Editing Torch Song Trilogy (section)

== Characters ==
* Lady Blues: a character who appears between scenes in ''International Stud''. According to Fierstein’s stage directions, she is to be “dressed in period, [singing] a torch song in the manner of [[Helen Morgan (singer)|Helen Morgan]] or [[Ruth Etting]]."<ref name=":1" /> 
* Arnold Beckoff: the central character of the play. In the stage directions, Fierstein playfully describes him as a "[[wikt:kvetch|kvetch]] (someone who complains habitually) of great wit and want."<ref name=":1" /> 
* Ed Reiss: Arnold’s [[bisexuality|bisexual]] lover and friend. He is “thirty-five [and] very handsome.” <ref name=":1" /> 
* Young Stud: a young man who Arnold hooks up with in the [[dark room (sexuality)|backroom]] of the International Stud. He has no speaking lines.
* Laurel: Ed’s lover and eventual fiancee.
* Alan: Arnold’s young lover, who is [[gay bashing|beaten to death]] by a group of [[homophobia|homophobic]] boys.  
* David Beckoff: Arnold’s 15-year old adopted son, “a wonderfully bright and handsome boy.” <ref name=":1" />
* Ma: Arnold’s extremely strict, traditional Jewish mother. She is around 60.