RALPH – Male, new volunteer to Uptown City Gardens. He sits on a stool reading a book in the background when not involved with a scene, but he never leaves the stage after entering (until the final moments of the play).
ISABELLA GIOVANNA (BELLA) – Female, the daughter of the owners of the pizzeria (GiGi's) that backs up to the garden. Sweet girl who is trying to figure out how the rest of her life will look.
DONALD – Male, older than the rest and a staple of the community. Has been a volunteer at Uptown City Gardens for years. A wise man who cares a lot about the growth within the community. All of his “mean jabs” are done with love. Garden Service Coordinator
KELLY – Female, boss of the garden (Garden Service Coordinator). Confident woman who cares a lot about keeping the community as green as possible. Holds Uptown to the highest standard; wants to be alderman of Uptown one day.
Growth Takes Time
CASEY – Any gender, recently dumped by their partner and struggling to find that next step in their life. Has spent the last two months desperately trying to make something grow in the garden, started on leeks a few days ago.
ANDI – Any gender, Casey's ex, has their stuff a little more together but still cares for Casey, obviously. Trying to help their ex figure out how to move on easier. Take a Book, Leave a Book
TRACE – Any gender, has a whimsical and childlike wonder when they look at the world. Thinks life should feel like a storybook from time to time and hopes to find a book from their childhood in the Take A Book, Leave a Book, like they did when they were a kid.
DAVEY – Any gender, Trace’s roommate. Some might call them a pessimist; they would call themself a realist. Doesn’t understand Trace’s outlook and life and obsession with checking the Take a Book, Leave a Book.
The In-Laws
ADAM – Male, dating Ken and April’s daughter Sadie. Incredibly nervous to ask what Ken and April think of a possible engagement, constantly trying to impress them.
KEN – Male, father of Sadie, husband to April. A little skeptical of Adam, but just cares a lot for his daughter and wants someone who cares for her as much as he does.
APRIL – Female, mother of Sadie, wife to Ken. More caring toward Adam.
SADIE – Female, daughter of Ken and April, dating Adam. Nonspeaking role, but appears onstage during the proposal.
The Shed Steward
AUGUST – Male, a guy who grew up here and loves the community. Very excitable and finds joy in the little things. Treats being the shed steward of Uptown City Gardens like being a superhero.
DAPHNE – Female, going on her third date with August. At first is disappointed, but slowly sees how much joy he has for his community and his people, which gets her excited about the future.
Presenting Plants
KAPE – Any gender, a college poetry student that is struggling to find growth in themself while in college and isn’t seeing a large difference between who they were in high school compared to now. Kinda pissed at the world.
MR. PUTNAM – Male, offstage, Kape’s poetry professor. Skeptical of Kape's unorthodox performance but willing to take the ride.
Composting
TAYLOR – Any gender, long-term partner of Jordan. Has recently realized that they can do very little to help the earth, especially when living in a city, so has decided to do everything, they can to shrink their carbon footprint... even if that means bringing a bunch of gross, rotting food to a community garden.
JORDAN – Any gender, long-term partner of Taylor. Not as invigorated to save the planet so is very unwilling to carry smelly bags of rotting fruit around the neighborhood.