Up The Down Staircase - Character List

Sylvia Barrett – a young first-year English teacher who wonders if she really knows what

                          teaching is all about. 

Beatrice Schachter – another teacher, a little older and more experienced than Sylvia.  She is

                                   energetic, enthusiastic, and becomes Sylvia's mentor and friend. Late in

                                   the show, she has one of the most important speeches.

J.J. McHabe - "Administrative Assistant" is his official title - he's the dean in charge of

                           discipline.  He is a complex person who comes across as strong and sometimes

                           angry, though he actually cares quite a lot for his teachers and students.

Paul Barringer - a young English teacher.  He is very much admired by the female students at

                            the school.  He actually hopes to be a writer - and will leave teaching as soon as

                            he's "discovered" as an author.

Ellen – Sylvia's best friend from home who offers advice and support.  She's never in the

             classroom, but corresponds with Sylvia by letter.  (She does appear on stage – just not in

             the classroom)

Joe Ferone – a hostile, handsome young man with a high I.Q. who is failing almost every subject.

                      He has a rough home life, so he doesn't trust/believe anyone, especially adults. 

Alice Blake – a romantic, sensitive student who develops a huge crush on Mr. Barringer. 

Lou Martin – the class comedian.  He loves to be the center of attention, though the audience

                       discovers that his jokes actually hide an offstage struggle occurring with his

                       family.

Frances Egan – the school nurse.  She cares very much about her students and truly wants to help,

                         but strict school and state regulations prevent her from really doing anything other

                          than offering the students a cup of tea and a listening ear.

Charlotte Wolf – the school librarian.  She is passionate and sincere in her love of literature, so

                       much so that she resents the students' use of her books.

Ella Friedenberg – the school guidance counselor.  She takes her job very seriously and often

                        provides psychiatric analysis of the students.  She very comfortably uses an

                         impressive vocabulary.

Sadie Finch – the chief office secretary (combine Mrs. Rassi with Mrs. Aberle!) Always

                       frantically busy since, most possibly, she runs the school.

Linda Rosen – a student who is wise, attractive, and popular.  Her entire focus, however, is not on

                       academics, but on boys.

Harry A. Kagan – a student who hopes to be the student body president – or the President of the

                         United States.  He always talks as though he were running for election. 

Katherine – a student "hall runner" who constantly interrupts Miss Barrett with "emergency"

                    announcements that are rarely as important as she thinks they are.

Fran – another student "hall runner," but unlike Katherine, Fran is bored with her job and rolls

             her eyes a lot.

Elizabeth Ellis – a student who wants to be in Creative Writing class instead of Miss Barrett's

                  English class.  She loves to read her poetry and other writings in an overly dramatic

                  way.

Lennie Neumark – Lou Martin's best friend.  Lou and Lennie share a lot of the comedy in the

                  classroom.

Jill Norris – a student who is involved in a lot of activities, especially running the school

                  newspaper.

Josie Rodriguez – a shy, lonely student who slowly emerges from her shell due to Miss Barrett's

                           encouragement.

Enid Williams – a sullen, suspicious student who wants/demands to be noticed.

Dr. Maxine Clarke – the school principal who loves to give motivational speeches using clichés.

Samuel Bester – a brilliant English teacher who is now in charge of the English department.  He is

             Sylvia's primary evaluator/boss.

Charles Arrons – a student who, though he likes to joke around, is a talented student and writer.

Carrie Blaine – an outspoken student who willingly states her opinions. She works hard both at school and

               at home.

Rusty O'Brien – After recently being "dumped" by a girlfriend, he's decided, temporarily, that girls are

                 dumb, but when he  meets Miss Barrett, he develops a bit of a crush on her.

Rachel Gordon – a student who, though she always appears to be disgusted, actually has a crush on Lou

                        Martin. 

Carole Blanca – Alice's best friend who announces that she is changing her name from Carmelita to

                Carole.  She stands by Alice through the troubles.

Vivian Paine – a student who has always been compared to an older sister, and has never felt happy until

                          Miss Barrett arrives.

Helen Arbuzzi – a student who drops out of school on the first day, but who returns at the end of the play to

                            try again.