LET THE RIGHT ONE IN by John Ajvide Lindqvist; adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne
(PART OF THE IC CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE MAINSTAGE SEASON)
Auditions August 25; to sign up please email scheideg@ithaca.edu
Rehearsals begin Sept 3 and the play runs October 10-13.
(actors rehearse 20+ hours per week M-F evenings and one or two Saturday afternoons)
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
All roles are open to actors of any race/ethnicity. Some actors will double as more than one role.
OSKAR, 12, he/him. Victim of bullying with fantasies of violence. Has the urge to fight back but
no means. Vulnerable, like a bunny without any sharp teeth yet. Falls in love with Eli. Stage
combat, rear nudity, intimacy.
JONNY, 12-14, he/him. If not older than Oskar, then certainly bigger and stronger. Bullies Oskar
in order to feel powerful. Stage combat, rear nudity.
MICKE, 12-14, he/him. If not older than Oskar, then certainly bigger and stronger. Jonny’s
shadow. Used to be friends with Oskar. Morally aware but not strong enough to stand up for
what’s right. Stage combat, rear nudity.
HAKAN, 45-55, he/him. Jealous. The real monster. Devoted to Eli and kills for her, but is
beginning to weaken. Stage combat.
TORKEL, 20+, he/him. A businessman and one of Hakan’s victims. Stage combat.
KURT, 30s, he/him. Sweet shop owner. Gentle hearted. Generous.
MUM, 30s, she/her. Oskar’s mother, separated from his father. Loving but drinks too much wine.
Her temper flares hot. Minimal stage combat.
ELI, 12 (or so it seems) In the text, the character of Eli is written to be AMAB,
femme-presenting, genderqueer, non-binary, she/they, any race/ethnicity. Needs to consume
human blood to live and relies on a caretaker like Hakan to collect it. Calm, calculated, hungry.
Superhuman athleticism and a soft spot for Oskar.
ELI: "My name used to be Elias Jannson. My name is now Eli."
ELI: "I’m not a boy...I’m nothing. Not a child. Not old. Not a boy. Not a girl. Nothing."
To cast Eli, we are seeking actors who are themselves genderqueer, non-binary, or
trans-identifying. The actor themselves does not need to fall into any AMAB- or AFAB-specific
categories. Stage combat, intimacy, rear nudity.
Please contact wdann@ithaca.edu if you’d like to learn more about the casting considerations
for Eli.
HALMBERG, 40-50, he/him. Dedicated–even obsessive–police commissioner following the
string of murders. Stage combat.
JOCKE, 30s, he/him. One of Eli’s victims. A wounded veteran who drinks too much. Helps
others. Stage combat.
MR. AVILA, 30s, he/him. Oskar’s gym teacher. Open-minded, supportive. Could have been the
hero. He means well, but falls short of protecting Oskar. Stage combat.
NILS, 20+, any pronouns. Hospital receptionist. Leaves their post to follow a lost child.
DAD, 35-45, he/him. Oskar’s father, separated from mother. He loves Oskar but alcohol and
distance get in the way.
JANNE, 35-55, he/him. Dad’s friend/enabler. Children are in the way.
JIMMY, 17-18, he/him. Jonny’s older brother. Insecurity has shaped this monster. Abusive,
profane, violent. Seeks out revenge for his brother. Stage combat.
STEFAN, 20+, any pronouns. A train conductor. Efficient, a concerned citizen.