The Characters

Stage Manager – Must be a good story teller, able to command the stage and engage the audience. Loves people, easy going and grounded with a clear wisdom. This character is the all-knowing narrator who may be speaking for the author. The Stage Manger literally sets the stage, describes the action and introduces the actors. Steps in and out of the action as other characters: a minister, a drug store owner, a neighbor lady passing by.  (Generally played by a man, but could also be played by a woman; Stage age: old enough to look like he or she might have some wisdom)

Emily Webb – female. Goes from age 14 to 17 to 26 to 12 to 26 again. In 1901 the age 16 was more sincere and innocent than today. The love story with her and George is the spine of the action of the play. She has the strongest love of life and enthusiasm. Emily’s appears in Act 3 after her death, and she desires to relive everything that was so wonderful, but finally comes to a bittersweet wisdom about the fleeting and ephemeral state of living. 

George Gibbs – male. Goes from age 14 to 17 to 26. George is a very likable young man, a star baseball player, wants to be a farmer, and in love with Emily Webb. He is a naive idealist and a sincere romantic. The love story with him and Emily is the spine of the action of the play. He is a kind but irresponsible teenager who matures over time. He strongly and sincerely desires to be the best person he can be for the love of his life. 

Frank Gibbs – male age between 30 and 55 or so.The hard-working town physician who goes out to tend to his patients at all hours. He loves his family and is a wise and a good father. 

Julia (Hersey) Gibbs –female age between 30 and 55 or so. Mother of George & Rebecca. Strong love and care for her children and husband. A romantic who dreams of visiting Paris. Strong connection with her son. 

Charles Webb – male age between 30 and 55 or so. Father of Emily and Wally. He is highly educated and is the editor and owner of the only local newspaper. Has a strong connection with his daughter. 

Myrtle Webb – female age between 30 and 55 or so. Emily and Wally's mother. Represents the typical mother and housewife.

Secondary characters

Joe Crowell – male age 14 or so. Delivers the newspapers and sets up important sense of friendliness among the neighbors of the small town. 

Si Crowell – Joe's younger brother who takes over his paper route. 

Simon Stimson – adult (usually male, open to female casting) unspecified age. Leader of the church choir and is the organist, but he/she has deep problems and a clear drinking problem. Attitude is acerbic, he/she is possibly depressed. Stimson’s drinking is the town’s scandalous gossip. We never learn the specific cause of his alcoholism and eventual suicide

Howie Newsome – male, any age. A fixture in Grover's Corners. Delivers the milk, leading the horse and wagon. Sets up important sense of friendliness among the neighbors of the small town. 

Rebecca Gibbs – spirited young girl age 11 to 13. Has a strong sense of energy and wonder about the world. Amazed at the stars and the earth’s place in the galaxy. Has a strong & important short speech about this at the end of Act 1. 

Wallace "Wally" Webb – young boy age 11 to 13. Emily's younger brother. Died of a burst appendix on a Boy Scout camping trip. 

Professor Willard – A rather long-winded lecturer.

Woman in the Balcony – attendee of Editor Webb's political and social report – concerned with temperance

Belligerent Man at Back of Auditorium – attendee of Editor Webb's political and social report – concerned with social justice

Lady in a Box – Attendee of Editor Webb's political and social report – concerned with culture and beauty.

Mrs. Louella Soames – adult female, age unspecified. Good friend of Julia Gibbs and Myrtle Webb. Sings in the choir and loves to spread gossip. 

Constable Bill Warren – adult male, age unspecified. The policeman. A kind and considerate man who likes to take care of people.

Three Baseball Players – they mock George at his wedding.

Joe Stoddard – the undertaker in charge of Emily's funeral

Sam Craig – a nephew of Mrs. Gibbs who left town to seek his fortune. He came back after 12 years in Buffalo for Emily's funeral.

Man from among the Dead

Woman from among the Dead

Mr. Carter (Dead)

Farmer McCarty

Choir Singers

Town Folk at wedding and funeral

 Initial Audition Monologues 

Callback Auditions 

Audition Form 

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