Character Breakdown

Name of Character: Onyx

Type of Role: Lead

Gender: Male

Age Range: Young Adult

Vocal Part: Tenor

Vocal Range: C3 – B4

Description: Onyx is a young man who’s determined to make it through the Frost Forest with his fiancé Rose.  As the two travel through the forest, Onyx becomes distracted and has to face the challenges within the woods.  Rose often has to redirect him and remind him of the goal.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: Black shirt, pants, boots, hooded cloak.  Silver belt.  Black hair/wig 

Props: Silver dagger

ACT II: 

Costume: Black gloves 

Props: Silver dagger, fur/ears added to cloak for transformation 

 

Name of Character: Rose

Type of Role: Lead

Gender: Female

Age Range: Young Adult

Vocal Part: Soprano

Vocal Range: B3 – C6 (Rose screams a C6 at the end of one of her numbers!)

Description: Rose is an optimistic young woman who believes that love conquers all.  She travels through the Frost Forest with her fiancé Onyx.  She becomes concerned when she notices that Onyx seems more keen on conquering the monsters of the forest rather than finding a way out.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: Pink dress with a rose pattern/embroidery, pink cloak, white or pink ribbons in her hair 

ACT II: 

Costume: a tattered, ghostly version of her ACT I clothing (pink, with more gray/white) (i.e GHOST OF ROSE) 

 

Name of Character: Elvera (pronounced AL-VE-RA)

Type of Role: Lead

Gender: Female

Age Range: Adult

Vocal Part: Soprano

Vocal Range: B3 – A5

Description: Elvera the Snow Queen resides in the Frost Forest and has a pack of Winter Wolves to protect her.  These wolves were once humans from the nearby Village.  The Queen tricks those into thinking that intimacy can only lead to heartbreak.  She then offers to transform them into an unfeeling wolf.  Elvera believes she is doing the right thing; essentially saving them self-destruction.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: white dress & cape, silver chain belt, white/silver wig 

Props: Silver staff & crown 

ACT II: 

Costume: a bloodstained, ghostly version of her ACT I outfit (i.e GHOST OF ELVERA) 

Props: crown only (Arcadio has her staff now) 

 

Name of Character: Rainard

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Male

Age Range: Mature Adult (late 40s, early 50s)

Vocal Part: Baritone

Vocal Range: G2 – G4

Description: Rainard is the master of the Village and Rose’s father.  He creates the Test of Love Tournament in an effort to keep the Snow Queen at bay.  He always tries to keep what’s best for the group in mind, however sometimes he can be selfish and even desperate.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: brown shirt & pants, golden belt, red cape, brown hat with a red feather 

Props: he carries a sword with him, but we never see him wield it 

ACT II: 

Costume: same as ACT I 

Props: same as ACT I 

 

Name of Character: Ivy (The White Wolf)

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Female

Age Range: Adult  

Vocal Part: Mezzo-Soprano

Vocal Range: A3 – F5 (typical range), two numbers include A5

Description: Ivy is a cautious woman who travels through the Frost Forest with her fiancé Hawthorne.  They’re the first couple to do so.  She gets nervous and runs away.  Fueled by her fear of heartbreak, she is tricked by Elvera and opts to turn into a Winter Wolf.  She becomes Alpha of the Pack.

Costumes:

ACT I, SCENE II & III 

Costume: light green dress with short sleeves, silver arm bands, dark green cloak, short brown hair, silver-chain choker 

Costume change needed SCENE III into WHITE WOLF (when lights turn off). Remains WHITE WOLF all throughout ACT I 

Costume: white/gray dress, white fur cloak, short white wig/fur/ears

ACT II: 

Costume: SCENE I - same as WHITE WOLF

SCENE II AND BEYOND is QUEEN IVY: light green dress from opening (unless it is a different green dress with an ivy design on the hem?) embellished with silver jewelry, silver-chain choker, dark green cloak now has white fur trim, her hair is short brown with a white streak, long light green gloves 

Props: Silver crown with emerald gems 

 

Name of Character: The Winter Wolves

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Mixed Male and Female Group (5 total, 1 of which can be WILLOW, a female)

Age Range: Young Adult to Adult

Vocal Part: Mixed Chorus (SATB), preferred higher range for carrying “howls” 

Vocal Range: E2 – A5

Description: The Winter Wolves are betrothed human couples who failed to make it through the Frost Forest. Some of them enjoy their new life, while others regret their choice.  They do not know how to break the curse and are forced to follow the commands of the Snow Queen.

Costumes:

ACT I: simple black or gray matching shirts and pants, a few remain as wolves (i.e clothes have more fur/ears, WHITE WOLF, ARCADIO) 

ACT II: black and gray clothes from ACT I now have emerald green capes, signifying they’re part of their own community under QUEEN IVY 

 

Name of Character: Hawthorne

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Male

Age Range: Adult  

Vocal Part: Baritone

Vocal Range: G2 – E4, “My Dear Beloved Ivy” contains a F-sharp 2

Description: Hawthorne resides in the Village, is the first solo survivor of the Tournament, and is betrothed to Ivy.  When Ivy runs away, he waits in the Frost Forest for her to return. His love for her is strong; making him untouchable to the Winter Wolf curse.  NOTE: This character often dramatically yells “Ivy!” after she runs away, similarly to “Stella!” in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ Try not to make it too comedic when the moment is serious.

Costumes:

ACT I: green shirt, brown pants, dark green cloak 

Props: gives silver-chain choker to Ivy 

ACT II: King Hawthorne – green shirt, brown pants, golden belt, dark green cape with white fur trim 

Props: Golden crown with emerald gems 

 

Name of Character: Oweyn

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Male

Age Range: Adult  

Vocal Part: Baritone

Vocal Range: G2 – E4

Description: Oweyn resides in the Village and is a close friend of Rainard.  He respectfully keeps his companion on the side of reason as opposed to giving into personal motivations.

Costumes:

ACT I: brown shirt, black pants & belt, brown cloak, black hat 

ACT II: same as ACT I 

 

Name of Character: Arcadio / Villager

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Male

Age Range: Adult  

Vocal Part: Baritone

Vocal Range: G2 – E4

Description: Arcadio is the first person to be captured by Elvera.  Despite this, Elvera only makes him Beta of the Pack.  Although Arcadio is a bit miffed at her decision, it doesn’t quell his lust for the Snow Queen who “saved him.”

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costumes: Villager – brown shirt & pants; Wolf – brown shirt & pants, brown cloak with fur trim/ears

ACT II: 

Costumes: Royal advisor – brown shirt & pants, silver belt, black cape with green interior & a silver trim, black hat with a green feather 

Props: Elvera’s silver staff 

 

Name of Character: Princess Willow / Winter Wolf

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Female

Age Range: Late Teen (18)    

Vocal Part: Soprano

Vocal Range: C4 – A5

Description: Princess Willow is the adopted daughter of Queen Ivy and King Hawthorne.  She feels ashamed that she was tricked by Elvera and decided to join the Winter Wolves.  The 18-year-old wishes to return to the Village where she came from in an effort to find her family and learn more about who she truly is.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: Winter Wolf – gray shirt & pants 

ACT II:

Costumes: Princess Willow –  purple dress, black sleeves, silver jewelry, emerald green cape with light gray fur trim 

SCENE III: Purple nightgown 

Props: silver crown with emerald gems, history book (SCENE III)

 

 

Name of Character: Pine / Villager

Type of Role: Supporting

Gender: Male  

Age Range: Young Adult

Vocal Part: Tenor

Vocal Range: B2 – G4

Description: Pine is the loyal Wolf Guard to Queen Ivy. He would do anything to protect the Pack.  Pine confronts Arcadio and Rainard in the Frost Forest.

Costumes:

ACT I: 

Costume: Villager – dark green shirt & pants 

ACT II: 

Costume: Wolf Guard – silver armor over green shirt & pants, emerald cape, silver helmet 

Props: Silver spear, white/silver blanket to through over him when he’s frozen by a spell in SCENE V (or alternatively have lighting indicate something is different about him without being too distracting) 

Name of Character: The Village Ensemble

Type of Role: Ensemble

Gender: Mixed Chorus (male/female), 5 to 10 total (2 of which get speaking lines)

Age Range: Child to Elderly

Vocal Part: SATB

Vocal Range: E2 – A5

Description: The Village Ensemble is comprised of the people of the Village. They’re a traditional, superstitious bunch that wants nothing to do with the Snow Queen and Winter Wolves.

Costumes:

All VILLAGERS wear dark green or brown clothing.  These colors can be shades or hues of one another while remaining monochromatic and unified. 

The VILLAGE WOMAN primarily wear maxi dresses while the VILLAGE MEN wear pants.  I envision them as an old-fashioned, traditional, conservative, superstitious, and narrow-minded community.

During ACT I – SCENE I, the VILLAGERS can have cloaks with hoods up at STAGE LEFT to create a mysterious atmosphere as they talk about ARCADIO’s disappearance.  After this scene, only villagers ONYX, ROSE, RAINARD, OWEYN, and HAWTHORNE get distinguishing cloaks.