History MeaningfulName / Theatre

* In the 1923 Broadway musical ''The Stepping Stones'', the principal female character was Rougette Hood, whom everyone called Little Red Riding Hood (naturally). The villain was named Otto De Wolfe, and his associates were named Remus and Lupina.

* The long-forgotten musical ''The Stepping Stones'', the principal female character was Rougette Hood, whom everyone called Little Red Riding Hood (naturally). The villain was named Otto De Wolfe, and his associates were named Remus and Lupina.
* ''{{Urinetown}}'' doesn't get really specific, but TheHero's name is Bobby '''Strong''' and the female ingenue's is '''[[WideEyedIdealist Hope]]''' Cladwell.

* A very stealthy example in Series/TheAddamsFamily musical: Wednesday's allegedly normal fiance, who causes her to feel unwelcome emotions like happiness and love, is named Lucas- which derives from the Latin word for "light." Less pointed examples are his parents' names: Mal ("bad," the strict, conservative, workaholic father) and Alice ("noble," the put-upon but accepting and supporting mother).

* WilliamShakespeare had gems like "[[Theatre/TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a DoorstopBaby), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[Theatre/{{Othello}} once]] for a [red lady, "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

* ''{{Urinetown}}'' doesn't get really specific, but TheHero's name is Bobby '''Strong''' and the female ingenue's is '''Hope''' Cladwell.

* ''Shakespeare'' had gems like "[[Theatre/TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a DoorstopBaby), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[Theatre/{{Othello}} once]] for a [red lady, "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

* In CommediaDellArte, characters are usually named after a specific {{stock character}} they are portraying, which is why so many characters from the different plays [[NamesTheSame carry the same name.]]

* Lucy The Slut in ''AvenueQ'' (a video screen at one point shows that her name is actually Slut, Lucy The).

* In ''Theatre/TheDuchessOfMalfi'', the husband of the Cardinal's mistress is an old lord named Castuccio, Italian for castrated, or impotent.

* A very stealthy example in Series/TheAddamsFamily musical: Wednesday's allegedly normal fiance, who causes her to feel unwelcome emotions like happiness and love, is named Lucas- which derives from the Latin word for "light." Less pointed examples are his parents' names: Mal ("bad," the strict, conservative, workaholic father) and Alice ("noble," the put-upon but accepting and supporting mother).

* A very stealthy example in TheAddamsFamily musical: Wednesday's allegedly normal fiance, who causes her to feel unwelcome emotions like happiness and love, is named Lucas- which derives from the Latin word for "light." Less pointed examples are his parents' names: Mal ("bad," the strict, conservative, workaholic father) and Alice ("noble," the put-upon but accepting and supporting mother).

** You could write essays on this. In fact, people have! Other names include [[TheTempest Miranda]], which Shakespeare coined, and which is supposed to have a connotation with wondering or admiring - and Miranda wonders at everything around her, and provokes wonder wherever she goes. Ariel is airy, Caliban connotes "Cannibal," it goes on. Juliet is so named because she was born in July (the Nurse mentions it), and it also suggests a precocious nature; Falstaff is not to be relied on, etc....

* ''Shakespeare'' had gems like "[[Theatre/TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a [[DoorstopBaby Doorstop Baby]]), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[{{Othello}} once]] for a [red lady, "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

** And along similar lines, [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast MALvolio]] in ''TwelfthNight''.

* In the musical ''{{Chicago}}'', the only two innocent characters in have names that imply that they are fools:

* A short play titled "The Play Called Noah's Flood" centers around a tiny medieval village trying to put on a morality play as part of a competition with neighboring towns. Many of the characters' names are appropriate for the [[ShowWithinAShow characters they play,]] particularly those representing the SevenDeadlySins: Hester Mountamous plays Gluttony, Laggard Slog is Sloth, Lascivia Sly represents Lust, Yerna Covetine is Envy, and so on.

* ''Shakespeare'' had gems like "[[Theatre/TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a [[DoorstopBaby Doorstop Baby]]), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[{{Othello}} once]] for a [red lady, "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

* In ''{{Romeo and Juliet}}'' two of the characters names reflected their personalities. Benvolio was a kind and benevolent character while Mercutio had a mercurial and fiery nature.

* Know latin? ''{{A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum}}'' has everyone's role in their name if you know latin. The clever slave, the braggert, the old man, the hero, the love interest, dominating mother? Pseudolus, MilesGloriosus, Senex, Hero, Philia, Domina.
* Prior Walter, the main character of ''{{Angels in America}}'':

* ''{{Urinetown}}'' doesn't get really specific, but {{The Hero}}'s name is Bobby '''Strong''' and the female ingenue's is '''Hope''' Cladwell.

* The principal in ''{{Zombie Prom}}'' is named Miss Strict.

* A short play titled "The Play Called Noah's Flood" centers around a tiny medieval village trying to put on a morality play as part of a competition with neighboring towns. Many of the characters' names are appropriate for the characters they play, particularly those representing the SevenDeadlySins: Hester Mountamous plays Gluttony, Laggard Slog is Sloth, Lascivia Sly represents Lust, Yerna Covetine is Envy, and so on.

** Amos, whom Billy calls "Andy" when he steps down from the witness stand. This is a reference to ''Amos 'n' Andy'', a race comedy radio series originating from Chicago radio station WMAQ beginning in 1928. Most of the series' male characters were performed by two white comedians who had worked in minstrel shows on vaudeville. In the series, Amos was a schemer and Andy was innocent and a bit simpleminded. (This is a happy accident as the name Amos is a carryover from the original play and silent movie which both predated ''Amos 'n' Andy''.)

* ''Shakespeare'' had gems like "[[TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a [[DoorstopBaby Doorstop Baby]]), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[{{Othello}} once]] for a [red lady, "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

* WaitingForGodot: Not sure about Vladimir and Pozzo, but Estragon is French for "parsley"--as in a garnish without substance that makes things look nice. Lucky, on the other hand, is decidedly not lucky.

* A character in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''Phantom of the Opera'' is surnamed 'Piangi' (tears).

* ''Shakespeare'' had gems like "[[TheWintersTale Perdita]]" ("lost", for a [[DoorstopBaby Doorstop Baby]]), "[[{{Cymbeline}} Iachimo]]" ("little Iago". Iago was the villain in ''Othello''; Iachimo was... well, a slightly less evil version of the same character.), "Bianca" ("white" -- used twice, once [[TheTamingOfTheShrew played straight]], [[{{Othello}} once]] for a [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean red lady]], "[[{{Cymbeline}} Posthumous]]" ("Dude, your father just died!")...

* Willy Loman of ''DeathOfASalesman'' is very much the "low man" on the totem pole of life.

* The principal in ''{{Zombie Prom}}'' is named Miss Strict.