Lead Character Descriptions
Alex
Alex, the lion, is the main attraction at the Central Park Zoo and undoubtedly “The King of New York
City.” He’s a fun-loving fella whose devotion to steak is matched only by his devotion to his friends.
Cast a great singer and actor but most importantly, someone who has that magnetic quality of a showman.
Marty
Marty is a zebra with dreams of exploring beyond the confines of the Central Park Zoo and into the wild.
Cast a young man who is a solid singer and actor who also possesses a sweet disposition. You want your
audience to root for Marty. He should be a perfect complement to Alex.
Gloria
Gloria, the hippopotamus, is a bold young lady with a maternal streak that shines when she’s with her
three closest friends: Alex, Marty and Melman. This a great part for a performer who can act, sing and
who can serve as the caretaker of the group.
Melman
Melman is a kind-hearted giraffe who is a bit of a hypochondriac. He’s always just a little bit nervous,
but when it comes down to it, he’ll rise to the situation. Pick a performer who can sing well but more
notably, can carve out this comedic part with strong acting choices.
The Penguins
The Penguins are a group of birds on a mission: bust out of the zoo and return home to Antarctica.
Skipper serves as the captain of the group, giving orders with ease and command. Kowalski is Skipper’s
second-in-command and a dutiful one at that. Rico is the brute of the group and can karate chop anything
in sight. Private’s primary job in the group is to maintain the cute and fuzzy disguise. Cast these four
primary roles with performers who work well together. This is a fun opportunity to cast your youngest
performers.
The Zookeepers
The Zookeepers introduce the crowds to all the sights and attractions of the Central Park Zoo. Zookeeper
Zelda, Zookeeper Zeke and Zookeeper Zoe are perfect parts for proficient musicians and actors who can
express a real excitement and passion for the animals. Zelda has a large solo in the opening, so cast
your best singer amongst the Zookeepers in that role.
Mason
Mason is a chimpanzee with a bone to pick: though highly intelligent, his species seems to get a bad
reputation for being simpleminded, and he takes that quite personally. This is a great acting role for a
performer who can make bold choices from the get-go.
The Lemurs
The Lemurs are a wild band of creatures native to Madagascar trying desperately to avoid being eaten by
the cat-like creatures called the Fossa. King Julien is their leader and the perfect part for the
comedian of your company who can sing, dance, act and has intuitive comedic timing. Maurice is King
Julien’s assistant who is not so welcoming to Madagascar’s new inhabitants. This part is perfect for an
actor who can convey distrust and disinterest while still being a powerful second-in-command to King
Julien. Mort is the littlest of the Lemurs, who can barely speak. Find a young, small, sweet performer
who possesses a sense of comedy. Lynn, Lew, Lee and Lars are fun smaller roles for young actors with
bold personalities.
The Foosa
The Fossa are cat-like predators with an appetite for Lemurs! The Fossa Leader is the biggest and
baddest of the Fossa and is feared by most of the creatures in Madagascar. Cast an actor who has a great
imagination for creating a larger-than-life creature who can strike fear with one look. For the rest of
Fossa, choose an ensemble that can create a dominating pack of predators.
Servers
Servers #1, #2 and #3 are imagined servers in Alex’s dream when he starts to desire meat desperately!
Cast three performers who can both dance and sing well and work as a unit well together.
The Lionesses
The Lionesses are a group of lady lions and Alex’s background singers and dancers. These are great
featured roles for dancers.
Camaraman, Candy Hammernose, Passerby, Old Lady, Police Officer #1 and #2, Animal Control
Officers, Newspaper Man and Ship's Captain
Camaraman, Candy Hammernose, Passerby, Old Lady, Police Officer #1 and #2, Animal Control Officers,
Newspaper Man and Ship's Captain are all great cameo roles with speaking lines. Remember! No role is too
small, and each one serves to create the larger picture of the world of Madagascar JR., so cast a
colorful group of characters in these fun roles.
New Yorkers and Animals
The New Yorkers and Animals are two separate ensemble groups that are essential for setting up the world
of the Central Park Zoo. Remind these groups to be bold, specific and full of energy to kick off the
show with a bang!