT), but now prefer a woman.
MILES – Should be believable as DOUG's lover. Often cast with a black actor.
Cast can expand up to 25 males and 16 females. It is the author's intent that actors from ethnic minorities are cast whenever possible.