Please note: ages listed are character’s age, not necessarily age of actor.
Actor must be able to "play" character's age.


Character Descriptions

DELORIS VAN CARTIER: An aspiring performer, trying to find both fame and a place in the world. When forced to hide in the convent, she initially refuses to embrace her new lifestyle but learns to embrace it when she works with the choir. Loud-mouthed, and sassy, but ultimately caring. Excellent singing voice (Disco, R’n’B,Gospel) and good movement required. Good comic timing.
Female, 25-35 yrs old - Black/Afro-Caribbean descent.
Range: E3 - F#5 (Alto/Mezzo, with belt capability)

CURTIS SHANK: A club owner, notorious gangster, and Deloris's boyfriend. Smooth and calculating. Cocky and controlling, always on the verge of violence. Strong vocal required.
Male, 30-40 yrs old
Range: A2 - Ab4 (Tenor/Baritone)

EDDIE SOUTHER: The desk chief at the Philadelphia police station and a high school classmate of Deloris who helps get her into hiding. A sweet guy who dreams of being confident, but faces a lot of nerves when under pressure, causing him to sweat profusely. He still yearns for Deloris after all these years, and dreams of being her hero.
Male, 25-35 yrs old
Range: Ab2 - B4 (Tenor, with falsetto)

PABLO: One of Curtis's thugs. A natural follower, constantly speaks in Spanish. Thinks he’s something of a ‘love-God’! Good vocals (Soul and R’n’B) and movement required. Good comic timing.
Male, 25-40 yrs old
Range: C4 - F5 (Tenor, with falsetto)

TJ: Curtis’s nephew and one of his thugs. Deft and cognizant of the fact, but constantly in a state of ignorant bliss.
Male, 16-30 yrs old
Range: Db3 - Eb5 (Tenor/Baritone, with strong falsetto)

JOEY: One of Curtis's thugs. Believes himself to be quite the ladies' man. Wants to please Curtis and be dangerous, but isn’t quite capable of it. Good vocals and movement required.
Male, 25-40 yrs old
Range: Bb2 - Eb5 (Baritone)

ERNIE: One of Curtis's thugs. Initially thought to be a mindless yes-man, he turns out to be an undercover police informant.
Male, 25-35 yrs old
Speaking Role

MICHELLE: One of Deloris's backing singers in Curtis’s club. Lippy and always quick with a retort. Excellent vocals and movement required.
Female, 20-30 yrs old
Range: Bb3 - F5 (Mezzo Soprano, with belt capability)

TINA: One of Deloris's backing singers in Curtis’s club. A little thick and naive.
Female, 20-30 yrs old. Excellent vocals and movement required.
Range: Ab3 - F5 (Mezzo Soprano, with belt capability)

MONSIGNOR O’HARA: One of the heads of the convent. A gentle, kind man who is a bored, uninspired preacher. Constantly concerned with financial matters, though soul music surprisingly puts him in a different mood.
Male, 45-60 yrs old
Range: E3 - G4 (Baritone)


MOTHER SUPERIOR: The head of the convent, sarcastic and a bit stiff. Firm, but fair. Dignified. Extremely protective about keeping her sisters away from the outside world, which puts her in direct opposition to Deloris and her musical teachings. Good vocal required.
Female, 40-70 yrs old
Range: D3 - E5 (Alto with Mezzo capability)


SISTER MARY ROBERT: A postulant, abandoned as a baby and raised at the convent. Young and innocent. Shy and soft-spoken, but singing with Deloris lets her find her voice. Her wallflower lifestyle has made her live a shell of a life. Excellent vocal and good movement required.
Female, 18-25 yrs old
Range: F#3 - A5 (Mezzo soprano with belt capability)


SISTER MARY LAZARUS: A nun of the convent and the head of the choir. Older, crabby, snappy and seemingly grumpy. Rather deadpan and the least welcoming of any of the nuns, but she gets caught up in Deloris's soul music. Good character singing and good movement required.
Female, 50-70 yrs old
Range: F3 - B4 (Alto)

SISTER MARY PATRICK: A nun of the convent. Fun and enjoys every minute of life. A larger-than-life character. Consistently perky, enthusiastic, and easily excitable. Excellent vocal and good movement required. Good comic timing.
Female, 30-50 yrs old
Range: G3-E6 (Mezzo Soprano but with good Soprano capability)

SISTER MARY MARTIN-OF-TOURS: A nun of the convent. Clearly in her own world, but has her moments of surprising clarity.
Female, 40-60 yrs old
Speaking Role (sings in group)

SISTER MARY THERESA: A nun of the convent, the oldest of the group. Decrepit at a glance, but secretly packs a punch.
Female, 60-70 yrs old
Speaking Role (sings in group)

ENSEMBLE NUNS: (10-15) Several required of varying age and vocal range. All must have good vocals (with belt capability) and good movement.

SINGING NUNS:  Varying ages and vocal ranges. Will sing from the orchestra pit to support onstage NUNS in all songs. (6 or 9, equal numbers of Soprano1, Soprano 2 , Alto)

ENSEMBLE: BAR DENIZENS (BAR PATRON, WAITRESS, POOL PLAYER, DRAG QUEEN, PROSTITUTES); HOMELESS PEOPLE; ALTAR BOYS; FANTASY DANCERS. Various age and vocal ranges, but good vocals and movement required.