Casting

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Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Children

Character Breakdown

Dot

A smart, brave, and kind 8-year-old girl who lives with her family in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales in 1815 Australia. Quick- witted Dot is tired of doing chores and longs for an adventure. Dot is a major role with lots of stage time and carries her own song. Cast a strong singer and actor in this role who reads as younger onstage and makes a good team with Mrs. Kangaroo.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Mrs. Kangaroo

Wise, nurturing, and driven. Though she doesn’t trust the “new humans,” she is willing to help Dot get home as she searches for her missing Joey. Cast a strong singer and actor in this role who will pair well with Dot and can portray Mrs. Kangaroo’s compassionate nature and strength of resolve while allowing her sense of humor to shine through.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Matilda

Dot’s older sister. She loves her family and understands that they work as a team, with everyone contributing to their life in Australia – even if some of the jobs that need to get done aren’t as exciting as having an adventure. Cast a good singer and actor in this role who reads as older than Dot onstage.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: C4
May

Dot’s mother. Though she doesn’t survive past the first scene, she has a small solo holding Dot as a baby. This is a good role for a performer who may be new to the stage but can handle a solo. Whoever plays May should join the rest of the ensemble after her scene.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Henry

Dot and Matilda’s father. Though he sadly lost his wife, May, he loves his children and works hard to provide for the family. Cast a good singer and actor in this role who pairs well with Dot and Matilda and can depict Henry’s hard-working, good nature.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Willie Wagtail

A bird first onstage in puppet form but later leads the courtroom during Dot’s trial. He is a know-it-all and considers himself an expert on the court of law because he built a nest in the Gabble-Babble Courthouse and has listened to many trials. Willie doesn’t sing a solo, so cast a performer who can express Willie’s self-important attitude and command the courtroom

Gender: male
Larry Lorikeet

Larry Lorikeet, Mal Magpie Goose, and Wazza Waterheron are the best of waterhole friends and lead the rousing hoedown “Bottoms Up At The Waterhole.” These three function as a unit, so cast character actors with excellent comic timing who can move well and easily play off one another.

Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Mal Magpie Goose

Larry Lorikeet, Mal Magpie Goose, and Wazza Waterheron are the best of waterhole friends and lead the rousing hoedown “Bottoms Up At The Waterhole.” These three function as a unit, so cast character actors with excellent comic timing who can move well and easily play off one another.

Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Wazza Waterheron

Larry Lorikeet, Mal Magpie Goose, and Wazza Waterheron are the best of waterhole friends and lead the rousing hoedown “Bottoms Up At The Waterhole.” These three function as a unit, so cast character actors with excellent comic timing who can move well and easily play off one another.

Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E3
Koala

Koala and Kookaburra share a tree and function as a comic pair. They have a hilarious scene with Dot and Mrs. Kangaroo but no sung solos, so cast two character actors with great comic timing who make an interesting twosome and can dial up the silliness onstage.

Kookaburra

Koala and Kookaburra share a tree and function as a comic pair. They have a hilarious scene with Dot and Mrs. Kangaroo but no sung solos, so cast two character actors with great comic timing who make an interesting twosome and can dial up the silliness onstage.

Platypus

Though Platypus is a genius and the king of the burrow, he is not very nice to Dot at first. Beneath his gruff exterior is a loyal friend with a strong moral compass who sees Dot for who she truly is. Platypus leads his own number, so cast a fantastic singer and actor in this role who can command the stage and embody Platypus’s grumpy dignity.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: C4
"King of The Burrow" Soloists

SOLOIST 1 - G4-C5

SOLOIST 2 - F4-Ab4

SOLOIST 3 - G#4-C#5

SOLOIST 4 - F#4-A4

Bowerbirds Belle, Bree, and Babs

Bowerbirds Belle, Bree, and Babs are fierce, fashion-forward, and fabulous, darling, thank you very much! These divas have self- confidence in spades and remind Dot that, first and foremost, she must believe in herself. Cast a triple-threat trio that screams “girl power” and can handle close harmonies.

Vocal range top: Db5
Vocal range bottom: Db3
Peacock Paul

The Bowerbird girls’ best friend and matches their confidence level – not to mention their decor! Peacock Paul does not sing a solo but should be comfortable singing in close harmonies with the Bowerbird girls. Cast a fabulous actor and a good dancer in this fun, energetic role.

Pelican

The prosecutor in Dot’s trial. Pelican does not sing a solo, so cast a good actor who can command the room and lean into the courthouse drama of the scene.

Joey

Mrs. Kangaroo’s missing child. Joey has a cameo at the end of the show when he is finally reunited with his “Mimi.” This is a great role for a newer performer who is comfortable having a few lines and a brief duet line and reads as younger onstage.

Black Swan
Array
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Cockatoo
Array
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Ensemble

The Ensemble is a great place for any performer who’d like to be involved in the show. Featured ensemble roles are: Brolga, Snake, British Soldiers, Families, Bowerbirds, Brolgas, Dingoes, Rainbow Lorikeets, Waterhole Birds, Council of the Animals (which include Koalas, Possums, Wallabies, Kangaroos, Bilbies, Emus, Cranes, Plovers, Ducks, Frogs, Bandicoots, and Parrots).

Brolga
Array
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: Gb3