The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Female, 10 (Range: Young Voice, Ab3-D5) A ten-year-old girl sent to live with her uncle, Archibald, when her parents die from cholera in India. Quite the curious explorer, and often finding herself in trouble. Stubborn and always fighting for what she believes in.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Archibald’s housekeeper. As cold as the Misselthwaite Manor.

Male, 35-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-F#4) Archibald’s brother. Trapped by the idea that he is responsible for the caretaking of Colin. Though Lily never loved him in return, he remains in love with her, and is unwilling to move on and leave Misselthwaite.

Female, 18-30 (Range: Mezzo-Soprano Belt, G3-D5) A faithful housemaid. Grew up near Yorkshire and has the accent to prove it. Although she is from a lower-class family, her wisdom is often far beyond her age.

Male, 35-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-A4) Mary’s uncle and lord of Misselthwaite Manor. He has a hunchback. Haunted by the past and afraid of the future, he locks himself away both physically and mentally. Mary painfully reminds him too much of his wife, Lily, who died ten years ago.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible, E3-D#4) Head gardener. Secretly entrusted to take care of the garden after Lily’s death. Knows a great deal about the history of the garden and the grounds it sits on. He has worked for the family for many years. He calls himself “an old man.”

Male, 16-25 (Range: Tenor, D3-G4) Martha’s younger brother. Looks after the sick plants and animals within the Misselthwaite grounds—including Mary. He is a young man who is between the world of child imagination and adult reasoning. Befriends Mary and convinces her to take care of the Garden.

Male, 10 (Range: Young Voice, A3-E5) Archibald’s ten year-old son. Spent his life in bed due to a heart condition. He is very stubborn and throws temper tantrums to get what he wants. He believes his father hates him for causing Lily’s death.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Headmistress of a private school. Prides herself on nurturing girls with tempers. Mary seems to be more than she can handle.The Following characters, referred to collectively as the Dreamers, are people from Mary’s life in India, who haunt her until she finds her new life in the course of the story. They are free to sing directly to us, appearing and disappearing at will.ROSE LENNOX – Female, 28-38 (Range: Soprano, A3-D6) Mary’s mother. A “dreamer” from the past who doesn’t understand how her sister Lily could truly love Archibald. Very loyal to her husband and refuses to leave India during the cholera outbreak that takes her life.

Male, 30-40 (Range: Tenor, D3-A5) Mary’s father. Tries to send Rose out of India during the cholera outbreak.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Rose’s friend.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer in Mary’s father’s unit.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Fellow officer.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Major Shelley’s wife.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Major Holmes’ wife.

Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-B4) Itinerant Hindu ascetic.

Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Mary’s Indian nanny.

Female, 28-38 (Range: Soprano, Bb3-D6) Mary’s aunt and Archibald Craven’s wife. Died of a tragic accident within her garden and metaphorically haunts the walls of Misselthwaite Manor.