WEST SIDE STORY

Character Descriptions

Jets and Sharks:  We are looking for cast members who, on stage, read age-wise from the late teens to the mid twenties.

      Jets:

            Tony: Handsome, sandy-haired (Polish), older teen-ager, who has outgrown the Jets; tenor.

            Riff: Glowing, driving, intelligent, slightly wacky leader of the Jets; tenor.

            Diesel: Lieutenant to Riff, big, slow, steady; baritone.

            Baby John: Youngest member of the Jets, awed at everything, even being a Jet;

                  tries to act like a big man, but is vulnerable; baritone.

         A-Rab: Small of stature, enjoys everything, takes nothing seriously, unaware, can be explosive; baritone.

            Action: Most aggressive member of the Jets, a cat-like ball of fury; baritone.

            Snowboy: Bespectacled, self-styled expert; baritone.

            Others: Depending on cast needs, several other Jets may be cast; tenor and baritone.

      Their Girls:

            Anybody’s: Scrawny teen-aged girl, pathetically dressed to imitate the Jets, and wants desperately to be taken seriously by them.

            Velma: Riff’s girlfriend, young, slithery, sexy, lost in a world of jive.

            Graziella: Girlfriend of Diesel, impressed with herself.

            Others:  Depending on cast needs, several other Jet girls may be cast.

      Sharks:

            Bernardo: Handsome, proud, fluid leader of the Sharks, with a sardonic chip on his shoulder; baritone.

            Chino: Shy, gentle, sweet-faced young boy, the intended husband of Maria; baritone.

            Pepe:  Lieutenant to Bernardo, typically proud, and resentful of discrimination; baritone.

            Indio: Typically proud, and resentful of discrimination; baritone.

            Luis: Typically proud, and resentful of discrimination; baritone.

            Juano: Typically proud, and resentful of discrimination; baritone.

            Toro: Typically proud, and resentful of discrimination; baritone.

            Others: Depending on cast needs, several other Sharks may be cast; tenor and baritone.

      Their Girls:

            Maria: Lovely young and obedient immigrant Puerto Rican girl, excited and enthusiastic about her new life in America, but with stubborn inner strength that allows her to evolve into a strong woman; soprano.

            Anita: Older (20’s) and wiser in the ways of the world, flashy, sharp-tongued, and with a knowing sexuality; alto/mezzo-soprano..

            Consuelo: Tough, young Puerto Rican girl with bleach blond hair and lots of baubles; mezzo-soprano.

            Rosalia: Young Puerto Rican girl, more demure, not too bright; mezzo-soprano.

            Others: Depending on cast needs, several other Shark girls may be cast; mezzo-soprano.

      The Adults:

            Doc: Middle-aged drug store owner, tired and worn out.

            Lieutenant Schrank: Plainclothes policeman used to being in charge, superficially pleasant to cover his venom, fear, and bigotry.

            Officer Krupke: A not-too-bright street cop.

            Glad Hand: Nerdy, overly cheerful and ill-equipped social director at the local gym dance.

  Audition Info