Female. Soprano to High A. Playing Age 18 35. Lead Role. Conventional, Respectable And

Sarah Brown

Female. Soprano to High A. Playing age 18 – 35. Lead role. Conventional, respectable and principled, Sarah is initially a little too buttoned-up for her own good. She has genuine passion for her calling and compassion for her ‘fold’ but gives Sky an initial frosty response. The actress playing this role has to play convincingly drunk, when under the influence of alcohol she allows her straight-laced persona to slip and falls exuberantly and madly in love. She goes on a journey of reconciling her feelings with her beliefs, and changing some of her prejudices so that her head can follow her heart.

Monologue:

Context: This is the first time we see Sarah in the play. She is trying to inspire anyone she can to visit her mission. In this speech, we should see her passion as she first begins to talk. We should also see her disappointment as she realizes no one is listening by the end of her speech.

Brothers and Sisters, resist the Devil and he will flee from you. That is what the Bible tells us. And that is why I am standing here in the Devil’s own city. On the Devil’s own street, prepared to do battle with the forces of evil. Hear me, you gamblers! With your dice, your cards, and your horses! Pause and think before it’s too late!

You are in great danger! I am not speaking of prison and the gallows, but of the greater punishment that awaits you! Repent before it is too late! Just around the corner is our little Mission- where you are always welcome to seek refuge from this jungle of sin. Come here and talk to me. Do not think of me as Sergeant Sarah Brown, but as Sarah Brown, your sister. Join me, Brothers and Sisters, in resisting the Devil, and we can put him to flight forever. Remember, friends, it is the Save-A-Soul Mission- located at 409 West 49th Street, open all day and all night, with a special prayer meeting this Thursday at-

Song: I’ll Know

Time:

I'll know when my love comes along

I won't take a chance..

I'll know he'll be just what I need

Not some fly-by-night Broadway romance.

And you'll know at a glance by the two-pair of pants.

I'll know by the calm steady voice

Those feet on the ground.

I'll know as I run to his arms

That at last I've come home safe and sound.

Until then, I shall wait.

Until then, I'll be strong.

Oh, I'll know, when my love comes along.

Sky Masterson

Male. Baritone B to Eb. Playing age 26 – 38. Lead role Charismatic, cool and charming. Sky is a suave, intelligent and confident gangster who naturally commands others’ respect and attention. Handsome, with buckets of stage presence and sex appeal, he is familiar with attracting the attention of the ladies but finds himself falling in love with the one woman who brushes off his advances. He surprises himself by discarding his spontaneous, freewheeling lifestyle for a conventional romance. Some dance/movement ability would be useful (though not essential) for the crap shooting sequence.

Monologue:

Context: Sky is smooth as butter. When Nathan Detroit bets him that the popular restaurant Mindy’s sells more strudel than cheesecake, Sky explains to Nathan just why he won’t take the bet (and Sky is smart... Nathan had done some research before betting Sky).
SKY MASTERSON: (To NATHAN, who has just tried to make a bet with him) When I was a young man about to go out in the world, my father says to me a very valuable thing. “Son,” the old guys says, “...one of these days in your travels a guy is going to come to you with a brand new deck of cards and offer to bet you that he can make the Jack of Spades jump out of the deck and squirt cider in your ear. But son, do not bet this man, for as sure as you are standing there you are going to wind up with an ear full of cider.” Now, Nathan, I do not claim that you have been clocking Mindy’s cheesecake...however, if you’re really looking for some acting—I will bet you the same thousand dollars that you do not know the color of the necktie you have on.

Song: Luck Be A Lady

Time:

They call you Lady Luck

But there is room for doubt

At times you have

A very unlady like way of running out

You're this a date with me

The pickings have been lush

And yet before this evening is over

You might give me the brush

You might forget your manners

You might refuse to stay

And so the best that I can to is pray

Luck be a lady tonight

Luck if you've ever been a lady to begin with

Luck be a lady tonight

Nathan Detroit

Male. Baritone to High F. Playing age 35 – 50. Lead role. Organizer of the floating crap game. With a tendency towards neuroticism Nathan is a lovable rogue who is always struggling to stay one step ahead of the pack and looking for the big break he never seems to get. Funny, frustrated but romantic his heart is torn between the camaraderie of his gambling circle and the woman he loves.

Monologue:

Context: Nathan Detroit is trying to find a place to hold his gambling game. It’s tricky because the game is illegal. He’s looked all over town, but can’t find a place. In this line, Nathan tells his friends Benny and Nicely-Nicely Johnson, who are eager to play with him, about his predicament:
NATHAN: (To BENNY and NICELY-NICLEY JOHNSON) I was just over to the Biltmore Garage. Joey says he might take a chance and let me use the place, if I give him a thousand bucks. In cash. What can I do? I’m broke. I couldn’t even buy Adelaide a present today, and you know what day today is? It is mine and Adelaide’s fourteenth anniversary. We’ve been engaged fourteen years.

Song: The Oldest Established

Time:

The Biltmore garage wants a grand

But we ain't got a grand on hand.

And they now got a lock on the door

To the gym at P.S. 84.

There's the stock room behind the McCloskey's bar.

But Mrs. McCloskey ain't a good scout.

And things being how they are

The back of the police station is out!

So the Biltmore garage is the spot.

But the one thousand bucks we ain't got.

Why it's good old reliable Nathan!

Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Detroit!

If you're looking for action, his firm is the spot.

Even when the heat is on, it's never too hot.

Not for good old reliable Nathan!

Where it's always just a short walk

To the oldest established, permanent floating,

Crap game in New York.

Miss Adelaide

Female. Mezzo to A. Playing age early 30’s Lead role Lead performer at the ‘Hot Box’ a somewhat tacky and dodgy cabaret joint. Strong comic actress required with dancing ability. She spends the whole show with the symptoms of a cold, acting through sneezes and congestion. She adores Nathan but is driven crazy by his antics with the gambling ring and having been engaged to him for 14 years.

Monologue:

Context: Adelaide and Nathan have been engaged to be married for fourteen years. In this speech, Adelaide has decided that she has a never-ending cold because she’s been waiting for so long to get married. She explains her theory to Nathan. Keep in mind that Adelaide has a strong New York accent. She’s not the brightest bulb, but she’s full of energy.
MISS ADELAIDE: (Holding a book, to NATHAN) Nathan darling, The doctor gave this book to me. I went to him about my cold. Which is the same. So the doctor asked me how long I had had it, and I told him a long time, so he said to read this book, because he said it might be due to psychology. Nathan, this is the psychology that tells you why girls do certain kinds of things.Darling, starting with next week, I’m going to get a raise. So with what I’ll be making, I wondered what you would think- maybe we could finally get married. I’m staring to worry about my mother---She thinks we’re married already. I couldn’t be engaged for fourteen years, could I? Then, after about two years—We had a baby. It was a boy. I named it after you, Nathan. He’s in boarding school. I wrote Mother he won the football game last Saturday. But, that’s not all. All those years, Nathan. Mother believes in big families…….the grand total is five. But now that we’re finally getting married, it won’t be a lie any more!

Song: Adelaide’s Lament

Time:

And further more, just from stalling, and stalling,

And stalling the wedding trip

A person can develop la grippe.

When they get on that train to Niagara

And she can hear church bells chime

The compartment is air conditioned

And the mood sublime

Then they get off at Saratoga for the fourteenth time!

A person can develop la grippe,

La grippe.

La post nasal drip.

With the wheezes

And the sneezes

And a sinus that's really a pip!

From a lack of community property

And a feeling she's getting too old

A person can develop a big bad cold!

Nicely-Nicely Johnson

Nicely-Nicely Johnson: Male. Tenor to high B flat. Playing age 30 to 50. Supporting role Best pal to Nathan Detroit. With a voracious appetite and boundless enthusiasm, Nicely is ‘nice’ by nature and name. Comic, cheerful and likeable he delivers hilarious one-liners and a big, Broadway showstopper (‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’) with equal aplomb.

Monologue:

Context: Nicely-Nicely is pleased because he sees Sky failing to attract the attention of Sarah Brown. Nathan had bet Sky that he couldn’t take Miss Sarah out to dinner and Nicely-Nicely is 100% sure that Nathan will win the bet. Remember, Nicely-Nicely is a comedic character, so have fun with his imitation of Sarah’s snootiness.
NICELY-NICLEY JOHNSON: Sky was just following Miss Sarah, and you should have seen her. (NICELY gives an imitation of Sarah’s snootiness). She give him a look that would have cooled off a moose at malting time. He couldn’t take this doll to New Rochelle....Where’s Nathan? He ought to start lining up the game.

Song: Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat

Time:

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven

And by some chance I had brought my dice along

And there I stood

And I hollered "Someone fade me"

But the passengers, they knew right from wrong.

For the peopel all said sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat

People all said sit down

Sit down you're rockin' the boat.

And the devil will drag you under

By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat,

Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down,

Sit down you're rockin' the boat.

Benny Southstreet

Male. Baritone. 25 – 55 supporting role. Nicley’s pal with whom he sings the duet ‘Guys & Dolls’ and trio ‘Fugue for Tinhorns’. Upbeat, sometimes nervy, he is more of a novice in the gangster business and further down the pecking order. Characterful

Monologue:

Context: All of the gamblers make fun of Nathan because he’s tied up with his long-time girlfriend Adelaide. Benny’s line is especially funny because it’s normal to fall in love with your fiancee.
BENNY SOUTHSTREET: Yes, it’s too bad that a smart businessman like Nathan has to go and fall in love with his own fiancèe.

Song: Guys and Dolls

Time:

When you see a guy reach for stars in the sky,

You can bet that he's doing it for some doll

When you spot a john waiting out in the rain,

Chances are he's insane, as only a john can be for a jane.

When you meet a gent paying all kinds of rent

For a flat that could flatten the TajMahal,

Call it bad, call it funny, but it's better than even money,

That's the guy that's only doing it for some doll.

Arvide Abernathy(Will consider Females)

Male. Baritone 60 – 90 supporting role. Sarah’s grandfather and significant member of the Salvation Army mission. Wise, warm and caring.

Monologue:

Context: Arvide, Sarah’s grandparent, tries to console Sarah when no sinners show up at the Mission. Arvide never looses hope or faith in Sarah.
ARVIDE ABERNATHY: And someday, they’ll be praying there. Even a man like Sky Masterson. He came seeking refuge.

Song: More I Cannot Wish You

Time:

Standing there

Gazing at you

Full of the bloom of youth

Standing there

Gazing at you

With a sheeps' eye

And a lickerish tooth.

Music I can wish you

Merry music while you're young

And wisdom when your hair has turned to gray.

But More I Cannot Wish You

Than to wish you find your love

Your own true love this day

Hot Box Girls

Hot Box Girls: female 16 – 35 chorus We are looking for 8 females to make up this chorus of performers who back-up Adelaide in her nightclub act. Strong dancing, singing and character performance required. They perform 2 numbers with Adelaide. They will double into other aspects of the female ensemble.

Monologue:

Song: Bushel and a Peck

Time:

I love you a bushel and a peck

A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck

A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap

A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep

About you, about you

'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck

You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle oodle oh

A doodle oodleoodle oh doo