Character descriptions: "Dark Side of the Crown"

Quite a few people have been asking me how about the process for writing "Dark Side of the Crown" so I decided to share some tidbits from the story document that Jillina & Co. used to choreograph and design the show. I've removed all plot spoilers from the character descriptions and yes, many of the names are derived from Farsi.

Queen Rahvan (Spirit)
Performer: Heather Aued
Adjectives: Benevolent, honorable
Rahvan is a regal, beautiful matriarch. She is elegant and compassionate, loved by all. She adores all three of her daughters equally but faces a difficult decision: she can choose only one of them to succeed her on the throne.

Princess Sharnaz (Favorite one)
Performer: Louchia
Adjectives: Popular, extroverted
Sharnaz is popular with the court and people of the queendom. Friendly, open and center of attention in the palace she believes she is the rightful heir of the throne. She loves Imperial Guard Pezhman but hides their relationship because it would be unseemly for royalty to be with a common soldier. Should her affair with Pezhman ever become known she would not be considered for the crown so their love can never be expressed openly. She is desperate for the crown.

Princess Zahra (Boldness)
Performer: Sharon Kihara
Adjectives: Confident, independent, aloof
Dark and mysterious, Zahra shuns the court and believes true leadership comes from the strength of individual character and, for this reason, she believes she is the rightful heir of the throne. She doesn’t pander to court and has a dislike for the theatrics and pomp of court politics.

Princess Kimiya (Alchemy)
Performer: Kaeshi Chai
Adjectives: Spiritual, wild, conflicted
Quiet and spiritual, Kimiya is admired by all for her compassion and goodness of heart. Beneath her façade of calm she dreams of a life free from courtly pressures and longs for simplicity. She has lived her entire life with the expectation that she might eventually be Queen and the pressure is finally beginning to erode her sense of calm.

Amrakay the Advisor (Cougar)
Performer: Jillina
Adjectives: Ambitious, sensual, controlling
Amrakay is an ambitious and lifelong servant to the throne. She is flirty and abusive of her power, slapping men and women of the court on the ass. She’s crass, lewd and eagerly orders around the members of the court.

General Hafez (Responsible caretaker)
Performer: Oz Oshkenazi
Adjectives: Disciplined, loyal
General Hafez is head of the Queen’s army. He is precise, professional and prone to outbursts. He is a natural leader and believes the military should have equal power to rule the land.

Imperial Guard Pezhman (Broken-hearted)
Performer: Danielo Mendez
Adjectives: Likeable, mischievous
Pezhman is a natural fighter and equally charming so, despite his lack of discipline, he has advanced through the military ranks to become one of Queen Rahvan’s elite guards. He loves Princess Sharnaz but knows she will never openly express her love unless she is selected to succeed her mother as Queen.

Imperial Guard Ahriman (Destructive force)
Performer: JD
Adjectives: Serious, ambitious, dangerous
Ahriman is disciplined, brooding and dangerous. He does not take his position as an Imperial Guard lightly and would readily give his life to protect the Queen. Like the rest of the court he is unaware the his fellow guard, Pezhman, is having an affair with Princess Sharnaz.

Priestess Elaheh (Priestess)
Performer: Eglal
Adjectives: Graceful, composed, giving
The soothsayer and the religious leader. She is draped in long flowing clothe and, by her costume and poise, it is clear that she is the spiritual leader. Dark and elegant, every movement is slow, maternal and loaded with meaning.