Auditions for Mame

Mame Dennis

an irrepressible socialite, who adopts her deceased conservative brother’s son and shows him a wild world of drinking, dancing, and indulgences.  She is a survivor – losing all her money, getting repeatedly fired, falling in love, losing her husband, and even potentially her beloved nephew.  But her upbeat attitude and unwavering moral compass keeps her uplifted and lifting those around her, no matter what befalls her.

Young Patrick/Older Patrick

played by two different people, is a young, impressionable, sweet boy, who is drawn into Mame’s world, but is torn from it by the conservative banker his father left as his trustee.  As he ages, he falls into a world of the snooty, wealthy elite and, but ultimately succumbs to Mame’s machinations to his great benefit.

Vera Charles

Mame’s best friend.  A famous stage actress, who continues to play young parts, though she is far too old for them.  She is a serious drunk, partier, and Mame’s number one sidekick in her adventures.

Agnes Gooch

Patrick’s nanny and later Mame’s secretary.  Agnes is almost nun-like at the outset, overwhelmed by Mame’s wild world.  But she too is drawn into Mame’s charismatic charm and takes a spin in the wild world of wanton women and ends up an unwed mother, returning to Mame for support, who, of course, takes her in. 

Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside

meets Mame when she tries to manicure him and gouges him, leading her to be fired from yet another job.  But he finds her, brings her home to meet his family at Peckerwood, and serenades her (Mame) when she shows that even a Yankee girl who has never ridden a horse before can ride the wildest horse side saddle and capture the fox.  He takes her on a ten-year honeymoon, which ends with him falling off the Matterhorn. 

Dwight Babcock

Patrick’s Trustee, from the Knickerbocker bank, who is appalled by Mame’s lifestyle and sends Patrick to his alma mater to be appropriately raised.  He is close friends with the Upsons, to whose daughter Patrick becomes engaged, to his great delight. 

Ito

Mame’s houseboy, who adores Mame and even works for her for free after the stock market crash.  He supports Mame and Agnes in everything they do and is very much part of Mame’s family. 

Gloria Upson

Patrick’s fiancée, who is a snooty, airhead, who dotes on Patrick and says all the wrong things.

Mr. and Mrs. Upson

Gloria’s parents, who entertain Mame at their home in Mountebank, letting her know of their plans to buy the neighboring property for the newlyweds to avoid undesirables from moving in.  Then they attend a cocktail party at Mame’s house where they are appalled that she has bought the property out from under them for a home for unwed mothers.  

Sally Cato

Beau’s former girlfriend who is out to get Mame and set her up to ride the wildest horse side saddle in an attempt to get rid of her.

Mother Burnside

Beau’s mother, a crotchety Southern matriarch, who disdains any Yankee, especially one who might wed her beloved son.  But she is turned by Mame’s amazing accomplishment during the hunt and joins in when her son lauds his intended (Mame). 

Pegeen Ryan

Mame’s sweet Irish interior decorator, who falls in love and marries Patrick.

Peter Dennis

Patrick and Pegeen’s son, who stands up to his parents when Mame offers to take him for the summer to India and they begrudgingly accept.  He, like his dad, falls into Mame’s fantastic world of unrelenting positivity.