A 36-year-old married woman from Wichita, Kansas. Outwardly traditional and respectable, she volunteers to chaperone a young dancer to New York City. She has a personal motive for the trip: she spent her early childhood in a New York orphanage before riding an orphan train to the Midwest, and she hopes to uncover information about her origins.

A 15-year-old aspiring dancer with a bob haircut and a preference for progressive 1920s fashion. She dreams of fame and resents the societal expectations of her Kansas hometown. Thrilled by the anonymity and excitement of New York City, she frequently rebels against authority and rejects traditional rules of etiquette.

A successful and well-respected lawyer in Wichita, Kansas. He married Cora after helping her with a legal dispute following her adoptive parents' deaths. He provides his family with financial security and high social standing, though his marriage remains marked by emotional distance and unspoken complexities.

Louise's mother, described as beautiful, cultured, and aloof. She harbors deep bitterness over her own unrealized artistic ambitions and treats her children with hostility. She readily agrees to let Cora take her daughter away for the summer with minimal oversight.

A German American immigrant who works at the orphanage where Cora spent her early years. He lost his wife to the 1918 influenza epidemic and lives modestly in an outbuilding to remain close to his young daughter. Straightforward and observant, he quickly forms an unexpected connection with Cora during her investigations.

A woman whose name appears in Cora's restricted orphanage file. She lives a comfortable, respectable life in Massachusetts with her husband. Her handwriting bears a striking resemblance to Cora's, prompting Cora to desperately seek a meeting with her at Grand Central Station.

A kind farm woman who takes Cora in. Unable to have children of her own, she cherishes Cora and acts as a loving mother figure, providing the affection and stability the young girl lacked during her early institutionalized years.

Cora's friend in Wichita. She worries about the changing fashions of the 1920s and fears her daughters' desires to follow modern trends. She frequently discusses local gossip and community affairs with Cora.

A Columbia University student who works a summer job at a local eatery. He takes an interest in Louise and frequently converses with her across the counter, much to Cora's anxiety.

A hardworking Midwestern farmer who brings Cora into his home alongside his wife. He possesses practical farming skills and integrates Cora into his rural household.

Joseph Schmidt's young daughter. She resides with the nuns at the orphanage, prompting her father to take a job on the grounds to stay near her.

The strict and professional co-founder of the prestigious Denishawn dance school. She holds high standards for her students, warning them that improper conduct outside of class will lead to dismissal.

The co-founder of the Denishawn dance school in New York. He works alongside Ruth St. Denis to instruct and evaluate aspiring dancers during their rigorous summer sessions.

A friend of Alan Carlisle from Wichita. He frequently appears at social events and maintains a long-term presence in Alan's orbit.

Myra's husband and Louise's father. He takes the lead in planning his daughter's trip to New York and insists she travel with an adult chaperone to ensure her safety.

A woman employed as a cleaning worker in Cora and Alan's home. Her presence highlights the social and economic dynamics of the 1920s Wichita household.