Vivian is a 19-year-old college dropout from a wealthy upstate New York family. Exiled to Manhattan after failing at school, she discovers a natural talent for costume design at the Lily Theater. She embraces the city's bohemian lifestyle and explores her newfound independence, preferring the company of eccentrics over her rigid relatives.

Frank is a tall, high-strung Navy veteran from a large Sicilian immigrant family in Brooklyn. He struggles with severe post-traumatic stress disorder after surviving the destruction of the USS Franklin. Unable to tolerate physical touch or enclosed spaces, he takes long walks around the city to calm his nerves.

Aunt Peg is the free-spirited owner of the Lily Theater. She uses the proceeds from a past commercial success to produce modest, unpretentious plays for the local immigrant community. She drinks heavily and completely ignores the behavioral expectations of her wealthy background.

Edna is a highly accomplished British stage actress with a commanding presence and an impeccable sense of style. She teaches Vivian the difference between sewing a dress and building a costume, fundamentally changing the young woman's approach to her craft.

Angela is an independent woman with a doctorate in psychology. Following her mother's death, she reaches out to Vivian to understand a hidden facet of her father's life. Her inquiry prompts the entire narrative structure of the story.

Grandmother Morris is an eccentric woman who embarrasses her rigid family with her bold outfits and dramatic flair. She is the only relative who recognizes Vivian's potential, teaching her how to sew like a professional fashion designer.

Vivian's father is a wealthy industrialist who runs a mining operation in upstate New York. He is extremely proud of his serious-minded son but fundamentally baffled by his daughter's lack of academic or social ambition. He spends much of his time nursing grievances against the government.

Vivian's mother is a dedicated horsewoman who prefers the company of her animals to her eccentric daughter. She adheres strictly to the rules of her social class, preferring to ignore unpleasant situations rather than address them.

Walter is Vivian's competent, deeply serious older brother. He embraces the traditional values of his upbringing, joins the Navy to serve his country, and acts as a harsh moral judge regarding his sister's behavior in the city.

Jim is a handsome, considerate employee at the Morris family mining operation. He represents the safe, conventional path of mid-century American marriage.

Billy is Peg's estranged husband, a charming con artist and brilliant scriptwriter who lives primarily in Hollywood. He refuses to take his responsibilities seriously, preferring to party at nightclubs and dictate creative changes on his own terms.

Olive is the theater's pragmatic, British office manager. She constantly worries about finances and ticket sales, acting as the sole responsible adult among the eccentric theater troupe. She fiercely protects Peg and the theater's interests.

Celia is a statuesque showgirl who left home at a young age and learned to capitalize on her striking looks. She becomes Vivian's roommate and mentor in the art of late-night hedonism, eagerly seeking out liquor, dancing, and men.

Mr. Herbert is a hangdog playwright who writes the simple melodrama routines for the Lily Theater. He suffers from acute writer's block when asked to write a sophisticated script and is relieved when Billy takes over the job.

Benjamin is a gifted Black composer who writes the songs for Peg's productions. Coming from a prominent Harlem family, he chose a bohemian life in the theater over their more conventional expectations.

Anthony is a brash young actor from Hell's Kitchen who wins a lead part in the theater's new show. He is lazy, self-assured, and entirely comfortable with his working-class roots, refusing to change his suits or accent to impress Vivian's wealthy brother.

Arthur is Edna's handsome but wooden actor husband. He constantly forgets his lines, relies heavily on his wife's star power, and is prone to intense jealousy when she receives attention from other men.

Marjorie culls the choicest vintage fabrics at her parents' store to reserve them for Vivian's theatrical costumes. The two women eventually form a highly successful business partnership, opening an upscale bridal shop together.

Nathan is Marjorie's timid son. He requires a quiet, gentle environment and attends a private Quaker school where he is protected from the harsher elements of the city.

Dr. Kellogg is a completely nondescript veterinarian who patronizes the Lily Theater. He approaches intimacy with a pedantic, methodical attitude that Vivian finds highly amusing.

Bernadette is the silent maid who cleans up after the theater's eccentric residents. Her presence makes Vivian realize that she has taken the labor of servants for granted her entire life.

Rosella is a local woman from Frank's Brooklyn neighborhood. She remains physically and emotionally separated from her husband due to his inability to handle physical contact after the war.