Dear Edwina Jr.

Available Roles

• Edwina Spoonapple The creator, director and choreographer of The Dear Edwina Show and is the main-staple of the play Her character goes through a tremendous arc throughout the series of events in the play from frustration to relief, anger to joy, horror to happiness all within one afternoon in her own garage The role of Edwina demands your most talented actor to pull off her bossy yet lovable character Also, since the play is designed around her and she has the most stage time, the actor playing Edwina should feel more than comfortable onstage Edwinas music is also a bit challenging Your actor should have a strong, clear voice with good diction A musical background would be helpful
• Becky Edwinas enthusiastic friend and the top of the cheerleading pyramid for the Paw Paw Wildcats Cheerleading consumes her life and creating new cheers for everyday occasions brings her great joy This girl even cheers her anger Becky is a vocally non-demanding role with only a few vocal lines Stage presence is more important when it comes to casting Becky Cast the loudest, most outgoing un-shy person you can Athletic ability, if not cheerleading experience, would be helpful, but not necessary
• Scott A neighbor boy who is helplessly in love with Edwina He dotes on her every move and is always conniving a way to gain her attention Choose a strong actor who feels comfortable being bold with his emotions A good singer is a must for this role Scotts song requires vocal dexterity and is demanding in style An actor with strong comedic timing will be an asset to your production during Scotts transformation
• Kelli Edwinas neighbor and Paw Paw, Michigans resident ballerina The character of Kelli can go one of two ways, depending on your talent pool If you have a cast member with a background in ballet, great Let her go wild, perhaps even choreograph her own piece, and turn Poshkonozovich Dance into a showcase If the actor playing Kelli has no ballet experience, not a problem Weve all flapped our arms and stood on our tippy-toes pretending to be ballerinas, have her do the same and turn it into a comedy bit No one said Kelli was a good ballerina
• Bobby Edwinas new next-door neighbor He is a friendly and compassionate character who goes out of his way to help others The character of Bobby will be able to get away with imperfections throughout the show, as he is a last minute replacement for Lars Cast an actor who is outgoing and gets along with everyone
• Lars Vanderploonk One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina He is incredibly accident-prone and twists his ankle in the first scene Lars has many prat falls before he actually twists his ankle Casting an actor with good physical comedy skills would be helpful (always remember that any staged fall or injury should be carefully choreographed and rehearsed to prevent a real injury Safety first) You may want to consider having Lars return to the stage a little while after his injury in a wheelchair, a cast or leg brace, or on crutches This adds to the comedy of the play and opens up the casting of Lars for the actor who wants to be in your show so badly but isnt exactly Baryshnikov
• Billy Vanderploonk One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina He works double duty on The Dear Edwina Show by performing onstage and serving as Box Office Manager
• Cordell Vanderploonk One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina He works double duty in The Dear Edwina Show by performing onstage and serving as House Manager
• Annie Edwinas friend and the Girl Scout of Paw Paw Annie works for and collects her Girl Scout badges like they were buried treasure No matter what problem may arise, she is prepared with the know-how and resources to solve it in a flash - A MacGyver for the new generation She is perky, energetic and helpful maybe even too helpful
• Aphrodite One of the letter readers in The Dear Edwina Show They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwinas advice Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles
• Carrie One of the letter readers in The Dear Edwina Show They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwinas advice Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles
• Abigail One of the letter readers in The Dear Edwina Show They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwinas advice Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles
• Periwinkle One of the letter readers in The Dear Edwina Show They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwinas advice Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles
• Ziggy and the Marching Band One of the letter readers in The Dear Edwina Show They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwinas advice Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles
• Vladimir Edwinas scary uncle from afar The actor should be a strong enough singer to feel comfortable with their own song and a strong enough actor to engage the audience with their story (and keep them engaged through the duration of the song) Impeccable diction is a must for this character as Vladimirs lines are written with a Transylvanian Dracula accent in mind The actor may be pulled from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry just this one role
• Frank A rude, self-centered, bratty, offensive, disrespectful, socially inept child and the subject of Vladimirs song, Frankenguest This non-singing role requires the actor to speak their lines during musical breaks in the song Cast an over the top actor and youll be just fine
• Chef Ludmilla Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in Fork, Knife, Spoon Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role
• William Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in Fork, Knife, Spoon Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role
• Sonoma Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in Fork, Knife, Spoon Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role
• Fairy Forkmother Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in Fork, Knife, Spoon Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role
• Susie and the Napkins Susie and The Napkins are a local band who have just come from a Battle of the Bands concert at the Paw Paw Community Center to sing Say No Thank You Susie and The Napkins should be able to move well, if you choose to choreograph the number
• Johnny and Queen of Boola Boola Johnny and The Queen act out the story in the lyrics They are not required to sing, but to merely speak in rhythm during the song Be sure you cast someone who can feel the beat Your actors may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry their one role
• Lola New to America, Lola expresses her shyness in the song, Hola, Lola It would be helpful if this actor speaks Spanish or has a good ear for languages She may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry this one role
• Harry Lolas cousin and the reason she flies from Lima, Peru, to Honolulu He is a fun, happy-go-lucky character show just wants to make sure his favorite cousin is having a good time Harry may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry this one role
• Mary Sue Betty Bob Mary Sue Betty Bobs backup for Put it in the Piggy The girl company members play the Girls and the Pigs are played by the boy company members
• Farmer Jerry, Girls and Pigs Mary Sue Betty Bobs backup for Put it in the Piggy The girl company members play the Girls and the Pigs are played by the boy company members
• Kate Spoonapple Edwinas little sister and a math wiz Although she arrives at the end of the play, she has the very important role of influencing Edwinas thoughts and feelings It is Katie that brings about the climax of the play, showing Edwina the best advice of all Choose an actor who looks younger than Edwina or is diminutive in stature
• Ann Van Buren The Kalamazoo Advice-A-Palooza talent scout She is represented only by a brief voice-over that may be recorded beforehand When it comes to casting this voice, think very LA, sweetie darling
• MyraMyron Spoonapple Edwinas little sisterbrother and musical director of The Dear Edwina Show (played by the Musical Director)
• JoeJo Spoonapple Edwinas older brothersister Percussionist of The Dear Edwina Show