PRINCESS BUTTERFLY CAST:

Butterfly/ Princess

Prince Handsome/ Dragonfly

Fairy Sprite

Fairy Queen

Fairy King

Count Charming

Mr. Leaf

Minotaur

Wolf

Imp

Goblin

Harpy

Bee/ Vaudeville Ant

Grasshopper

Firefly

Chorus Ants

Chorus Flies

Flowers

Fairy Lads

Fairy Maidens

Court Lords & Ladies

City Dancers

The show as it is written may be performed with a minimum of 12 performers, 6 male and 6 female, each playing multiple roles (except for Butterfly.) 6 of the actors (3 male and 3 female) should be singer/actors who can carry a solo song and broad comic dialogue, and the other 6 chorus singer/dancers.

A cast of 10 is possible if the Goblin part is omitted and given to the Imp. A cast of 8 is even possible, with various other minor parts being omitted and the lines given to other characters as needed. A smaller cast than 8 is unfeasible, as there wouldn't be enough people to play the chorus parts. On the other hand, a larger cast than 12 is encouraged, as some of the musical numbers call for a grand presentation. A list of suggested cast doublings is included

Costumes:

BUTTERFLY: Green body, sparkling pink, orange and multicolored butterfly wings, shiny cap with antennae, glittering character shoes

PRINCESS: Typical fairy tale princess costume

PRINCE IN PALACE: Typical fairy tale prince costume

PRINCE IN FOREST: Green and brown woodland traveler's costume, purse and flask

DRAGONFLY: Green and white ballet dancer's dragonfly costume, very beautiful

FAIRY SPRITE: Pink Tinkerbell-like sparkly fairy costume with pink wings, tiara, wand, and character shoes

FAIRY SPRITE AS BUTTERFLY: Identical to Butterfly's costume, but in a different color

FAIRY QUEEN: Filmy wood nymph's dress with robe and crown of leaves, very bare fairy undergarments (maybe just leaves), colored veils for dancing

FAIRY KING: Green and brown costume with oak leaf crown and staff, and a big brown beard

COUNT CHARMING: Typical fairy tale court costume

MR. LEAF: Green body, large leaf attached to back and curving over head

MINOTAUR: Man's body, bull's head

WOLF: Wolf's head, man's or wolf's body

IMP: Elf-like costume

GOBLIN: Elf-like costume, exaggerated ugly features

HARPY: Witch's face & hair (eagle wings and lion's tail optional)

BEE: Black and yellow striped body, black wings, antennae, hat & cane. The yellow stripes should be attached with velcro, as the Bee must change very quickly into an Ant

GRASSHOPPER: Green body, feelers, green grasshopper wings, hat & cane

FIREFLY: White body, white sequined antenna cap, white wings, white toe shoes, torch (tutu or filmy skirt optional)

CHORUS ANTS: Black bodies, black antennae, black tap shoes

CHORUS FLIES: Black shorts, midriff tops, fly wings, antennae, and tap shoes

FLOWERS: Green stem bodies, flower heads (all the same or different)

FAIRY LADS: Short green tunics, belts, tights (leaf wreaths optional)

FAIRY MAIDENS: Long green filmy dresses with belts (leaf wreaths optional)

COURT LORDS AND LADIES: Typical fairy tale court costumes

CITY DANCERS: Colored leotards, capes

ACCESSORIES: Masks for the masked ball, equal to the number of people in the cast

MAKEUP: Heavy on eye make-up, all characters. Eyes may have curlycues at the corners and be glittery or multicolored, like opera makeup

Props:

Butterfly's chrysalis

Mr. Leaf's green leafy flask and mirror

Fairies' wine barrel, ladle, and wine goblets

Other bottles and goblets

Colored liquids

Pan-pipes, tambourine, drums, flute, and lyre

Ropes for tying up Butterfly

Large bottle of fairy dust, labeled

Small clear bottle of magic liquid attached to a necklace

Flowers and flower baskets for Fairy Maidens

Large feather fan for the Fairy Queen

Makeup for makeup table

Fairy Queen's crystal ball

Fan mail and photographs for Butterfly and Sprite

Checker set

Tape of animals roaring, braying, chirping, squeaking, etc.

Tape of flowers singing a verse

Clothes that the Prince and Princess buy in the city: psychedelic dress and suit, sheer colorful dress, bright pair of pants, flared pair of pants, polka dotted suit, bare sexy dress, costume jewelry, man's whimsical hat, fancy handbag, lipstick

Smoke machine or smoke grenades

Set pieces:

Log for Prince to sit on

Dressing room table, two stools, and dressing screen

Butterfly's whimsical ornate table and two ornate chairs

Prince's imposing palace table and two throne-like chairs

Piano for the Grasshopper to play (or, he can pretend, while the live pianist plays in the pit)

Settings:

Forest, Theater, Butterfly's Palace, Prince's Palace, Flower Garden, Dressing Room, City


Suggestions for a Tight Budget:

Insect and flower costumes may be cheaply made using nylon and wire for wings and flower heads, and leotards for bodies.

Fairy Costumes consist only of green tunics or dresses with belts and sometimes wreaths, and can be put togther cheaply and simply.

Court costumes may be rented, taken from a costume stock, or made cheaply using dyed muslin and felt, stencilled patterns, metallic paint, and hot glue appliquŽs.

Animal heads or masks may be constructed of papier m‰chŽ.

Glitter may be glued on any of the costumes that call for "sparkle."

Sets are not absolutely necessary for this show. Set changes may be indicated with only lighting and props. On the other hand, even costumes and props may be suggested rather than fully realized, and a more simple or minimalist approach adopted (except in the case of Butterfly and Fairy Sprite, who should be fully costumed as noted.)


Cast Doubling Suggestions for a Cast of 12:

Butterfly/ Princess

Prince Handsome/ Dragonfly/ / Ant Tenor/ Minotaur

Fairy Sprite/ Fairy Maiden

Fairy Queen/ Harpy/ Court Lady/ Flower

Fairy King/ Grasshopper/ Leaf/ Wolf/ Court Lord

Count Charming/ / Bee/ Vaudeville Ant/ Goblin

Firefly/ Fairy Maiden/ Chorus Fly/ Court Lady /City Dancer/ Flower

Fairy Maiden/ Chorus Fly/ Court Lady/ City Dancer/ Flower

Fairy Maiden/ Chorus Fly/ Court Lady/ City Dancer/ Flower

Imp/ Chorus Ant/ Court Lord/ City Dancer

Fairy Lad/ Chorus Ant/ Court Lord/ City Dancer

Fairy Lad/ Chorus Ant/ Court Lord/ City Dancer

For casts larger than 12, more chorus parts should be added. For casts smaller than 12, the director may use his or her discretion to combine some of the smaller roles together, and have some of the leads play more chorus roles.