Wendla: Innocent. With every passing day, she grows more curious about the world around her and her changing body. Both vulnerable and a willing participant in her evolution. Explores her newly-found sexuality with Melchior.
Gender: Female
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Melchior: A smart, headstrong boy who refuses to bow down to society’s rules. An atheist and radical student. Struggles with his intense feelings for Wendla and his awakening sexual urges.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: G2
Martha: A schoolgirl who faces constant physical abuse from her father. She harbors a secret crush towards Moritz.
Gender: Female
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Moritz: Melchior’s best friend, a troubled student. He desperately tries to please his father, but always seems to disappoint him. His haunting sexual dreams and academic failures eventually drive him to suicidal thoughts.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Thea: Wendla’s best friend. A schoolgirl who tries to stay innocent and pure.
Gender: Female
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Hanschen: A rather narcissistic schoolmate of Melchior’s. He is comfortable with his own sexuality and uses his looks and intelligence to captivate Ernst. Optional Doubling as RUPERT.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
Anna: A German schoolgirl and Martha’s best friend. Optimistic and a bit naive, she has a difficult time understanding Martha’s trials.
Gender: Female
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Ernst: A schoolmate of Melchior’s. Naive and easily manipulated, which allows him to fall in love with Hanschen. Optional Doubling as REINHOLD.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
Ilse: Martha’s sister, who was also abused and has run away from home to live in an artists’ colony. She reaches out to her old friend Moritz in the last moments of his life.
Gender: Female
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Georg: A clumsy schoolmate of Melchoir’s. He is overcome with his feelings for his piano teacher. Optional Doubling as DIETER.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
Otto: A classmate of Melchior’s. He struggles with feelings he considers inappropriate. Optional Doubling as ULBRECHT.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 20
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
Adult Woman: Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: FRAU BERGMAN, Wendla’s mother; FRAULEIN KNUPPELDICK; FRAULEIN GROSSEBUSTENHALTER; FRAU GABOR, Melchior’s mother; and FRAU BESSELL, Martha’s mother.
Gender: Female
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Adult Man: Plays a variety of rigid adult roles. Characters include: HERR SONNENSTITCH, the boys’ teacher; HEADMASTER KNOCHENBRUCH; HERR NEUMANN, Ilse’s father; HERR RILOW, Hanschen’s father; HERR STEIFEL, Moritz’s father; FATHER KAULBACH; DOCTOR VON BRAUSEPULVER; HERR GABOR, Melchior’s father; and SCHMIDT.
Gender: Male
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: D3