Embedded Files
PRINCIPALS & SUPPORTING ROLES
Mary Lennox - Soprano - A ten year-old girl sent to live with her uncle, Archibald, when her parents die from cholera in India. Quite the curious explorer, and often finding herself in trouble. Stubborn and always fighting for what she believes in.
Lily Craven* - Soprano - Mary's aunt and Archibald’s wife. Died of a tragic accident within her garden and haunts the walls of Misselthwaite Manor. She reaches from beyond the grave to ensure the happiness of those she cares for.
Archibald Craven - Baritone - Mary's uncle, Colin’s father, and lord of Misselthwaite Manor. Haunted by the past, he locks himself away both physically and emotionally.
Dr. Neville Craven - Baritone - Archibald’s brother. Trapped by duty, and haunted by his unrequited love for Lily.
Colin Craven - Unchanged - Archibald’s ten year old son. Spoiled & stubborn, he is kept shut-away due to a presumed illness. (This role will also be open to alto voices.)
Mrs. Medlock - Flexible/Ensemble singing - Housekeeper of Misselthwaite Manor. Cold and strict.
Martha Sowerby - Mezzo Belt - Young and cheerful housemaid at Misselthwaite. Befriends Mary.
Dickon Sowerby - Tenor - Martha’s brother. A bit unusual and mystical, he cares for sick plants and animals at Misselthwaite.
Ben Weatherstaff - Baritone - Elderly head gardener at Misselthwaite Manor. Secretly entrusted to care for Lily’s garden. Kindly and dutiful.
Audition Song List available now!
TSG Character Descriptions.pdfCharacter Descriptions & Role Information
Character Descriptions & Role Information
ENSEMBLE & SOLOISTS
The Secret Garden includes a large ensemble called The Dreamers, as well as many featured lines and solos throughout the show:
Rose Lennox* - Soprano - Mary’s mother. Doesn’t understand how Lily could love Archibald. Very loyal to her husband, but struggles to show affection to Mary. Dies during a cholera outbreak in India.
Albert Lennox* - Tenor - Mary's father and British officer. Caring to a fault, he also dies during the cholera outbreak in India.
Ayah* - Alto - Mary’s nanny in India. Dies during the cholera outbreak.
Lt. Peter Wright* - Baritone - Officer in Mary's father's unit. Survivor of the cholera outbreak.
Lt. Ian Shaw* - Tenor - Officer in Mary's father's unit. Dies during the cholera outbreak.
Alice* - Soprano - Rose’s friend. Dies during the cholera outbreak.
Major Holmes & wife, Claire* - Bass & Soprano - Officer in Mary's father's unit, and his wife. Survivors of the cholera outbreak.
Major Shelley & his wife* - Flexible/Ensemble Singing - Officer and his wife, responsible for transporting Mary to England.
Mrs. Winthrop* - Flexible/Ensemble Singing - Headmistress of a girls’ school near Misselthwaite. Claims to be excellent at dealing with unruly girls.
The Dreamers - The Dreamers represent people from the past, both living and deceased. These roles include additional lines, solos, featured dancing, and a lot of ensemble singing. Characters marked above with an asterisk* are also Dreamers.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
While the Broadway production is mostly faithful to the original story, there are a few notable differences between the novel and the musical it inspired. The book focused much of its attention on Mary and her relationship to Dickon, Martha, and Colin. This continues to be an essential part of the musical adaptation, but Norman chose to develop the adult characters further by exploring the complex emotional themes and creating more of a backstory for them.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
While the Broadway production is mostly faithful to the original story, there are a few notable differences between the novel and the musical it inspired. The book focused much of its attention on Mary and her relationship to Dickon, Martha, and Colin. This continues to be an essential part of the musical adaptation, but Norman chose to develop the adult characters further by exploring the complex emotional themes and creating more of a backstory for them.
This effort led the playwright to change some of the familial connections: choosing to make Mary's mother, rather than Mary's father, the sibling to Archibald's wife Lily (who is actually named Lilias in the book). In the book, Colin's doctor is portrayed as a distant cousin of Archibald who's mostly a tertiary character, whereas the musical casts Dr. Craven as Archibald's jealous brother in order to add a greater sense of conflict and tension to the story.
This effort led the playwright to change some of the familial connections: choosing to make Mary's mother, rather than Mary's father, the sibling to Archibald's wife Lily (who is actually named Lilias in the book). In the book, Colin's doctor is portrayed as a distant cousin of Archibald who's mostly a tertiary character, whereas the musical casts Dr. Craven as Archibald's jealous brother in order to add a greater sense of conflict and tension to the story.
The stage version also makes use of a cast of "Dreamers," described by the playwright as "people from Mary's life in India, who haunt her until she finds her new life in the course of this story. They sing directly to us, appearing and disappearing at will." These are Mary's family, friends, and servants who died during the cholera epidemic in India, and they act as a Greek chorus, narrating the action and moving the story along.
The stage version also makes use of a cast of "Dreamers," described by the playwright as "people from Mary's life in India, who haunt her until she finds her new life in the course of this story. They sing directly to us, appearing and disappearing at will." These are Mary's family, friends, and servants who died during the cholera epidemic in India, and they act as a Greek chorus, narrating the action and moving the story along.
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