ARVIDE ABERNATHY: Arvide Abernathy is Sarah Brown’s grandfather and the bass drum player in the Mission Band. This part can easily be cast as a girl, changing the character to Sarah’s grandmother.
BENNY SOUTHSTREET and RUSTY CHARLIE: Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie are the small-time gambler sidekicks of Nicely- Nicely Johnson. These are perfect roles for good actors who are naturally funny. They should be confident singers (they open the show with “The Fugue for Tin Horns”) and have a handle on comic timing.
DOLLS: The Dolls are other ensemble females that are not Hot Box girls or Mission Band members. These are non-speaking roles and are perfect for performers of any ability. Like the Guys, they can represent a variety of colorful NYC characters.
ENSEMBLE - Don’t forget that we will need to cast COPS and a STREET VENDOR from your ensemble.
GAMBLERS/GUYS: The Gamblers/Guys are the well-dressed “comic glue” of the show. These are great parts for beginning actors and can certainly include girls playing boys parts! ANGIE THE OX is a gambler with one solo speaking line. Gamblers also include LIVER LIPS LOUIE, SOCIETY MAX, and the LOOKOUT.
GENERAL CARTWRIGHT: General Cartwright is the formidable leader of the Save-a-Soul Mission organization. This is a great place to feature someone who doesn’t have a strong singing voice, but can appear imposing!
HARRY THE HORSE and BIG JULE: Harry the Horse and Big Jule are colorful additions to the crapshooters crew. They should be strong and humorous characters. They are in all the ensemble numbers but don’t need to be strong singers. Their lines are sidesplitting so cast characters that can deliver them. Big Jule is one hulking thug and could be the tallest OR the shortest kid in the cast!
HOT BOX GIRLS: The Hot Box Girls work in the club and are in the act "A Bushel and a Peck" where Miss Adelaide is the headliner. MIMI is a Hot Box Girl who has one line.
LT. BRANNIGAN: Lt. Brannigan is the police officer that always plays the patsy and is outwitted by the Gamblers. This is a non-singing role.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES:The Master of Ceremonies is the host at the Hot Box Club.
MISS ADELAIDE: Miss Adelaide is the classic “intellectually-challenged floozy.” This actress doesn’t need to be a strong singer, but she must have a good sense of pitch. Adelaide needs to be funny and able to do a convincingly thick New York City dialect.
MISSION BAND: The Mission Band is the tireless group. The Mission Band includes AGATHA, CALVIN, MARTHA, and BERTHA.
NATHAN DETROIT: Nathan Detroit is the heart and soul of GUYS AND DOLLS JR. Nathan’s big secret is that he wants to marry Adelaide; he just can’t bring himself to admit it.
NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON: Nicely - Nicely Johnson is walking, talking, Broadway comedy. This is a performer who has fantastic comic timing and is naturally funny. An excellent musician and someone who isn’t afraid to take positive risks. Sings the showstopper, “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
SARAH BROWN: Sarah Brown is the “girl next door” with an adventurous side that’s waiting to escape. She is gently authoritative, the mirror opposite of Sky. Sky is her weakness. Sarah is about substance as much as Sky is about style.
SKY MASTERSON: Sky Masterson is the quintessential, “smooth-as-velvet” Broadway gambler; he’s slick and charming. In today’s terms he would be called “a player.” Sky needs a strong voice capable of owning the stage when delivering “Luck Be a Lady.” He has a soft spot for Sarah Brown.