Lady of Burlesque

A popular singer and burlesque performer who navigates backstage rivalries with charm and savvy. She commands attention on stage and uses her influence to keep the company together, even as personal histories complicate relationships. Dixie demonstrates leadership and resilience as she helps guide the troupe through crisis.

A comic performer who tries to woo Dixie, mixing flirtation with streetwise ambition. He becomes entangled in the escalating danger, briefly arrested and later released as new evidence shifts the case. Biff’s loyalties waver, but he remains a central piece of the backstage dynamics.

A rival burlesque performer whose volatile relationship with other cast members inflames backstage tensions. She is found dead under eerie circumstances, adding a venomous layer to the murder mystery. Lolita’s presence fuels jealousy and power plays within the theatre’s social circle.

A rival performer whose dramatic persona is part of the theatre’s glittering lineup. Her murder—fallen from a prop—deepens the sense of danger and heightens the stakes for the investigation. Nirvena’s presence underscores the cutthroat competition backstage.

Owner and producer who bailouts the troupe and then retools the business by distributing shares. His actions reveal a calculating side of the theatre world, where money and power influence loyalty. Foss embodies the commercial forces shaping the stage's fate.

Lead investigator who treats the theatre like a crime scene and urges the authorities to shut down for safety. He methodically questions suspects and weighs competing pressures from law and showbiz. Harrigan’s presence keeps the investigation grounded amid the theatrical chaos.

Dixie’s backstage confidante and ally, who navigates friendships and scheming colleagues with wit and warmth. She supports Dixie’s leadership and helps identify the killer’s trap. Gee Gee embodies loyalty and practical resilience behind the glamour.

An aged stagehand who confesses to the murders and initially stalks Dixie. He is later revealed to be Lolita’s grandfather, driven to hatred of burlesque by years of conflict. His appearance exposes the theatre’s dark history and the danger lurking in the wings.

A gangster and Lolita’s boyfriend whose volatile relationship fuels tension backstage. He is a suspect in the murders and clashes with rival interests both inside and outside the theatre. Louie embodies the criminal undercurrent that complicates the show’s survival.