The Best Halloween Ever

BETH BRADLEY – The narrator and heart of the story. She’s in 5th grade.
CHARLIE BRADLEY – Beth’s smart but goofy younger brother. This 3rd grader can be really intimidated by the Herdmans.
MRS. BRADLEY – Unflappable, witty mom.
MR. BRADLEY – Easy-going dad who drops tidbits of wisdom.
LOUELLA MCCLUSKEY – Beth’s quirky best friend in 5th grade who overreacts to most situations. She can be really mad or really in love or really silly.
EUGENE PRESTON – Charlie’s nerdy best friend and partner in crime. This 3rd grader loves science and math and tolerates being shoved in his locker by the Herdmans.
ALICE WENDLEKEN – This prim and proper fifth grader is a know-it-all and can be a tattle tale if rules aren’t followed.
MRS. WENDLEKEN – Alice’s self-righteous mother who is also a gossip who has an opinion about everything and not afraid to let those in charge know it.
BOOMER MALONE – A likable 5th grader who loves sports, is friendly to everyone and is unaware that several girls have crushes on him.
IMOGENE HERDMAN – Pronounced “IM-UH-JEEN.” The bossy leader of the Herdmans. This 5th grader is tough, smart and wild but cares deeply at her core.
RALPH HERDMAN – The oldest Herdman, this 6th grader is the enforcer that looks out for his family.
LEROY HERDMAN – Ralph’s sidekick. He’s the biggest kid in Charlie’s 3rd grade class.
CLAUDE HERDMAN – 4th grader who hangs out with Ollie doing the bidding of Imogene and Ralph.
OLLIE HERDMAN – 2nd grader who wears glasses and is kind of a tag-along with Claude.
GLADYS HERDMAN – She’s the youngest, and though she can be fierce and bite, she still believes in all of the magical things that little kids believe in.
MISS KEMP – Beth’s 5th grade teacher who is very enthusiastic and wears big bold glasses. Though she can be exasperated with her students, she loves them.
MR. WEEZER – Owner of the corner market, he is bit of a crusty grandpa knows everyone in town and looks out for them. Wears spectacles.

For doubling to suit 9 actors (5w, 4m), the roles can be assigned as follows:
ACTOR ONE – Plays BETH BRADLEY.
ACTOR TWO – Plays LOUELLA MCCLUSKEY and GLADYS.
ACTOR THREE – Plays ALICE WENDLEKEN.
ACTOR FOUR – Plays BOOMER MALONE and LEROY.
ACTOR FIVE – Plays IMOGENE.
ACTOR SIX – Plays MR. BRADLEY as well as RALPH, MAYOR and MR. WEEZER.
ACTOR SEVEN – Plays CHARLIE and CLAUDE.
ACTOR EIGHT – Plays EUGENE.
ACTOR NINE – Plays MRS. BRADLEY as well as MISS KEMP, MRS. WENDLEKEN, GRANNY and OLLIE.

There is also a voiceover part of MR. CRABTREE.

For doubling to suit 9 actors (5w, 4m), the roles can be assigned as follows:
ACTOR ONE – Plays BETH BRADLEY.
ACTOR TWO – Plays LOUELLA MCCLUSKEY and GLADYS.
ACTOR THREE – Plays ALICE WENDLEKEN.
ACTOR FOUR – Plays BOOMER MALONE and LEROY.
ACTOR FIVE – Plays IMOGENE.
ACTOR SIX – Plays MR. BRADLEY as well as RALPH, MAYOR and MR. WEEZER.
ACTOR SEVEN – Plays CHARLIE and CLAUDE.
ACTOR EIGHT – Plays EUGENE.
ACTOR NINE – Plays MRS. BRADLEY as well as MISS KEMP, MRS. WENDLEKEN, GRANNY and OLLIE.

There is also a voiceover part of MR. CRABTREE.