Julia is a young, observant girl in late elementary school who often compares herself unfavorably to her siblings. Still reeling from the death of her dog, she begins her summer vacation reluctantly auditioning for a local university's production of The Wizard of Oz. She has an acute attention to detail and is determined to learn to accept her height, choosing to stop using the word "short" entirely.

Olive is an outgoing, confident professional actor and little person who is cast as a Munchkin. As a woman of color, she understands intersectional discrimination and models self-advocacy for the younger cast members. She becomes an immediate mentor to Julia, demonstrating how to proudly take up space in the world.

Shawn Barr is a respected, older Broadway director who comes to town to helm the local production of The Wizard of Oz. Being a shorter man himself, he serves as a positive role model for Julia. He is enthusiastic, highly dedicated to his artistic vision, and values the input of his cast and crew despite his demanding nature.

Mrs. Yan Chang is Julia's 73-year-old Chinese American neighbor who recently moved to the area. Though initially perceived by Julia as quiet and reserved, she reveals a vibrant personality, an elaborately decorated home, and impressive skills as a seamstress. She offers to design costumes for the production in exchange for a specific role.

Randy is Julia's younger, musically inclined brother who is naturally gifted at singing and performing. Though younger, he is taller than Julia and embraces the spotlight with ease. He is cast alongside Julia as a Munchkin in the local university's summer musical, throwing himself into the role with enthusiasm.

Julia's mother is deeply concerned about her daughter's lingering grief over their dog Ramon. Seeking to distract Julia and get her out of the house, she pushes her to audition for The Wizard of Oz and manages the logistical challenges of getting her children to daily rehearsals.

Julia's father is the dedicated family archivist who meticulously creates scrapbooks documenting important moments. His curation of the family's history inspires Julia to create her own personal scrapbook to record the summer through her specific perspective.

Tim is Julia's distant older brother. He generally keeps to himself but shows uncharacteristic interest in Julia's experiences with the theater's flying harnesses, leading to a brief reconnection between the siblings.

Gianni is the technical team leader responsible for the wire work and flying effects in the production. He nicknames Julia "Baby" and proves to be a supportive crew member, working closely with the cast to ensure their safety and comfort in the air.

Charisse is the assistant director and stage manager for the production. When Shawn Barr is temporarily sidelined by an injury, she takes over rehearsals using a much more rigid, top-down directing style that contrasts sharply with Shawn's collaborative approach.

Larry is a little person and a professional actor cast as a Munchkin in the production. He is part of the tight-knit group of short adults who quickly befriend Julia, occasionally showing off to impress his castmates.

Quincy is a little person and an actor cast in the Munchkin ensemble. Along with Olive and Larry, he provides Julia with a sense of belonging among the cast and models confidence on stage.

Gillian is an out-of-town professional actor hired to play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She travels with her service dog, Coco, and her presence introduces a more mature, professional dynamic to the local production.

Ramon is Julia's late dog, whose recent passing from heart disease leaves a massive void in her life. Though deceased, he is a constant presence in Julia's thoughts, deeply influencing her mood, her scrapbook contents, and her goals for the summer.

Dr. Brinkman is Julia's orthodontist. When examining Julia, he performs a bone scan to check her growth and accommodates her theater schedule by delaying her braces. He also introduces Julia to the history of L. Frank Baum.

Stephen is a school friend of Julia's who comes to watch her final performance. He shows genuine interest in her, remembering her past difficulties and inviting her over to meet his newly rescued pet.

Brock Wacker is the local art critic who reviews the university's production. His published critique praises the professional actors while negatively assessing the local children's performances as Munchkins.

Gene is a local boy who befriends Randy during the production of The Wizard of Oz. Like Randy, he remains largely unbothered by outside criticism regarding the play.

Coco is a terrier who plays Toto in the production. As a working service dog wearing a vest, the cast must respect her space, though her presence occasionally reminds Julia of her own lost dog.