Full Cast of "Ghosts in the Piano" the companion to "A Ghost of You"
"I was six years old when my sister died." This is the story of Alexandra "Lexie" Porter, the baby sister of Ithaca from my book A Ghost of You. Set in New York City, Lexie's life revolves around three things: Her family, piano and Jonathan Larson High School for the Arts. A gifted pianist, Lexie auditions for one of three piano spots against Greg Paulson. Her best friend Pepper Leigh Stavros is also auditioning but for dance. Pepper Leigh is a brilliant ballerina.
The Porters
Victoria Justice as Alexandra "Lexie" Amanda Porter: 16 going on 17; daughter of Max and Lauren; goddaughter of Tricky and Jett; best friends with Pepper Leigh; a gifted pianist; is the straight man to Pepper Leigh's dramatics; the only of her sisters to take to music; falls for Greg Paulson, fellow pianist at school; wants to play piano for the New York Philharmonic; birthday November 23rd, 2010
Eric Bana as Max Andrew Porter: 58; father of Ithaca and Lexie; step-father of Ada and Memory; husband to Lauren been married for 17 years but together for 27; best friends with Tricky and Jett; father-in law to Fitz Hamilton; godfather of Pepper Leigh; a retired musician; birthday October 19th, 1968
Rachel McAdams as Lauren Julia Stewart-Porter: 55; mother of Ada, Memory and Lexie; step-mother of Ithaca Porter; godmother of Pepper Leigh; been with husband Max for 27 years, married 17; best friends with Arcadia Arvine; founder of the Mothers of HIV foundation, a group who supports the research to find a cure for HIV/AIDS; birthday February 22nd, 1972
Emily Osment as Ithaca Vianne Porter-Hamilton: deceased; biological daughter of Stacey Mark; daughter of Max and Lauren Porter; sister to Lexie and Memory; wife of Fitz; goddaughter of Tricky and Jett; aunt to Pepper Leigh; died when she was 25 from complications due to progressing AIDS; is mentioned often by family and friends; birthday March 23rd, 1991, died July 19th, 2016
Josh Lucas as Dr. Fitznathan “Fitz” Hamilton: 40; son-in-law of Max and Lauren Porter; was married to Ithaca before her death; is HIV-positive; moves back to New York after his wife died to be closer to her family; is a pediatrician specializing in HIV/AIDS; birthday August 31st, 1987
Scott Michael Foster as Fitznathan Hamilton: In photos and flashbacks
Katie Leung as Memory Kelsey Stewart: 30; adopted daughter of Lauren Porter; is currently in law school at Columbia University; best friends with Hadley Arvine; blind since birth, has Seeing-Eye Dogs always German Shepherd with tough suerhero sounding names; birthday August 4th, 2002
Adair Tishla as Ada Nichelle Stewart: deceased; daughter of Lauren; step-daughter of Max; was best friends with Ithaca; died on May 6th, 2002, two days after her eleventh birthday after battle with HIV; is remembered fondly by members of the family; birthday May 4th, 1991, died May 6th, 2002
The Stavros-Howards
Halle Steinfeld as Pepper Leigh Stavros: 16; daughter to Philip “Tricky” Howard and Jethro “Jett” Stavros; niece of Ithaca Porter; goddaughter to Max and Lauren Porter; best friends with Lexie Porter; attends J. Larson High School for the Arts; plans to audition for Julliard; wants to be a principal ballerina in the American Ballet Theatre; falls for her pas des deux partner JD; birthday April 19th, 2010
Ben Affleck as Jethro “Jett” Malachi Stavros: 64; father of Pepper Leigh; partner to Tricky; been together 47 years, were legally married in July 26th, 2011 two days after the equal marriage bill was passed in New York; godfather of Ithaca Porter and Donny Arvine; owner and founder of Tricky Stavros Designs; is a respected member of the fashion community; lectures at Parson’s and at J. Larson High School for the Arts; birthday December 12th, 1962
Johnny Depp as Philip “Tricky” Xavier Howard III: 65; father of Penny Leigh; husband to Jett; been together 47 years, were legally married on July 26th, 2011, two days after the equal marriage bill passed in New York; godfather to Ithaca Porter and Hadley Arvine; a retired magician; teaches showmanship and magic at J. Larson High School for the Arts; birthday July 10th, 1962
Friends & Teachers & Classmates
Eddie Cahill as Albert Arvine: 60; retired detective in the NYPD; fahter of Hadley Arvine; married to Arcadia; life long family friend of Max, Lauren, Tricky and Jett
Lisa Edelstein as Arcadia Arvine: 58; retired detective in the NYPD; mother of Hadley Arvine; married to Albert; life long family friend of Max, Lauren, Tricky and Jett
Romola Gari as Hadley Renee Arvine: 26; daughter of Albert and Arcadia Arvine; twin sister to Donald “Donny”; goddaughter to Philip “Tricky” Howard; best friends with Memory Stewart; attends Sarah Lawrence and is a pre-med student’ birthday June 12th, 2006
Sean Berdy as Gregory "Greg" Marcus Paulson: 17; a deaf pianist at J. Larson High; quiet and shy; keeps to himself; takes Tricky’s showmanship class; falls for Lexie
Heather Whitestone (Miss America, 1995) as Angela Claire Paulson: 43; Greg’s mother; is deaf but speaks and has the cochlear implant in her right ear; Birthday February 24th, 1983
Ty Giordano as Anthony “Tony” Forbes Paulson: 46; Greg’s father; is deaf but speaks well; is a highly respected business owner in Manhattan; Birthday March 16th, 1980
Austin Butler as Josiah "JD" Handler Dewey: 17; dancer at J. Larson High School; partners with Pepper Leigh; falls for Penny Leigh
Rebecca and Camilla Rosso as Mariah Emily and Chloe Melissa Perkins: 16; the “mean girls” of Larson; Birthday May 5th, 2010
Ben Barnes as Gavin Michael Olson: 30; Greg's interpreter; is gay
Calista Flockhart as Melinda Norman: 42; Director of Jonathan Larson High School for the Arts; remembers Ithaca fondly
Matthew Perry as James Reese: James Reese: 40; piano teacher at Larson; loves Lexie and Greg
Sascha Radetsky as Ryan Slater: 36; ballet teacher at Larson
Charlize Theron as Claire Paula Bailey: 36; Max’s assistant at Ada Records; is accused of having an affair with him; Birthday March 10th, 1990
Jessica Capshaw as Stacey Lianne Mark-Tyler: 54; Ithaca’s biological mother; former cocaine and heroin addict; asymptomatic with HIV for years, gave the disease to daughter Ithaca; has been an absent figure for most of her daughter’s life; works for/dates Beckett Tyler, a soap star; is only seen at Ithaca's funeral; birthday January 12th, 1972
Jason Lewis as Beckett Tyler: 62; Ithaca's step-father; married to Stacey Mark; is a guest lecturer at Larson for the acting class; Birthday October 10th, 1964