MANY OF THE ACTORS WILL APPEAR IN MULTIPLE ROLES (Noted by asterisk - *).

Please note: Most of the characters are based on real people. Movement ability is helpful for some roles

Moss Hart - Young man - Eager, energetic, willing to please - wants desperately a career in the theatre - tour de force role - onstage for almost the entire show. Must be able to play 20-30

Hart - Moss as a middle aged man - narrator, commentator(like the Stage Manager in Our Town) looks back in his memory at his childhood and early career

Mossy - Moss as a young boy (11-13) - fascinated by the theatre - idolizes his Aunt Kate which puts a strain on his relationship with his father

George S. Kaufman - Established brilliant playwright- becomes Moss’ collaborator - definitely OCD - eccentric, demanding, full of idiosyncracies

Barnett Hart (Father) - Moss’ father - working class -controlling - slightly abusive - Cockney accent

Lillie Hart - Moss’ mother - somewhat submissive - torn between devotion to her husband and sister - Cockney accent

Bernie Hart - Moss’ younger brother (11-13) - idolizes Moss

Aunt Kate - Moss’ aunt - Lillie’s sister - puts on airs - in constant battle with her brother-in-law - obsessed with the theatre - overdone and affected English accent

Eddie Chodorov, Irving Gordon, Dore Schary - Moss’ three office boy sidekicks who all have theatrical ambitions (and all succeeded) - Energetic, enthusiastic -Great roles - age 20-30

Beatrice Kaufman - Classy wife and hostess - tries to keep her husband sane and supportive to Moss

Frieda Fishbein - Moss’ pushy flamboyant literary agent

*Sam Harris - The famed Broadway producer - authoritative but understanding

*Augustus Pitou - Second rate producer who gives Moss his first break

*Priestly Morrison - Director of Moss’ first show

*Max Siegel - Sam Harris’ general manager - genial and good natured

*Jed Harris - flamboyant producer - appears at one point in a towel - Austrian accent - enemy of Kaufman

*Charles Gilpin - an alcoholic actor - African American - originated the title role in The Emperor Jones - frustrated by racial prejudice in the theatre

*Theatre Manager - tries to keep his theatre running smoothly - has his hands full with Gilpin

*Langston Hughes - (African American), Harpo Marx, Alexander Woollcott, Irving Berlin - Famous men in Kaufman’s Algonquin Round Table set

*Joseph Regan - Second rate Irish actor- Speaks with a brogue - prima donna - singing helpful

*George, Jerry, Porter - Actors in Kaufman and Hart’s Once In A Lifetime

​

*Two Workmen - Redneck co-workers of Moss - Rough, uneducated

*Mrs. Henry B. Harris - Elegant theatrical backer and owner of the Hudson Theatre - Titanic survivor

*Belle Steinberg - Brooklynese secretary to Pitou

*Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Aline McMahon - famous women in Kaufman’s Algonquin Round Table social set

*David Allen, Ingenue, Shirley, Wally - Actors and crew members of Moss’ first play

*Roz, Muriel, Ida - talentless chorines in a Catskills revue

*May - Leading lady in Kaufman and Hart’s play, Once In A Lifetime - Think Eve Arden or Bea Arthur

*Helen - Supporting player in Once In A Lifetime - Gossip columnist a la Hedda Hopper

*Lady Caroline, Hester Worsley, Sir John - Characters in an Oscar Wilde play - Caroline and John have proper British accents. Hester is American.

*Mrs. Estelle Rosenbloom - Busybody boarder of the Harts

*Mr. and Mrs. Borofsky, Slimowitz - The Harts’ other boarders

*Mary - Maid - Employee of the Kaufman’s

*Phyllis - Boarding House receptionist

*Two Latecomers, Usher, Assorted Actors, Party Guests, Dancers, Hotel Guests, Chorus Girls, etc.