Character Descriptions
FULL CAST SIZE: seven men, six women, one boy, two girls, plus ensemble
REDUCED CAST SIZE: five men, five women, one boy, two girls, plus small ensemble (2M, 2W)
LEADS:
Frank Glazier Age: 30-45 / Vocal range: B2 to E4 / Dancing: waltz
A charismatic entrepreneur and leader. Quick with a rhyme and laugh, he is talented at making his dreams into reality, whether an oil stove or a modern town—all by himself. Frank's overbearing ambition and determination allow him to ignore others’ concerns. However, after losing his status, family, and freedom, he comes to understand how he was blinded to what really mattered.
Henrietta Glazier Age: 25-40 / Vocal range: C3 to E5 / Dancing: waltz
Frank’s wife, brought from Canada as an orphan, is affectionate, and fearful of abandonment. At first, she believes that, if she can keep their home beautiful, her family will be safe. She later learns that painting flowers on plates is not enough, and realizes she must advocate for the ones she loves.
Harmon Holmes Age: 50 to 65 / Vocal range: C3 to Eb4 / No dancing
A silent partner in many businesses, Harmon is loyal to his friends and to tradition and to the local cartel that overcharges the farmers who depend on the town merchants. A fussy dresser, he pokes a stickpin through his cravat. The town’s leader in opposing Frank’s disruptive plans, he nonetheless later assists Henrietta in getting Frank released from prison.
Harold Glazier Age: 20’s / Vocal range: A#3 to A4 / Moves well
Despite dutifully attending business school and going to work in Frank’s Bank/Drugstore, Harold eventually spurns his father’s ever more outlandish demands and flees to Washington state to start an apple farm, but later realizes that his duty to his wife, and his unborn child necessitate that he go back to Chelsea .
Betsy Evans Age: 20’s / Vocal range: B3 to E5 / Moves well
This down-to-earth high school teacher, a target of Frank’s frustration, marries Harold Glazier and moves with him to a remote fruit farm in Washington state, reluctantly leaving her family and friends. Her sarcastic wit conceals her deep love for Harold.
George Glazier Age: 60’s / No dancing or singing/can be a Chorus member
A self-made man, Frank’s father has worked hard all his life and always followed conservative business principles to gain success. A kindly grandfather to Frank’s children and a steady damper to Frank’s rash enthusiasms.
SUPPORTING ROLES:
Young Harold Glazier Age: 8 / No singing, Moves well (simple waltz)
Frank’s young son would like nothing better than to be left alone with a book in the woods, but recognizes his father’s plans for him to take over the family businesses.
Vera Glazier (played by three actors)
Very Young Vera (and, in last scene, Geraldine Howell) Age: 5 / Good dancing skills (for her age), very brief singing Frank’s daughter is full of enthusiasm for her father ‘s plans even if she doesn’t understand them.
Young Vera Age: 7 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / Good dancing skills (for her age), very brief singing.
Vera strives to understand and participate in the adult world with humorous results. Good at heart, if a little cheeky, she adores her Papa.
Adult Vera Age: 19 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / Good dancing skills, very brief singing.
Always looking her best, with great fashion sense, Vera retains her interest and love for her father, but values her independence and is excited about starting her own family with her husband in Seattle.
Edna Glazier Age: 13-17 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / No dancing / (Optionally, plays the harp onstage, but not essential)
Mischievous and teasing, she is rich in friends at school, but a poor student.
Lena Miller , Adult / Vocal range: C4 to D5, (tenor), no dancing
Member of Holmes faction. The town’s premier hat maker, plans won’t often succeed in town without her support.
William Knapp, Adult / Vocal range: Bb2 to G3, no dancing
Member of Glazier faction. Frank’s right-hand man, he finds it difficult to oppose Frank’s will, even when he knows that Frank is heading for trouble.
OPTIONAL SUPPORTING ROLES THAT CAN BE OMITTED IN A REDUCED CAST:
William Schenk, Adult / no singing or dancing/ character can be omitted and lines taken by Knapp
Member of Glazier faction. A town councilman and businessman and always Frank’s Yes-man.
Charles Kempf, Adult / Vocal range: C3 to C5, (lead), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. Local businessman.
Frank Staffan, Adult / Vocal range: A2 to G4, (baritone), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. Owner of a funeral parlor and other businesses.
William Bacon, Adult / Vocal range: E2 to C4, (bass), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. A serious business and political opponent of Frank’s.
SUPPORTING ROLES THAT COULD BE PLAYED BY CHORUS MEMBERS:
O.T. Hoover, Editor, Adult / no singing or dancing/ can be a chorus member
Hoover is the biggest booster of the town and of Frank Glazier. Definitely not an omniscient narrator, Frank’s downfall takes O.T. by surprise.
Judge Weist, Adult, non-singing part, can be a chorus member Stern, but fair, he must weigh Frank’s good and bad qualities in determining the criminal sentence.
MINOR NON-SINGING PARTS THAT COULD BE PLAYED BY CHORUS MEMBERS:
Visitor to Chelsea
Irate Customer
Mrs. Vogel, who refuses to sign Henrietta’s petition
Newsboy
Bailiff
CHORUS:
(NOTE: The size of the Chorus can be decreased or increased at Director’s discretion.)
Chorus members act as townspeople, saloon hostesses, members of the WCTU, and factory workers, and can act as supporting characters, in reduced-cast production.
Singers who dance:
Female 1 and Female 2, Vocal range: B3 to Ab5
Male 1 and Male 2, Vocal range: B2 to G4
Dancers who sing
Female 3 and Female 4, Vocal range: B3 to E5
Male 3 and Male 4, Vocal range: B2 to E4
REDUCED CAST SIZE: five men, five women, one boy, two girls, plus small ensemble (2M, 2W)
LEADS:
Frank Glazier Age: 30-45 / Vocal range: B2 to E4 / Dancing: waltz
A charismatic entrepreneur and leader. Quick with a rhyme and laugh, he is talented at making his dreams into reality, whether an oil stove or a modern town—all by himself. Frank's overbearing ambition and determination allow him to ignore others’ concerns. However, after losing his status, family, and freedom, he comes to understand how he was blinded to what really mattered.
Henrietta Glazier Age: 25-40 / Vocal range: C3 to E5 / Dancing: waltz
Frank’s wife, brought from Canada as an orphan, is affectionate, and fearful of abandonment. At first, she believes that, if she can keep their home beautiful, her family will be safe. She later learns that painting flowers on plates is not enough, and realizes she must advocate for the ones she loves.
Harmon Holmes Age: 50 to 65 / Vocal range: C3 to Eb4 / No dancing
A silent partner in many businesses, Harmon is loyal to his friends and to tradition and to the local cartel that overcharges the farmers who depend on the town merchants. A fussy dresser, he pokes a stickpin through his cravat. The town’s leader in opposing Frank’s disruptive plans, he nonetheless later assists Henrietta in getting Frank released from prison.
Harold Glazier Age: 20’s / Vocal range: A#3 to A4 / Moves well
Despite dutifully attending business school and going to work in Frank’s Bank/Drugstore, Harold eventually spurns his father’s ever more outlandish demands and flees to Washington state to start an apple farm, but later realizes that his duty to his wife, and his unborn child necessitate that he go back to Chelsea .
Betsy Evans Age: 20’s / Vocal range: B3 to E5 / Moves well
This down-to-earth high school teacher, a target of Frank’s frustration, marries Harold Glazier and moves with him to a remote fruit farm in Washington state, reluctantly leaving her family and friends. Her sarcastic wit conceals her deep love for Harold.
George Glazier Age: 60’s / No dancing or singing/can be a Chorus member
A self-made man, Frank’s father has worked hard all his life and always followed conservative business principles to gain success. A kindly grandfather to Frank’s children and a steady damper to Frank’s rash enthusiasms.
SUPPORTING ROLES:
Young Harold Glazier Age: 8 / No singing, Moves well (simple waltz)
Frank’s young son would like nothing better than to be left alone with a book in the woods, but recognizes his father’s plans for him to take over the family businesses.
Vera Glazier (played by three actors)
Very Young Vera (and, in last scene, Geraldine Howell) Age: 5 / Good dancing skills (for her age), very brief singing Frank’s daughter is full of enthusiasm for her father ‘s plans even if she doesn’t understand them.
Young Vera Age: 7 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / Good dancing skills (for her age), very brief singing.
Vera strives to understand and participate in the adult world with humorous results. Good at heart, if a little cheeky, she adores her Papa.
Adult Vera Age: 19 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / Good dancing skills, very brief singing.
Always looking her best, with great fashion sense, Vera retains her interest and love for her father, but values her independence and is excited about starting her own family with her husband in Seattle.
Edna Glazier Age: 13-17 / Vocal range: B5 to C4 / No dancing / (Optionally, plays the harp onstage, but not essential)
Mischievous and teasing, she is rich in friends at school, but a poor student.
Lena Miller , Adult / Vocal range: C4 to D5, (tenor), no dancing
Member of Holmes faction. The town’s premier hat maker, plans won’t often succeed in town without her support.
William Knapp, Adult / Vocal range: Bb2 to G3, no dancing
Member of Glazier faction. Frank’s right-hand man, he finds it difficult to oppose Frank’s will, even when he knows that Frank is heading for trouble.
OPTIONAL SUPPORTING ROLES THAT CAN BE OMITTED IN A REDUCED CAST:
William Schenk, Adult / no singing or dancing/ character can be omitted and lines taken by Knapp
Member of Glazier faction. A town councilman and businessman and always Frank’s Yes-man.
Charles Kempf, Adult / Vocal range: C3 to C5, (lead), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. Local businessman.
Frank Staffan, Adult / Vocal range: A2 to G4, (baritone), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. Owner of a funeral parlor and other businesses.
William Bacon, Adult / Vocal range: E2 to C4, (bass), no dancing, character can be omitted and lines taken by Miller
Member of Holmes faction. A serious business and political opponent of Frank’s.
SUPPORTING ROLES THAT COULD BE PLAYED BY CHORUS MEMBERS:
O.T. Hoover, Editor, Adult / no singing or dancing/ can be a chorus member
Hoover is the biggest booster of the town and of Frank Glazier. Definitely not an omniscient narrator, Frank’s downfall takes O.T. by surprise.
Judge Weist, Adult, non-singing part, can be a chorus member Stern, but fair, he must weigh Frank’s good and bad qualities in determining the criminal sentence.
MINOR NON-SINGING PARTS THAT COULD BE PLAYED BY CHORUS MEMBERS:
Visitor to Chelsea
Irate Customer
Mrs. Vogel, who refuses to sign Henrietta’s petition
Newsboy
Bailiff
CHORUS:
(NOTE: The size of the Chorus can be decreased or increased at Director’s discretion.)
Chorus members act as townspeople, saloon hostesses, members of the WCTU, and factory workers, and can act as supporting characters, in reduced-cast production.
Singers who dance:
Female 1 and Female 2, Vocal range: B3 to Ab5
Male 1 and Male 2, Vocal range: B2 to G4
Dancers who sing
Female 3 and Female 4, Vocal range: B3 to E5
Male 3 and Male 4, Vocal range: B2 to E4