TITANIC – CAST OF CHARACTERS & GENERAL INFO
For the sake of convenience, the 20 most prominent singing roles will be referred to as PRINCIPALS and will be auditioned on Sunday 4 December with the exception of Herbert Pitman which will be auditioned on Tuesday 6 December. All remaining roles (some of which actually have more stage time and dialogue than some of the principals) and chorus will be classed as ENSEMBLE and will be auditioned on Tuesday 6 December. Most of the principals will also be involved in some of the chorus work and it is possible that some of them will double up and play a secondary role (for instance, Herbert Pitman more or less disappears after the opening two scenes and so that actor will either switch to playing a chorus passenger or another smaller role). Some of the ensemble may also play more than one role. Much will depend on who auditions, the balance of voices, which cannot be determined until the show is fully auditioned. It is quite possible that someone who doesn’t have a huge amount of availability could play a role such as Fred Fleet (an important role with a very important solo but little else) and not double up.
The nature of the show makes providing full character sketches for every role a mammoth task. Instead, we are simply listing the basics - their function on board ship or profession, their status. The list of songs will give an idea of the amount of singing involvement. As (nearly) everyone is portraying real people, it will be possible to undertake research into your character and we hope this will provided added interest. PLEASE ask if you want to know any more about any of the characters you are interested inor visit the excellent It is my intention to give even those who only wish to sing chorus work an actual character to portray from the ship, based on their own age and requirements for the show.
We have elaborated where we feel it necessary, and pointed out any specifics that must be borne in mind. There are some characters that are familiar enough to audiences that physical similarity (through make-up if necessary) and age must be closely followed. The most obvious one is probably Captain Smith who must look the right age and grow or wear a white beard even if the actor is late 40s. However, there are others where it is less (or not at all) important to be physically accurate. We have included the exact age the person was at the time of the sinking but specified a preferable wider playing age range where we feel this is permissible. If any specific physical characteristics or nationalities mentioned, these are considered important.
There are some historically inaccurate elements to the show (it is probably 85% accurate) and we are hoping to correct where we can. There are some we just have to live with. For example, the Beanes were English but in this show are American!
It is impossible to audition all the named roles, some of which are dialogue and chorus singing only, some are dialogue and solo singing, and some of which are named but have no solo work at all. The smaller roles (all of which are listed under the ENSEMBLE heading) will be allocated by the directors from the successful ensemble auditionees. It will be necessary, should you wish to be considered for any of these roles, that you sing the ensemble pieces solo after singing them in quartets, and perform a very short dialogue piece so we can hear your speaking voice. As there are many American as well as English characters, if you are able to do an accent, we may like to hear your dialogue twice!!
AMENDMENTS AND NOTES TO THE SCRIPT & SCORE
Anyone reading the script and/or song list will notice that we have eliminated the characters of Frank Carlson, 4th Officer Boxhall and the DiMicos (professional dancers). Chief Engineer Bell will be an offstage voice. The roles of Stevedore, Stoker, Bellboy and Sailor listed in the opening scene of Act One may also be reallocated to other characters. Similarly, some roles (such as First Man in musical number 12) show the Broadway cast doubling. We may not necessarily follow this. We will also be omitting some of the underscore.
PRINCIPALS (English unless otherwise stated)
CAPTAIN EDWARD J SMITH
The commodore and most popular captain of the White Star Line. Was due to retire but persuaded to take the maiden voyage of Titanic as his final voyage. Must have a light grey or white beard and have a certain dignity and bearing. Captain Smith was 62 so playing age range late-50s/early-60s.
J BRUCE ISMAY
1st class. Chairman of the White Star Line and de facto owner of the Titanic. Very business-like and well-spoken. Must have a particularly style moustache. Survived. Ismay was 49, so playing age range mid-40s/mid-50s.
THOMAS ANDREWS, Irish
1st class. Designer of the Titanic, who used the maiden voyage to fine-tune the ship. Has the most dramatic solo of the show describing the sinking. Relatively softly spoken but somewhat self-effacing. Andrews was 39, so playing age range early-30s/late-40s.
WILLIAM MURDOCH, Scottish
Was supposed to be Chief Officer but demoted to First Officer for the maiden voyage. Was in charge of the ship when it struck the iceberg. Murdoch was 39, so playing age range early-30s/late-40s.
HERBERT PITMAN
Third officer. Has some important descriptive solo work near the beginning then almost disappears. Pitman was 34, so playing age range late-20s/late-30s.
HAROLD BRIDE
One of the two wireless operators (wireless being the very latest thing). Bride was 28, so playing age range early-20s/early-30s.
FREDERICK BARRETT
Stoker, working the boilers. Some excellent solo singing work. Barrett was 28, so playing age range early-20s/late-30s.
FREDERICK FLEET
One of the two look-outs on duty when the ship struck the iceberg. A few lines in the opening, a few lines of dialogue in Act Two but an important solo in the Act One finale. Fleet was 28, so playing age range early-20s/late-30s.
WALLACE HARTLEY
Leader of the Titanic orchestra. Hartley was 33, so playing age range mid-20s/early-40s. Two songs, one line of dialogue in Act One.
ISIDOR STRAUS, American Jewish
1st class. Owner of Macy’s department store in New York. Devoted to his wife. Isidor was 67, so playing age range late-50s/early-70s.
IDA STRAUS, American Jewish
1st class. Devoted to her husband, refused to get into a lifeboat without him. Ida was 63, so playing age range late-50s/early-70s.
JIM FARRELL, Irish
One of a large number of Irish immigrants in steerage (3rd class) looking to start afresh in America. Romance with Kate McGowan. Farrell was 25, so playing age range late-teens/early-30s.
KATE MCGOWAN, Irish
Another Irish immigrant (steerage/3rd class) and works predominantly as one of ‘The Three Kates’. Romance with Jim Farrell. In reality, Kate McGowan was 42 and never met Jim Farrell and should perhaps be based on Annie McGowan, another passenger who was 17. Playing age range is late-teens/late-20s.
KATE MULLINS, Irish
One of ‘The Three Kates’ from steerage (3rd class), Mullins was 21, so playing age range is late-teens/late-20s.
KATE MURPHEY, Irish
One of ‘The Three Kates’ from steerage (3rd class), Murphey was 18, so playing age range is late-teens/late-20s
ALICE BEANE, American
2nd class and very upwardly mobile, providing a bit of comedy. Her most important singing work is a surprising amount of patter song. In the show is American but in reality was called Ethel, aged 19 and was English! Therefore, playing age range from late-teens/late-40s.
EDGAR BEANE, American
2nd class, more content and less ambitious than his wife. More dialogue than singing. In the show is American but in reality was called Edward, aged 32 and English. Therefore, playing age range from early-20s/late-40s.
CAROLINE NEVILLE
2nd class, engaged to marry Charles Clarke (in actuality they were married and her name was Ada) and looking to make a new start. Ada was 29, so playing age range is mid-20s/early-40s.
CHARLES CLARKE
2nd class, engaged to Caroline, wanting to make a new life for themselves in America, he as a journalist. Charles was 28, so playing age range is mid-20s/early-40s.
HENRY ETCHES
1st class steward (think a waiter and butler combined). Has served on White Star Line ships for some time and is very proud of the fact. Etches was 41 but as stewards came in all ages, playing age range can be anything from early-30s/mid-50s.
THE ENSEMBLE
First Class Passengers – all very wealthy (mostly sing in pairs or small groups, although some have a few solo lines. Rogers, Charlotte and Edith have dialogue but only chorus).
JOHN JACOB ASTOR. American. 47 (early-40s/mid-50s).
MADELEINE ASTOR, his new wife. American. 18 (teens/early-20s).
BENJAMIN GUGGENHEIM. American. 46 (early-40s/mid-50s).
MADAME LEONTINE AUBERT, his mistress. French. 24 (early-20s/early-40s).
JOHN THAYER. American. 49 (mid-40s/late-50s).
MARIAN THAYER, his wife. American. 39 (mid-30s/late-40s).
JACK THAYER, their son. American. 17 (but in the show is not yet in his teens, circa 10).
GEORGE WIDENER. American. 50 (40s/50s).
ELEANOR WIDENER, his wife. American. 50 (40s/50s).
CHARLOTTE DRAKE CARDEZA. American. 58 (late-40s/early-60s).
EDITH CORSE EVANS. American. 36 (any age from 30-60).
J H ROGERS, a gambler. American. Unknown (any age from 40-65).
MAJOR ARTHUR PEUCHEN. Canadian. 52 (mid-40s/late-50s).
There may not be any ‘additional’ 1st class passengers from within the ensemble for chorus work.
Second Class
There will be some ‘additional’ 2nd class passengers from within the ensemble for chorus work.
Third Class (the following all sing a solo line or two in Musical Number 12)
FIRST MAN)
SECOND MAN)
THIRD MAN)All these roles can be portrayed as any age and we will
FOURTH MAN)name them based on the age of the people playing them
GERMAN MAN)from genuine steerage passengers
ITALIAN MAN)
ITALIAN WOMAN)
There may be some ‘additional’ 3rd class passengers from within the ensemble for chorus work.
Crew/Staff (all except Bell, sing some solo, the rest in pairs or trios)
CHIEF ENGINEER BELL. 50. Will be an offstage voice.
QUARTERMASTER HICHENS, steers ship at time of collision. 29 (20s/30s/40s).
STEVEDORE (20s/30s/40s))
SAILOR (20s/30s))Please see the amendments and notes
BELLBOY (teens))to the script and score above
STOKER (20s/30s))
STEWARD LATIMER. 55 (40s/50s)
STEWARDESS ROBINSON. 40 (30s/40s)
STEWARDESS HUTCHINSON, to be renamed BLISS. 45 (40s/50s).
2nd CLASS STEWARD (30s/40s/50s).
3rd CLASS STEWARD (30s/40s/50s).
There may be some ‘additional’ crew or staff from within the ensemble for chorus work.
Orchestra (sing with Hartley in just one musical number)
PERCY TAYLOR. 32)All the bandsmen on Titanic were in their 20s or 30s.
ROGER BRICOUX. 20)Playing age will be 20s/30s/40s.
There will not be any ‘additional’ bandsmen from within the ensemble.
RUNNING ORDER FOR PRINCIPAL AUDITIONS, SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER
Due to the number of roles to cast, auditions will commence at 11am.
Approximate timings will be advised when we know the likely number of auditionees.
1Caroline Neville and Charles Clarke
2Alice & Edgar Beane
3Three Kates & Jim Farrell
4Fred Barrett & Harold Bride
5Fred Fleet
6Wallace Hartley
7William Murdoch
8Capt Smith, Bruce Ismay & Thomas Andrews
9Henry Etches
10Isidor & Ida Straus
NOTABLE DATES
Orchestra Calls- Friday 13 April @ 7.30 pm and Sunday 15 April @ 2.30 pm
Technical Rehearsal – Sunday 15 April @ 7.30 pm
Dress Rehearsal – Monday 16 April @ 7.30 pm