Overview
High Note: G#4/Ab4
Low Note: C3
Analysis
Jason "JD" Dean as Baudelaire-quoting, Slurpee-drinking love interest of Veronica Sawyer, the brainy and naive heroine of the story. A recent transfer to Westerburg High in Sherwood, Ohio, he comes across as mysterious, smart, brooding, and deeply cynical about the hypocrisy of the world around him. He is a darkly magnetic outsider who initially appears alluring, witty, and charming on the outside. This smooth exterior allows him to form a quick, powerful emotional connection with Veronica, who falls deeply in love with him. Behind those outer charms, however, lies a deeply troubled and damaged interior. As the story unfolds, his past pain and trauma quickly give way to obsession, a warped sense of justice, and extreme violence.
JD refers to himself as “damaged;” his mother’s suicide and his family’s rootless existence have warped his ability to distinguish right from wrong, and he has no sympathy for bullies like the Heathers. He hates them with a passion that at first impresses Veronica, but soon horrifies her. JD is the mastermind behind all of the “suicides” at Westerberg – first by feeding Chandler a poisoned drink, and then by shooting Kurt and Ram in cold blood. To his mind, he is helping Veronica, his one true love, by ridding society of the people who cause her pain. Eventually, his plan spirals out of control when Veronica breaks up with him and fakes her own suicide. He is devastated at the sight of her lifeless form, and resolves to blow up the entire school as retaliation for his torment. Ultimately, JD is a complex balance of a boy someone could genuinely fall for and an unhinged mind capable of ruthless, outrageous acts.
Featured Songs
Suggested Audition Pieces
Auditioning for this character? Based off of his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces!
Editor Picks & Commentary
When auditioning for JD, focus on the contrast between his charming intellect and his underlying instability. JD is a darkly magnetic outsider — smart, brooding, and deeply cynical about the world around him. At first, he’s alluring and witty, someone who sees through the hypocrisy of high school life. But as the story unfolds, his pain and trauma turn to obsession and violence. In your audition, show both sides of him: the boy Veronica could fall for and the dangerous mind beneath the surface. Authentic vulnerability early on will make his descent into darkness feel earned and tragic.
Vocally, JD requires a rock-infused baritenor voice capable of intensity and emotion. His songs — like “Freeze Your Brain” and “Meant to Be Yours” — blend sardonic humor, charm, and explosive passion. Aim for vocal control that conveys both his calm intelligence and his chaotic emotion. Physically, JD’s stillness can be powerful — he shouldn’t have to move much to dominate a scene. Channel that quiet confidence and eerie composure, but allow flashes of instability to break through when the stakes rise. Your audition should communicate that JD isn’t just a villain — he’s a lost, damaged young man whose pain manifests destructively.
Comparable Characters and Suggested Material
Michael Mell in Be More Chill
Michael shares JD’s sense of outsider status and emotional vulnerability, though expressed in a more sympathetic way. Both characters feel misunderstood and use humor or detachment to cope with isolation. Performing Michael can help an actor find JD’s humanity and emotional core, grounding his darker impulses in something relatable.
Suggested song: “Michael in the Bathroom” is a contemporary pop-rock ballad captures the loneliness and self-awareness that JD hides beneath his sarcasm. It requires emotional honesty, dynamic vocal range, and a conversational delivery that connects deeply with the audience. Singing it for a JD audition shows you can portray a complex young man wrestling with internal pain, while also handling modern musical theatre vocal phrasing and storytelling.
Roger Davis in Rent
Roger, like JD, is a brooding romantic with a haunted past. Both characters grapple with trauma and isolation, and both use music or rebellion as outlets for pain. Studying Roger can help an actor tap into JD’s rock sensibility and emotional volatility while maintaining vulnerability and depth.
Suggested song: “One Song Glory” allows a performer to showcase the raw, rock-driven edge that JD’s score demands while exploring introspective emotion. The song builds from quiet yearning to explosive desperation — a structure that mirrors JD’s psychological unraveling. Performing “One Song Glory” for a JD audition highlights emotional intensity, grit, and a sense of tragic yearning — all essential qualities for capturing JD’s complex darkness.
More Suggestions
Monologues
Songs
* Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database.