Dear Edwina JR. is a heartwarming musical about the joys of growing up, from the creators of Junie B. Jones, The Musical. Written in a "show-within-a-show" format, Dear Edwina JR. is the perfect "girl power" musical for a new generation.

Dear Edwina JR. follows the adventures of plucky advice-giver-extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, as she directs the neighborhood kids in a series of buoyant production numbers for the latest edition of her weekly "Advice-a-Palooza." Edwina and her friends share wisdom on everything from trying new foods to making new friends through clever, catchy and poignant songs.

Featuring a host of supporting roles that can be distributed widely or doubled (or even tripled), depending on your cast size, Dear Edwina JR. provides a perfect opportunity to showcase your young performers.

MUSICAL NUMBERS

PAW-PAW MICHIGAN

UP ON THE FRIDGE

DEAR EDWINA

HERE COMES A LETTER

APHRODITE

SAY NO THANK YOU

BECKY'S CHEERS

ANOTHER LETTER

ABIGAIL

FRANKENGUEST

CARRIE

FORK, KNIFE, SPOON

TIME FOR INTERMISSION

HERE COME MORE LETTERS

PERIWINKLE

HOLA, LOLA

BECKY'S SECOND CHEERS

ZIGGY

PUT IT IN THE PIGGY

THANKS FOR COMING 1

EDWINA

THANK FOR COMING 2

UP ON THE FRIDGE BREAKDOWN

SING YOUR OWN SONG

HOLA, LOLA (ENCORE)

EDWINA SPOONAPPLE

The creator, director and choreographer of The Dear Edwina Show and is the main-staple of the play. Her character goes through a tremendous arc throughout the series of events in the play; from frustration to relief, anger to joy, horror to happiness & all within one afternoon in her own garage! The role of Edwina demands your most talented actor to pull off her bossy yet lovable character. Also, since the play is designed around her and she has the most stage time, the actor playing Edwina should feel more than comfortable onstage. Edwina's music is also a bit challenging. Your actor should have a strong, clear voice with good diction. A musical background would be helpful.

Gender: Female

Vocal range: A3-C5

BECKY

Edwina's enthusiastic friend and the top of the cheerleading pyramid for the Paw Paw Wildcats. Cheerleading consumes her life and creating new cheers for everyday occasions brings her great joy. This girl even cheers her anger! Becky is a vocally non-demanding role with only a few vocal lines. Stage presence is more important when it comes to casting Becky. Cast the loudest, most outgoing un-shy person you can. Athletic ability, if not cheerleading experience, would be helpful, but not necessary.

Gender: Female

SCOTT

A neighbor boy who is helplessly in love with Edwina. He dotes on her every move and is always conniving a way to gain her attention. Choose a strong actor who feels comfortable being bold with his emotions. A good singer is a must for this role. Scott's song requires vocal dexterity and is demanding in style. An actor with strong comedic timing will be an asset to your production during Scott's 'transformation.'

Gender: Male

Vocal range: C4-Ab5

KELLI

Edwina's neighbor and Paw Paw, Michigan's resident ballerina. The character of Kelli can go one of two ways, depending on your talent pool. If you have a cast member with a background in ballet, great! Let her go wild, perhaps even choreograph her own piece, and turn "Poshkonozovich Dance" into a showcase. If the actor playing Kelli has no ballet experience, not a problem. We've all flapped our arms and stood on our tippy-toes pretending to be ballerinas, have her do the same and turn it into a comedy bit! No one said Kelli was a good ballerina.

Gender: Female

BOBBY

Edwina's new next-door neighbor. He is a friendly and compassionate character who goes out of his way to help others. The character of Bobby will be able to get away with imperfections throughout the show, as he is a last minute replacement for Lars. Cast an actor who is outgoing and gets along with everyone.

Gender: Male

LARS VANDERPLOONK

One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina. He is incredibly accident-prone and twists his ankle in the first scene. Lars has many prat falls before he actually twists his ankle. Casting an actor with good physical comedy skills would be helpful (always remember that any staged fall or injury should be carefully choreographed and rehearsed to prevent a real injury. Safety first!). You may want to consider having Lars return to the stage a little while after his injury in a wheelchair, a cast or leg brace, or on crutches. This adds to the comedy of the play and opens up the casting of Lars for the actor who wants to be in your show so badly but isn't exactly Baryshnikov.

Gender: Male

BILLY VANDERPLOONK

One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina. He works double duty on The Dear Edwina Show by performing onstage and serving as Box Office Manager.

Gender: Male

CORDELL VANDERPLOONK

One of the Vanderploonk triplets and a neighborhood friend of Edwina. He works double duty in The Dear Edwina Show by performing onstage and serving as House Manager.

Gender: Male

ANNIE

Edwina's friend and the Girl Scout of Paw Paw. Annie works for and collects her Girl Scout badges like they were buried treasure. No matter what problem may arise, she is prepared with the know-how and resources to solve it in a flash - A MacGyver for the new generation! She is perky, energetic and helpful & maybe even too helpful.

Gender: Female

APHRODITE

One of the 'letter readers' in The Dear Edwina Show. They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwina's advice. Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: A3-Eb5

CARRIE

One of the 'letter readers' in The Dear Edwina Show. They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwina's advice. Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles.

Gender: Female

Vocal range: B3-D5

ABIGAIL

One of the 'letter readers' in The Dear Edwina Show. They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwina's advice. Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles.

Gender: Female

Vocal range: B3-D5

PERIWINKLE

One of the 'letter readers' in The Dear Edwina Show. They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwina's advice. Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: Bb3-C5

ZIGGY & THE MARCHING BAND

One of the 'letter readers' in The Dear Edwina Show. They each have vocal solos (aside from the Marching Band, who only sing backup vocals) whereby they explain their dilemmas in hopes of receiving Edwina's advice. Consider casting these roles from your ensemble or you can have any of the other characters above perform one of the roles.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: Ab3-Ab4

VLADIMIR

Edwina's scary uncle from afar. The actor should be a strong enough singer to feel comfortable with their own song and a strong enough actor to engage the audience with their story (and keep them engaged through the duration of the song). Impeccable diction is a must for this character as Vladimir's lines are written with a Transylvanian "Dracula" accent in mind. The actor may be pulled from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry just this one role.

Gender: Male

Vocal range: A3-F5

FRANK

A rude, self-centered, bratty, offensive, disrespectful, socially inept child and the subject of Vladimir's song, Frankenguest. This non-singing role requires the actor to speak their lines during musical breaks in the song. Cast an "over the top" actor and you'll be just fine.

Gender: Male

CHEF LUDMILLA

Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in "Fork, Knife, Spoon." Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills. Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: A3-F5

WILLIAM

Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in "Fork, Knife, Spoon." Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills. Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role.

Gender: Male

Vocal range: Eb4-F5

SONOMA

Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in "Fork, Knife, Spoon." Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills. Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: Eb4-F5

FAIRY FORKMOTHER

Part of a team to instruct the rest of the company on how to set a table in "Fork, Knife, Spoon." Each actor should have strong music and vocal skills. Actors may be selected from the company or, depending or your cast size, carry just their one role.

Gender: Female

Vocal range: Bb4-Bb5

SUSIE & THE NAPKINS

Susie & The Napkins are a local band who have just come from a Battle of the Bands concert at the Paw Paw Community Center to sing "Say No Thank You." Susie and The Napkins should be able to move well, if you choose to choreograph the number. Johnny and The Queen act out the story in the lyrics. They are not required to sing, but to merely speak in rhythm during the song. Be sure you cast someone who can 'feel the beat.' Your actors may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry their one role.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: Bb3-D5

JOHNNY AND QUEEN OF BOOLA BOOLA

Susie and The Napkins are a local band who have just come from a Battle of the Bands concert at the Paw Paw Community Center to sing "Say No Thank You." Susie and The Napkins should be able to move well, if you choose to choreograph the number. Johnny and The Queen act out the story in the lyrics. They are not required to sing, but to merely speak in rhythm during the song. Be sure you cast someone who can 'feel the beat.' Your actors may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry their one role.

Gender: Both

Vocal range: A3-F5

LOLA

New to America, Lola expresses her shyness in the song, "Hola, Lola." It would be helpful if this actor speaks Spanish or has a good ear for languages. She may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry this one role.

Gender: Female

Vocal range: B2-A4

HARRY

Lola's cousin and the reason she flies from Lima, Peru, to Honolulu. He is a fun, happy-go-lucky character who just wants to make sure his favorite cousin is having a good time. Harry may be selected from the company or, depending on your cast size, carry this one role.

Gender: Male

Vocal range: Ab2-C#4

MARY SUE BETTY BOB

Mary Sue Betty Bob's backup for "Put it in the Piggy." The girl company members play the "Girls" and the "Pigs" are played by the boy company members.

Vocal range: C4-D5

FARMER JERRY, GIRLS AND PIGS

Mary Sue Betty Bob's backup for "Put it in the Piggy." The girl company members play the "Girls" and the "Pigs" are played by the boy company members.

Gender: Male

KATIE SPOONAPPLE

Edwina's little sister and a math wiz. Although she arrives at the end of the play, she has the very important role of influencing Edwina's thoughts and feelings. It is Katie that brings about the climax of the play, showing Edwina the "best advice of all." Choose an actor who looks younger than Edwina or is diminutive in stature.

Gender: Female

ANN VAN BUREN

The Kalamazoo Advice-A-Palooza talent scout. She is represented only by a brief voice-over that may be recorded beforehand. When it comes to casting this voice, think very L.A., sweetie darling.

Gender: Female

MYRA/MYRON SPOONAPPLE

Edwina's little sister/brother and musical director of The Dear Edwina Show (played by the Musical Director).

Gender: Both

JOE/JO SPOONAPPLE

Edwina's older brother/sister. Percussionist of The Dear Edwina Show.

Gender: Both