Set amidst the blood thirst of the French Revolution, Jill Santoriello's musical adaptation of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities follows the story of Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, and Sydney Carton. As romantic tensions linger, political unrest corrupts the foundations of France. The musical transitions between London, Paris, and their respective countrysides as we encounter the depths of human corruption and the extent of loving sacrifice.

There are 11 Principle Roles (7 Men, 3 Women, 1 Girl) and 9 featured Ensemble roles. A minimum of 4 Men and Women are required for ensemble, 6 Men and 6 Women preferred for 3-part singing in places.

CHARACTERS

DR. ALEXANDRE MANETTE - French doctor unjustly imprisoned in the Bastille for 17 years. Father of Lucie (Bari/tenor sings to a G)

LUCIE MANETTE - Manette's young daughter. Thought orphaned as a child. Loved by Darnay and Carton (Soprano sings to Bb)

MR. JARVIS LORRY - English banker who adopts the Manettes as a surrogate family (non-singing)

MISS PROSS - Lucie Manette's no-nonsense english nanny and friend (singing optional)

JACQUES #1 AND 2/ ENSEMBLE - 2 French peasants working toward revolution

GASPARD/ENSEMBLE - French peasant whose child is run down by the Marquis St. Evremonde. (Baritone)

LITTLE GASPARD/ENSEMBLE - Gaspard's little boy, killed by the carriage of Marquis.

MADAME THERESE DEFARGE - Patient wide of Defarge who supports his dream of revolution in France (Strong belt; must belt/mix to E)

ERNEST DEFARGE - Manette's old servant. Wine merchant and budding revolutionary (Bari-tenor sings to G/optional A)

MARQUIS ST. EVREMONDE/ENSEMBLE - Predatory, immoral French aristocrat. Uncle to Darnay (Baritone sings to F#)

GABELLE/ENSEMBLE - Servant to the Marquis. Friend to Darney (Baritone)

CHARLES DARNAY aka EVREMONDE - Good-hearted, upstanding young French aristocrat. Marries Lucie. (Bari-tenor sing to Ab)

JOHN BARSAD - Turncoat English con-man and spy. In the pay of the Marquis. (Baritone)

JERRY CRUNCHER - English off-job man for Mr. Lorry. Moonlights as a graverobber. (Baritone)

SYDNEY CARTON - Drunken, careless English lawyer in love with Lucie Manette. (Baritone low G to G, 2 octaves)

STRYVER/ENSEMBLE - Blustering senior barrister; Carton's employer. (Baritone)

ATTORNEY GENERAL/ENSEMBLE - Smug showman prosecuter in cahoots with Barsad against Darnay. (Bass/Baritone)

CRONIES #1 AND #2/ENSEMBLE - Jerry Cruncher's shovel wielding fellow graverobbers (solo singing)

MRS. CRUNCHER/ENSEMBLE - Jerry's prayerful, nervous spouse

LITTLE LUCIE - Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette's little girl. (solo singing)

FRENCH PRESIDENT/ENSEMBLE - Presides over the Tribunal in Paris.

YOUNG MAN/ENSEMBLE - Early to late teens, young peasant mortally wounded by the Marquis. (Tenor sings to A)

SEAMSTRESS/ENSEMBLE - Timid, young woman unjustly condemned to die on the guillotine. (Lyric soprano sings to D)

TRUNKEY/ENSEMBLE - Guard in the Parisian prison of La Force where Darnay is kept.

In addition to the featured ensemble roles above, the following roles will be cast from the Ensemble:
BAILIFF, JUDGE, SOLDIER, YOUNG WOMAN, MARQUIS' BROTHER, MARQUISE DE GARON, CHILD, NUMBER KEEPER.

​ ENSEMBLE
The ensemble is a critical part of the flow and movement of the show, and will be featured in many different ways throughout. We are looking for very strong singers, and although this isn't a heavy "dance" show, we are looking to see a range of contrasting movement styles -- from the base, grungy and solicitous to the dainty, affected and aristocratic. We would like to see people who feel comfortable moving by themselves and with others in the background of the story: from building crowd scenes to building stage combat, from physicalizing gunshots and aristocrats to elegant waltzers and to playing more than one character believably. Much of the story is told through the atmosphere and locations set by the ensemble's movement, so the ability to be a risk-taking, creative, receptive and flexible group member is critical. In addition to strong singing and movement skills, "plays well with others" is a great talent to have in this casting situation!