Got the cast list! Oliver and Dodger are both boys, and Fagin's Gang are all boys except for my daughter. There are two other girls in the Workhouse only (just the first scene).

I saw a production of Oliver in my town where Dodger was played by a 16 year old girl (With her hair hidden by a hat), and it worked well for the most part. She sang really well, moved well, had great energy, and acted well. The only cringe worthy thing about it was that she went *way* over the top with the Cockney/British accent.

I'm getting sick and tired of this gender bending. I'm sorry. If you are doing Oliver, please look hard for a boy. That is the way it was written. Directors who make the character a girl are lazy and don't want to look hard for boys. If I was directing, I would look for boys and put the audition notice in papers like backstage and playbill.com and be specific. So if you can't find boys, do Annie. Just respect the authors.