CHARACTER/CAST BREAKDOWN

 

*Note: Because ‘Pushcart Tony’ spans the breadth of a man’s 59-year life, many of these parts are small and will only appear once.  Ideally, the actors of the ensemble will have the ability to play more than one role.

 

 

Flaga: (Narrator) Large and impressive. Middle-aged. Emphatic. Austere.

Lully: (Flaga’s sidekick) A tough teenage Bohemian kid from Chicago.

Tony Cermak: A sturdy and energetic player who effuses energy, industry and endeavor.

‘Big Bill’ Thompson: A massive man. Heavy and lumbering, but powerful.

Al Capone: As Capone in history.

Levak: (Coalmine Foreman) A hard, middle-aged man, dusty and stern.

Mares: (Coal Miner) An older, broken down worker.

Anton Cermak: (Tony’s Father) A strong young man. Resolute.

Catherine Cermak: (Tony’s Mother) Pretty. She is humble but matronly.

‘Fatty’ Cerveny: (Local Democratic Boss) A fat man, middle-aged, who means business.

Boss Brennan: (Big Boss of Chicago Democrats) An Irish firebrand. Older man.

Perry: (Brennan’s staffer) Young, skinny, spritely.

Franklin Roosevelt: As FDR in history.

Len Small: (Governor/Treasurer) A little corrupt man, mustache, bad suit.

Giuseppe Zangara: (Assassin) A tiny, demented Italian. Unshaven, half-dressed

Newsboy: An aggressive little ‘seller’ on the street.

Josef and Paul: (Towmen) Both tough Bohemian youths.

 

Mary Cermak: (Tony’s Wife) Young, pretty, demure.

 

Mirabelle: (Prostitute) A veteran of the street. Past her prime in beauty, but still sultry.

 

‘John': (Brothel Customer) Fairly meek, average John.

 

Castle Garden Guard 1: (George) Heavy-set, cynical.

 

Castle Garden Guard 2: (Lou) Slender, also cynical.

 

Irish Gang Leader: Young, slender, tough.

 

Old Woman From Neighborhood: Older ethnic woman.

 

Old Man From Neighborhood: Older ethnic man.

 

Hattie McKann: (Leader, Ladies of Temperance) A very slender older woman.

 

William Dever: (Reform Mayor of 1924) An older man of integrity and action.

 

‘Carnival Barker': A caricature of old. Will sing bridge in song, ‘World’s Fair’.

 

Mrs. Needleman: (Tony Cermak’s Secretary) A strict old-fashioned secretary type.

 

GANGSTERS: There is an assortment of these men, but they are stereotypes.

 

Homeless Man: Average, down-on-his luck worker.

 

Aldermen Simpson and Vick: Both young and nervous.

 

Assemblyman Walsh: Older man, austere speaker.

 

Assemblyman Blair and Tarkenton: Both prickly, middle-aged.

 

Ed Kelly: (Cermak Colleague) Middle-aged politician type.

 

*Assorted Ensemble Members playing: REPORTERS, GENERAL ASSEMBLYMEN, THE LADIES OF TEMPERANCE, THE UNITED SOCIETIES and TAVERN PATRONS OF CHICAGO’S SW SIDE.