Shadow symbolizes the universal search for meaning and the middling silent majority’s high hopes and dreams. His poignant solo, “Are You My Brother?” reflects his theme for a sense of identity and belonging. He represents the canine lost and strays yearning for love and acceptance, but also the human. The reality that life is not all bones and biscuits, of course, hits hard…..

Emerson is the classical combination of comedy and tragedy who knows this only too well. He tries to mentor Shadow, and their adventures (and duets) speak to meaningful male/male relationships, seldom a focus of staged theatre, but incredibly powerful. The audience falls hopelessly in love with the big, goofy Emerson and his comic relief, but each laugh only hides a deep sorrow.

The Shetland Sheepdog, KD McLady, personifies all that is good, kind, and loving. She is a displaced country dog now living in a city condo, and missing her purposeful herding days on the farm. Her moving solo, “Seven Times As Fast,” is the climactic number. It embodies the emotions between dogs and humans, as well as between people, as she sings of the passing of time, loving, and the pain of loss.

Hogan O 'Grogan is an Irish Wolfhound who serves as a reminder of the many cruelties imposed on innocent and helpless animals at the hands of humans. He is the love interest of KD McLady and sings the charming duet with her, “Rabbits in the Moon.” But wait! They are not the same breed!

Chaos , a split-personality Schnauzer, lives up to his name as a high-energy dog with issues. He faces constant pressures of what is expected of him as a coiffed debonair purebred, and what he longs to be…a dust-covered cursin’ cowboy.

His polar opposite is the beautiful, high maintenance Cocker Spaniel, Biscuit. She is truly into her perfect pedigree and proper upbringing. Her lusty and sensual duet with Chaos, “Collar/Leash Tango” symbolizes the extremes of give and take, and freedom and control.

Chairman is an old field trial champion retriever living in his memories. His touching solo, “Chairman’s Dream,” is a tribute to both humans and canines who have devoted their lives to service. He worries that the world is on the fast track to hell in a handbasket with this younger generation, but finds comfort in an occasional Krispy Kreme donut!

The quintessential Poodle, Gypsy Rose Flea, takes her classification as companion dog to the extreme, regretting too few hours in the day to do all (and who all) she’d like! Her rendition of “Leader of the Pack” tells it all.

No DOGS musical would be worth its fur without a great feline role like Purrscilla. She sees herself as the only true thespian among the lot, and is quick to remind all of her glorious past on Broadway in her solo, “This Cat Needs a Job.” But now she finds herself employed in this new canine musical – what humiliation!

Charlotte is the child who serves as the reference point for the audience and who shoulders the responsibility of bringing the action to a meaningful closure…..a simple task for her, as she does not see actors portraying dogs and cat, but the actual animals themselves. hmmmmm…..