Characters

REN MCCORMACK - LEAD

Tenor

REN is a teenage boy from Chicago whose father recently deserted him and his mother, leaving them high and dry. The two of them move to the small town of Bomont, and Ren finds himself constantly butting heads with those in authority, particularly the Reverend Moore. Ren is “different” in a town that has stayed the same for a number a years, and because of that, he either has to conform, or stand up for what he believes in. Ren chooses the latter. When he finds out that dancing is illegal in Bomont, he inspires his friends (Willard, and his girlfriend Ariel, the Reverend’s daughter) to fight against the Reverend and the town authorities. Ren succeeds in changing the law, and in the process changes the town itself.

ETHEL MCCORMACK - SUPPORTING

Mezzo-Soprano

ETHEL is Ren’s single mother, whose husband recently abandoned her and her son. Unable to support them both, she decides they are going to move to Bomont where they will live with her sister and her husband. She is a strong and intelligent woman doing the best she can, and throughout the show learns how to accept help from others even though it is against her nature. Ethel is supportive of her son, and is wise enough to listen to and advise him when he needs it, but not strangle him with rules and regulations.

REVEREND SHAW MOORE - LEAD

Baritone

REVEREND MOORE is good man who has shut himself off from those who love him. When his son died in a car accident, the Reverend immediately tried to “solve the problem,” because that’s what ministers do. He wanted to make sure that no other teenagers suffered his son’s fate, so he outlawed dancing in the town of Bomont. This law that made dancing and partying illegal became all important and all consuming for the Reverend; it represented not only his son’s death, but all the pain and guilt the Reverend felt in regards to it. He believed that what he was doing was good for his family and for his community, and he blinded himself to the distance that his actions were creating between himself and his family. Over the course of the play, because of Ren and his actions, the Reverend sees the mistakes that he’s made and allows himself to change and open his heart again.

VI MOORE - SUPPORTING

Mezzo-Soprano

VI MOORE is the Reverend’s wife and Ariel’s mother. She is supportive of her husband, but understanding of her rebellious daughter as well. Because of this, she often finds herself in the middle of arguments between the two, and at times, struggles to balance both relationships. However, she is the voice of reason in the family, and while it often seems as if no one is listening to what she says, both her husband and daughter do take note. Vi is forthright, gentle, and caring (she also has a great sense of humor) and wants what is best for those she loves. In short, she is the glue that holds her family together.

ARIEL MOORE - LEAD

Mezzo Soprano

ARIEL is the Reverend’s daughter, and at first glance, is a wild, rebellious teenager. She dates the wrong boys, stays out late, lies to her parents, and loves to dance. However, Ariel is good at heart. Many of the wild things she does are aimed at getting her parents’ (particularly her father’s) attention, and throughout the show, she proves herself to be smart, intelligent, and caring as well. As she and Ren grow closer, it becomes apparent that after her brother passed away, she increasingly felt alone and misunderstood by those around her. She simply wants to someone to see, love, and accept her for who she is. She finds that someone in Ren, and returns the affection he gives her. She also encourages Ren to stand up for himself and confront her father and the town council about the illegality of dancing in Bomont. As she and father change throughout the show, they are able to reconcile and communicate with each other once again.

LULU WARNICKER - FEATURED

Spoken

LULU is Ren’s aunt/his mother’s sister. She is supportive of her sister, outspoken, and believes the gossip about Ren.

WES WARNICKER - FEATURED

Spoken

WES is a good man, and supportive of his family, including Ren and his mother. Wes is, however, also loyal to the Reverend. He finds himself torn between the two, and eventually chooses the middle ground.

COACH ROGER DUNBAR - FEATURED

Spoken

ROGER DUNBAR is the high school coach, and is loyal to Reverend Moore. He has favorite students, and bullies those he does not like, including Ren.

ELEANOR DUNBAR - FEATURED

Spoken

ELEANOR, the Town Council President, and wife of Coach Dunbar. She is obviously a puppet of Reverend Moore, but does her best to seem in control during the town council meeting.

RUSTY - SUPPORTING

Soprano

RUSTY is Ariel’s best friend and talks a mile a minute. She can read Ariel like a book and is instantly aware of Ariel’s attraction to Ren. Rusty doesn’t particularly like school or studying, but she is outgoing, charismatic, has a great sense of humor, and makes friends easily. She dreams of getting away from Bomont and going to the big city. She also loves to dance, and has a “thing” going on with Willard. She’s interested in him and has been for years. Getting together with him, however, has proved difficult, as he clams up whenever he’s around her. She wants a man who will make the first move! Eventually, however, Willard and Rusty do get together, and turn out to be a pretty perfect match.

URLEEN - FEATURED

Soprano

URLEEN is part of Ariel’s group of friends. She tries to give advice and is a little boy-crazy.

WENDY JO - FEATURED

Mezzo Soprano

WENDY JO is part of Ariel’s group of friends. She tends to say what Urleen tells her to, and is also boy-crazy.

CHUCK CRANSTON - SUPPORTING

Tenor

CHUCK is a “bad boy.” He has been arrested multiple times, and is extremely egotistical, demanding, manipulative, and jealous. He wants to feel important, and bullies those around him in order to feel so. He has a gang of friends who follows him around, hangs on every word, and does what he says. Dating, for him, is all about sex and having control over his girlfriend. Ariel dates him because her father doesn’t want her to; however, she gets in a bit over her head. When she tries to break off the relationship, Chuck becomes abusive and punches her in the face.

LYLE - FEATURED

Tenor

LYLE is one of Chuck’s friends. He basically does whatever Chuck tells him to.

TRAVIS - FEATURED

Tenor

TRAVIS is one of Chuck’s friends. He basically does whatever Chuck tells him to.

A COP - FEATURED

Spoken

A COP manipulates the power of his office. He stops Ren and gives him a ticket because he can, and because Chuck is a friend of his.

BETTY BLAST - FEATURED

Spoken

BETTY is the owner of the diner Ren works at. She is ornery (in a good way), individual, and courageous. She sees the good in Ren and supports him as he tries to make dancing legal again. She also stands up to the immature teenagers who try to fight at her diner. And finally, she skates, even though she’s technically too old to.

WILLARD HEWITT - SUPPORTING

Tenor

WILLARD is a redneck hick who loves to fight, and will do so at almost any provocation. He has a good heart, and becomes Ren’s best friend after they almost fight on the first day of school. Willard is loyal and will defend anyone’s honor. He’s interested in Rusty, but is pretty shy around girls, and he doesn’t know how to dance. Over the course of the musical, he becomes more confident in regards to both girls and dancing (he and Rusty eventually become a couple), and he learns how to reign his temper in. Willard continually supports Ren throughout the show; without him, Ren wouldn’t have had any support in Bomont at all.

PRINCIPAL HARRY CLARK - FEATURED

Spoken

HARRY Is strict principal who lays down the law at every opportunity.

JETER - FEATURED

Tenor

JETER is one of Ren’s friends, and supports him as he tries to make dancing legal.

BICKLE - FEATURED

Tenor

BICKLE is one of Ren’s friends, and supports him as he tries to make dancing legal.

GARVIN - FEATURED

Baritone

GARVIN is one of Ren’s friends, and supports him as he tries to make dancing legal.

COWBOY BOB - FEATURED

Spoken

COWBOY BOB is a cowboy who invites Rusty to dance at the Bar-B-Que. Willard becomes quite jealous because of this.

ENSEMBLE ROLES

COWBOY BOB'S BAND, TOWNSPEOPLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

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