SHAREEN (Lead) Female, 6–8, to play 6, Egyptian/Palestinian/Lebanese
A sensitive, observant, and imaginative young girl. Shareen sees the world with wonder and quiet intelligence. Deeply attached to her family—especially her brother—she absorbs everything, even what is unspoken. Her journey is internal.

Notes: Requires strong nonverbal acting; expressive eyes; naturalism over precocity. Shareen is fluent in both Arabic and British English. A European/British accent required.

SHUKRY ( Lead ) Male, 8-10 to play 8, Egyptian/Palestinian/Lebanese
Shareen’s older brother. Spirited, proud, and impulsive, with a playful charm that masks vulnerability. Struggles to reconcile his father’s expectations with the cruelty he faces at school. His arc moves from boyish mischief to forced toughness as he confronts racism head-on.

Notes: Must handle emotional volatility and physicality; layered performance balancing innocence and rage. Fluent in Arabic and British English. A European/ British accent required.

SAMIA, MOM (Lead) Female mid-30s, Palestinian
Elegant, gentle, and quietly fragile. A loving mother holding herself together while navigating displacement, illness, and isolation. She longs for home and carries a deep emotional undercurrent of grief and exhaustion. Her warmth is constant, but so is her quiet unraveling.

Notes: Subtle, internal performance; ability to convey depth with minimal dialogue. Fluent in Arabic, British English and French. Mixed European/ Middle Eastern/ British accent required.

ABDALLAH, DAD, (Lead) Male, mid to late -30s Lebanese
A commanding patriarch and a young surgeon. A man who believes deeply in order, respectability, and the promise of America. He fears failure and shame, in a world that already diminishes him. His love is real, but often expressed through severity.

Notes: Strong presence; must balance authority with underlying vulnerability. Fluent in Arabic, British English and French. Mixed European/Middle Eastern/ British accent required.

ORIANA, ( baby sister) female, infant (6–18 months).
The youngest child. A symbol of innocence and hope. She anchors Shareen emotionally and represents the family’s future.

Notes: Non-speaking; expressive, responsive baby.

FAT CAROLINE, Female, 10–12, Black/African American
Bold, commanding, and protective. A natural leader with a strong moral compass. She takes Shareen under her wing and isn’t afraid to confront injustice head-on.

Notes: Strong personality; comedic edge with grounded authority.

CLARISSA, Female, 6–8, Black/African American
Shareen’s first friend. Quietly confident, observant, and kind. She recognizes Shareen’s isolation and reaches out with understated generosity. A bridge between worlds, offering connection without judgment.

Notes: Natural presence; warmth without sentimentality.

MR.HARVEY, Male, 50s, White, The Principal
Authoritative, dismissive, and casually prejudiced. Embodies institutional racism masked as “neutrality.”

Notes: Controlled, restrained performance; subtext-driven.

MISS BRASTER, Female, late 20s–early 30s, White, The Teacher
Warm, well-meaning, and outwardly welcoming, but unknowingly reinforces cultural otherness. Represents institutional innocence and blind spots.

Notes: Must balance kindness with unconscious bias.

MR. McCAVOY, Male, 40s, White, A Teacher
Gruff, pragmatic, and emotionally distant. More concerned with order than justice. Represents the system’s failure to protect.

Notes: Strong character presence; understated authority.

BOYS ONE AND TWO Male, 8–10, White
Tough kids expressing learned racism. Their cruelty escalates from teasing to violence.

Notes: Naturalistic performances; avoid caricature.

MARY ALICE, Female, 6, White, blonde
Timid, polite, and shaped by the unspoken rules of her environment.

Notes: Subtle performance; internal conflict over cruelty.

EDDIE, Male, 40s–50s, Any ethnicity, Janitor
Kind, observant, and quietly compassionate. One of the few adults who sees what’s happening clearly.

Notes: Small but meaningful role; grounded warmth.