Notes Will cut the roles of Mrs. Shaw (her scene will be played by Mrs. Orcutt), Mr. Randall, Tony Gillette, Ellen Fenwick.

This play is very different from the film, but it would be wise to watch the movie and read the play. They are both fantastic pieces of art.

The pace is fast and in the style of a 1930’s screwball comedy, but it has real ideas about art, the theatre, film, ambition, domestic violence, striving, self-confidence.

18 Female Roles Olga Brant- Dark, intense, plays piano, Russian, would be helpful if actress could actually play.

Bernice Niemier-Tall, sultry, character actress, not the ingenue type, writes letters, an opportunist, wishes she were having more success.

Susan Paige- A young woman at the New York School of Acting, sweet, good natured.

Mattie- A maid, 30, matter of fact, accustomed, tolerant, snappy, hardworking

Big Mary Harper-Petite, tiny, quick, funny, one half of a comic duo.

Little Mary McCune- Tallest, funny, quick, one half of a comic duo.

Madeleine Vauclaine- A languid beauty, looks through mail all the time, snappy, has dinner with boys from back home. ( in film, even though IMDB calls her Judith.)

Bobby Melrose- a southern belle, bubbly, fun.

Judith Canfield-Hardened, wise-cracking, deadpan, smart. ( in film.)

Ann Braddock-Self-important, working in the theatre, an intellectual.

Mrs. Orcutt-The House Matron, 46, overdone, the past is alive for her, rounds up situations, serious when she needs to be, but also kind.

Kaye Hamilton- A fragile, wispy girl, new to the house, rooms with Terry and Jean, broke, desperate, tragic.

Pat Devine-Well dressed, a nightclub dancer (tap, soft-shoe, jazz), ambitious ( in film.)

Linda Shaw-Sophisticated, beautiful, dating a married man, demanding, occasionally cruel.

Jean Maitland-a beautiful girl in her 20’s, vivacious, a better actress off than on, opportunist, good natured, charm and appeal for men. ( in film.)

Louise Mitchell-Leaving the house to get married, she will read her letter to the girls in a split scene instead of others reading it, tries too hard to rise above it all, loves NYC.

Kendall Adams-Of the Boston Adams, well-bred, very blue blood, mid-Atlantic accent would be good here.

Terry Randall-Buoyant, vivid, mobile faced, not conventionally beautiful, but she gives the effect of beauty through her confidence and brains., a real actress. (Katherine Hepburn in film.)

6 Male roles (all male roles will double except Keith Burgess and David Kingsley) Frank-30-Mattie’s husband-Kind, hardworking, respectful, kind to the actresses and all who enter the Footlights Club.

Sam Hastings- A young man dating Bobby Melrose, nervous at first, an actor, 2 years in New York, Texan.

Jimmy Devereaux-A young man dating Susan Paige, a student at the New York School of Acting.

Fred Powell-Late 20’s, An over hearty businessman, dating Madeline Vauclaine.

Lou Milhauser- Late 20’s, An over hearty businessman, 2nd person on double date with Judith Canfield.

Adolph Gretzl-Middle aged, President of a motion picture company, intense, demanding, a bit of a tyrant.

David Kingsley-30’s, handsome, a romantic, movie executive and theatre producer, dating Jean Maitland at first, but in love with Terry. Has values and intellect.

Keith Burgess-20’s, A playwright, unshaven, turtleneck, rebellious, Terry’s longtime boyfriend, serious, passionate, a sell-out.

Doubled Roles Jimmy Devereaux (an acting student)/ Billy (photographer) Sam Hastings (an actor from Texas)/Larry Wescott (publicity man) Fred Powell (a lumber man)/Gretzl (President of Motion Picture company) Milhauser (a lumber man)/Frank (a houseman)