COMPANY
"Alice" Terry
b. 1900Vincennes, Indiana
Twenties. Sixties in opening and closing. Silent-film actress from Indiana. Introspective, sharp-tongued, but actually lacks confidence. Alto and belt.
"Ramón" Novarro
b. 1899Durango, Mexico
Twenties. Sixties in final scene. Charming triple threat from Durango, Mexico. Religiously devout, driven, but unfocused. Leading man voice.
"Rex" Ingram
b. 1892Dublin, Ireland
Thirties. Visionary Dublin-born silent-film director. Uncompromising perfectionist. Bari-tenor.
Herbert "Howe"
b. 1893Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Thirties. Popular Hollywood journalist with savage wit. Baritone.
Louis B. "Mayer"
b. 1884Ukraine
Forties. Ukrainian- born studio executive. A mensch, but also an overbearing father figure with eye on the bottom line. Bass baritone.
"Joan" Crawford
b. 1904San Antonio, Texas
Twenties. Charleston dance champion destined for Hollywood royalty. Loves her gays, especially HAINES. Mezzo.
William "Haines"
b. 1900Staunton, Virginia
Twenties. Sixties in final scene. Comic silent-film actor. Rugged athlete on-camera, flamboyant Southern dandy off-. Tenor.
"June" Mathis
b. 1887Leadville, Colorado
Thirties. Colorado firecracker turned top-notch Hollywood writer/producer. REX’s ex-fling in three scenes. ENSEMBLE rest of the show. Mezzo.
Irving "Thalberg"
b. 1899Brooklyn, New York
Twenties. MAYER’s clever young protégé.
"Rudolph" Valentino
b. 1895Castellaneta, Italy
Thirties. Hot-headed Italian actor in ACT ONE. Famous drag performer “KARYL” NORMAN in ACT TWO. Bari-tenor.
"Karyl" Norman
b. 1897Baltimore, Maryland
Female impersonator of the 1920s at the Café Bohème in Los Angeles. Known for her impersonation of Joan Crawford. “RUDOLPH” VALENTINO in ACT ONE.
MALE ENSEMBLE
MARIANO
RAMÓN’s brother in opening. The ghost of an AZTEC RULER in the rest of the show.
MALCOLM
ALICE’s butler in opening and closing. Also works as director FRED NIBLO and EMCEE.
PAUL
Twenty-two. A hustler in finale, CONQUISTADOR, POLICEMAN, and CAMERAMAN in the rest of the show.
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TOM
Seventeen. PAUL’s younger brother, also a hustler. CONQUISTADOR, POLICEMAN, and GAFFER/PROP BOY in the rest of the show.
BEDOUIN CHIEFTAIN
A desert sheik in Tunisia. Also plays silent film star FRANCIS X. “BUSHMAN” in at end of ACT ONE.
GAUCHOS, TANGO MUSICIANS, DRAG QUEENS, BEDOUIN TRIBESMEN
FEMALE ENSEMBLE
BELITA
Twenties. ALICE’s Mexican maid in opening and closing. Tango dancer BEATRIZ and BELLY DANCER in ACT ONE, and RAMÓN’s younger sister CARMEN and BERBER WOMAN in ACT TWO.
COUNTESS
Sixties. Actress in “Scaramouche” scene. Plays OLD WOMAN and actress GLORIA SWANSON at end of ACT TWO.
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THREE OBSESSED FANS also playing PROSTITUTES, MEXICAN CLEANING LADIES, MGM GODDESSES, BEDOUIN WOMEN, and MOURNERS.