The Music of Yellow Rose

EMILY WEST: 20, female-identifying,  light-skinned biracial (Black & White). Strong, independent, fiercely intelligent. A top-notch singer and musician, trained in classical voice and piano. At the top of the show, she has trouble finding her way in life, but she develops courage and conviction as she faces life or death decisions in Texas. Backstory: Emily escaped to New England on her own from enslavement and sexual abuse at the hands of her White father when she was a child. Emily doesn’t feel at home in either the Black or White world of 1830s New England. Dubbed the “Yellow Rose”—in that era, a light-skinned Black person was called “high yellow.” Vocal range: Alto, Ab3-E5. Can be Mezzo/Soprano.

SANTA ANA: 41, male-identifying, Mexican/Latine. President of Mexico and head General of the Mexican Troops putting down the Texas Revolution of 1835. Charismatic but not classically handsome, a notorious womanizer, cultured, a genius with serious personality flaws, bloodthirsty, lust for power, eccentric, impulsive, narcissistic personality disorder, self-named “Napoleon of the West.” He was quite short. Vocal range: Baritone F2-G4.

LEVI GATES: 28, male-identifying, Black. Noble and intelligent dock foreman, incurable romantic, virtuous, pragmatic, loner, walks with a limp from a dock accident. As a free Black man in New Haven, Connecticut, he grew up in a thriving and prosperous Black community of its day. Vocal range: Baritone: F2-G4.

CAPTAIN JAMES MORGAN: 48, male-identifying, White. Visionary, pioneer, brave, friendly, daring, loyal, risk-taker, devoted husband, natural leader, the Future of Texas. He came to Texas to develop a utopian colony called New Washington, where all people could work and live free. Morgan brought a number of society “rejects” to settle his colony, people from Scotland, Ireland, and free Black settlers. Vocal range: Baritone: F2-G4.

CELIA MORGAN: 45, female-identifying, White. Wife of James; she is savvy and practical. She is a no-nonsense pioneer woman with a heart of gold. Celia is a devoted and loyal wife who shares her husband’s dream of a free Texas. Vocal range: Alto Ab3-C5.

JOSE TORNEL: 40, male-identifying, Mexican/Latine of Spanish descent. Santa Anna’s primary aide-de-camp and Minister of War. He was also responsible for crafting the brand of Santa Anna and catapulting him to international fame. Tornel is a closeted gay man, and in love with his boss. Vocal range: Tenor.

MAJOR GEORGE HOCKLEY: 33, male-identifying, White. Arrogant artillery officer in the Texian Army. After Texas wins its independence from Mexico, Hockley is the chief enforcer of “getting back to normal,” i.e., reinstating slavery and guns across the Republic of Texas—two cherished Texas traditions that Mexico had outlawed. Vocal range: Tenor. Also plays Jamie.

REV. SIMEON JOCELYN: 58, male-identifying, White. A fiery abolitionist preacher from New Haven, Connecticut. He founded the Dixwell Congregational Church, which has become the oldest continuously operating Black church in the world. He later handed over leadership to Rev. James Pennington. Jocelyn devoted his life to the education of free and formerly enslaved African-Americans. Vocal range: Bass. Also plays Dickie, Texian Man 2, Texian Soldier 2.

REV. JAMES PENNINGTON: 28, male-identifying, Black. Gifted orator and preacher, his many achievements early in life have made him pompous and self-absorbed. At age 20, he escaped from enslavement in Maryland and fled to Connecticut. He was the first Black person to study at Yale University, and later earned an honorary doctorate during his studies at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, as he was denied advanced education in the U.S. An ordained minister, he was a noted author, church leader, and activist for Black causes. Vocal range: Baritone. Also plays Mexican Soldier 2 (1 line), Joe, and Black Man 2.

DOÑA MARIA DE SAN CRISTOBAL: 50’s-70s, female-identifying, Mexican/Latina of Spanish descent. She has a regal and imperious bearing. Doña Maria was head of a proud Spanish family, one of the first Spanish families to settle in Mexico. Vocal range: Alto. Also plays Mexican Woman 2.

ENSEMBLE 1: 20s-30s, male-identifying, Mexican/Latine. Plays Cardinal, Mexican Man 1, Mexican Soldier. Vocal range: Tenor.

ENSEMBLE 2: 20s-30s, female-identifying, Mexican/Latine. Plays Mexican Woman 1. Vocal range: Soprano.

ENSEMBLE 3: 20s-30s, female-identifying, Black. Plays Betty, Black Woman 1. Vocal range: Alto.

ENSEMBLE 4: 20’s-30s, female-identifying, Black. Plays Sally, Black Woman 2. Vocal range: Alto.

ENSEMBLE 5: 50+, male-identifying, Black. Vocal range: Low bass.

ENSEMBLE 6: 30s,male-identifying, Black. Plays Ray, Black Man 1. Vocal range: Baritone.

ENSEMBLE 7: 20s-30s, male-identfying, White. Plays Tom, Texian Man 1, White Male 1, White Soldier 1. Vocal range: Either baritone or tenor.

Other Roles TBD to fill out song/dance ensembles