ELDER, Male, 60+, Indigenous. An Elder who accepts tobacco from Stevie while attending a classroom visit. INDIGENOUS

MR. ELIJAH GREYEYES, Male, 2S, 20s-40s, Indigenous. Stevie’s teacher. A cool, young, caring teacher who is also the kids’ volleyball coach in the community. Preference given to 2S/Two Spirited people for this role. INDIGENOUS

Ana is a Portuguese woman in her 70-80s, who immigrated to Toronto from Madeira, Portugal in the 1960s. She is spiritual and superstitious, and a good practicing catholic. When she wakes up believing she has risen from the dead, she is focused and determined to understand the meaning behind this by giving a final Easter dinner.

Afonso is ex-Ana's husband, though he remains her only acquaintance since her sister’s death. Having lived a life of hard, manual labour, he is practical, logical, and as a result, brutish. Wanting deeply to keep his Portuguese traditions alive, his practicalness typically prevents him from doing so. Sceptical of Ana’s supernatural theories, he does not entertain her proposition that she has been brought back from the dead, wishing only for a predictable dinner.

Gabriel is Ana and Afonso's 30-year-old son. A Canadian child, he doesn’t particularly care for his Portuguese heritage, and is impartial to keeping its traditions alive, never growing roots in his culture. He is oblivious to the emotional states of his parents, causing him to seek infantile comforts during dinner.

The Priest of Ana’s church. Reasoning but polite, always choosing his words wisely, religious faith is more science than mysticism. When Ana confesses that she believes she's risen from the dead, he meets her with kindness, but finding it difficult to believe, suggests reason and sense.

The face of Paradise Property, he is robotic, corporate, and artificially friendly. He is all smiles and positivity, despite giving the news that your house is being taken away. When confronted with emotions from Ana (the tenant of whom he is taking the apartment away), he is clumsy in reaction, locked up by his lack of humanity.

Naomi is vibrant, magnetic, and effortlessly charming—the kind of person who lights up a room without trying. She’s fun, extroverted, and easy to get along with, often the life of the party, but beneath that ease is a deeply thoughtful and emotionally perceptive woman.

Peter is charming, intelligent, and quietly disarming. New to the city, he carries a sense of openness and curiosity that makes him easy to connect with—thoughtful in conversation, playful in moments, and emotionally present in ways that feel real. He isn’t intentionally careless, but he’s unanchored; he values his independence and the freedom of his current life, often avoiding difficult truths rather than confronting them directly.

Socially withdrawn and stuck in a repetitive routine, Paul is intelligent but painfully shy and awkward in social situations. He secretly admires his neighbour Emily and longs for connection, but fear and self-doubt keep him isolated. Paul wants to engage with life but freezes when opportunities arise. His story is about confronting his fears, stepping outside his comfort zone, and learning that life is unpredictable and sometimes brutally so.

Ray is a mischievous, bored and comedic guardian angel with a sardonic sense of humour and a love for chaos. He observes Paul with both judgment and amusement and intervenes when he believes it will shake Paul out of his rut. Ray is confident, manipulative, and eccentric, convinced that his interference is for Paul’s own good, even if his methods are reckless.

Emily is quick-witted, playful, and socially confident, with a dry sense of humor and an effortless charm. She naturally takes the lead in conversations, teasing in a way that feels easy and genuine rather than forced. Outgoing and self-assured, she brings Paul into her world with curiosity and amusement, seeing him as harmless and slightly awkward. While she can come across as flirty, it stems more from her personality than any real romantic intent. Emily is perceptive, independent, and comfortable in her own space, moving through life on her own terms.

Male, 40’s, white. The embodiment of spiritual appropriation—a guy who has built an empire by commodifying ancient practices. Draped in flowing white linen (because purity sells). Equal parts serenity and self-importance, his image is meticulously crafted. Charismatic yet dangerously persuasive, beneath the surface, he’s a master manipulator who uses his influence to blur boundaries and maintain control. Vibe: Krishna Das/Jarad Leto

BEAT THE CLOCK Black woman - playwright, unapologetically self-focused, a creative perfectionist. In Alana's desperate, chaotic quest to secure an apartment, last minute on July 1st, she accepts her classmate Bings unexpected offer to help, which challenges her narrow outlook. Through their whirlwind day together, Alana confronts her own flaws and begins to understand with Bing's help the value of empathy, sparking the first steps toward personal growth.

BEAT THE CLOCK Syrian. Radiates a contagious optimism, seeing possibility and hope even in the toughest situations. His presence is magnetic, a mix of humor and warmth that draws people in and makes him a natural confidant. When Alana faces the chaos of apartment hunting, Bing steps in without hesitation, embodying the role of a selfless friend who’s always there when needed. His support goes beyond mere assistance, revealing his deeply compassionate and generous spirit. ****MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S License****

BEAT THE CLOCK River is openhearted / wise / free-spirit - Indigenous

MILO Vietnamese-Canadian. Small in stature but towering in resilience. Since her father’s passing, she’s shouldered the responsibility of caring for her younger brother and heartbroken mother, stepping into a role far beyond her years. Her maturity contrasts with her youth, revealing a quiet strength and unwavering loyalty. In her pet Milo, Julie finds her only confidant—a silent friend who carries her secrets and fears, especially her worry about what lies ahead for both of them.

MILO . Julie’s mother Vietnamese MUST SPEAK VIETNAMESE & FRENCH / ENGLISH WITH ACCENT a woman frozen in the shadow of grief, struggling to find her footing after the sudden loss of her husband. Her once-vibrant presence is now muted, shrouded in a quiet sorrow that isolates her from her surroundings. The depth of her depression forms a wall between her and her children, leaving her adrift in her own emotions, unable to fully reach out to the family she still has.

MILO Vietnamese-Canadian. Julie's little brother, Kai, is a burst of boundless energy and charisma. Despite not fully comprehending his family's situation, he possesses an incredible ability to shield himself from sadness, determined to infuse his everyday life with joy and positivity.

ASSIMILATION: Korean-Canadian. Determined to carve out a life with her boyfriend, Charles, envisioning a future where they can share a space away from outside influences. However, she can’t ignore her growing discomfort with Charles’ close relationship with his mother, a bond that seems to cast a shadow over their own. As the story unfolds, Sylvia’s eyes are gradually opened to the complex, unsettling dynamics within Charles' family, sparking a transformation within herself that she hadn’t anticipated.