The Band: Is typically positioned visually on the side of the stage or room, and is responsible for creating a beat for the performers to dance to.
 The band consists of String, air, and percussion.
In Maranhão, there are also matracas, maracás, pandeirão, pandeiros and tambor onça and zabumbas (types of drum).

The Chorus: Is off-scene for all of the play and is responsible for the introduction of each character as they appear on-scene.
Within the Chorus, the Violeiro, and Cantador are guitar players whose energy and speed of play is important to the atmosphere of the play.
 Additionally, they are responsible for the improvisation of new songs that go along with what is occurring in the musical, and the surrounding community.

Amo: in Maranhão, represents the role of the owner of the farm, commands the group with the aid of a whistle and a maracá (maracá of the master) sings the principal toadas (songs).

Cavalo Marinho: In Pernambuco, he is the main character with the highest authority in the play and the first to arrive on-scene.
 He is typically white, representing a Portuguese heritage, and wears a naval captain's costume, including a colored coat with golden ornaments hanging from it.
 Also, red striped pants, a red satin ribbon across his chest (sometimes), and a crown made of paper, covered with small mirrors and ribbons.
 Additionally, he is seen carrying a sword and has a protruding addition to his costume, making it appear as though he is riding a horse.

Vaqueiros (Cowboys):  These characters consist of Mateus (or Pai Francisco, in Maranhão), and often Birico or Sebastião.
There may also be other cowboys as well, however, they are insignificant.
 Their role in the play is as energetic jokesters, who obey the orders of Cavalo Marinho, and are meant to arouse the audience with laughter and remarkable dancing.
The Vaqueiros tend to mainly mock the roles of authority in the play such as the Cavalo Marinho, Doctor, priest, and Capitão do Mato (police).
 Lastly, Mateus tends to be decorated with many noisy bells hanging from his clothes, and Birico will typically wear a mask, while both carry whips in hand.

Indios, Indias and caboclos (indigenous people): have a mission to locate and arrest Pai Francisco.
In the presentation of the bumba meu boi of Maranhão, they provide a beautiful visual effect due to the beauty of their clothes and the choreography they perform.
Some groups, especially the sotaque de matraca have the royal caboclo, or caboclo de pena (feather), which is the greatest outfit of bumba meu boi.
Caboclos de fita are pessoas with hats with colorful ribbon and they blend into the cowboys during a party.

Catirina: As almost all female roles in Bumba Meu Boi, she is played by a man, as a black, provocative woman.
 She is also pregnant and the mistress of Pai Francisco/Mateus.
 She is also a comedic character, who is known to dance a frantic Samba.
 She is very significant in the story, as she is the one who requests the arrival of the bull for its tongue.
 Sometimes, a secondary female character comes out with Catirina, named Dona Joana.
 She is also a black woman played by a man, who normally wears amusing ornaments.

Pai Francisco, Chico or Mateus: Catirina's husband, vaqueiro (cowboy), dress in simpler clothes.
His role is to provoke laughter in the audience.
 
The ox: one or two men under a structure usually made of bamboo, covered with colored fabric, such as velvet.
 The head can be an ox skull or a mask adorned with flowers, stars, and ribbons.
 The ox has the largest effect on the crowd, and its death and resurrection is the basic framework of the play.
In Maranhão, it is called Miolo to the person responsible for the evolutions and choreographies of the ox.

Capitão do Mato: An aggressive man wearing a military costume, who represents the authorities or the police.
 He is heavily mocked by the audience.

Priest: Is played by a man wearing an elegant robe of sorts, usually with some type of religious symbol on it, such as a cross or Mary, the mother of Jesus.
 He Arrives on-scene to bless the dead bull,
The Band: Is typically positioned visually on the side of the stage or room, and is responsible for creating a beat for the performers to dance to.  The band consists of String, air, and percussion. In Maranhão, there are also matracas, maracás, pandeirão, pandeiros and tambor onça and zabumbas (types of drum).
The Chorus: Is off-scene for all of the play and is responsible for the introduction of each character as they appear on-scene. Within the Chorus, the Violeiro, and Cantador are guitar players whose energy and speed of play is important to the atmosphere of the play.  Additionally, they are responsible for the improvisation of new songs that go along with what is occurring in the musical, and the surrounding community.
Amo: in Maranhão, represents the role of the owner of the farm, commands the group with the aid of a whistle and a maracá (maracá of the master) sings the principal toadas (songs).
Cavalo Marinho: In Pernambuco, he is the main character with the highest authority in the play and the first to arrive on-scene.  He is typically white, representing a Portuguese heritage, and wears a naval captain's costume, including a colored coat with golden ornaments hanging from it.  Also, red striped pants, a red satin ribbon across his chest (sometimes), and a crown made of paper, covered with small mirrors and ribbons.  Additionally, he is seen carrying a sword and has a protruding addition to his costume, making it appear as though he is riding a horse.
Vaqueiros (Cowboys):  These characters consist of Mateus (or Pai Francisco, in Maranhão), and often Birico or Sebastião. There may also be other cowboys as well, however, they are insignificant.  Their role in the play is as energetic jokesters, who obey the orders of Cavalo Marinho, and are meant to arouse the audience with laughter and remarkable dancing. The Vaqueiros tend to mainly mock the roles of authority in the play such as the Cavalo Marinho, Doctor, priest, and Capitão do Mato (police).  Lastly, Mateus tends to be decorated with many noisy bells hanging from his clothes, and Birico will typically wear a mask, while both carry whips in hand.
Indios, Indias and caboclos (indigenous people): have a mission to locate and arrest Pai Francisco. In the presentation of the bumba meu boi of Maranhão, they provide a beautiful visual effect due to the beauty of their clothes and the choreography they perform. Some groups, especially the sotaque de matraca have the royal caboclo, or caboclo de pena (feather), which is the greatest outfit of bumba meu boi. Caboclos de fita are pessoas with hats with colorful ribbon and they blend into the cowboys during a party.
Catirina: As almost all female roles in Bumba Meu Boi, she is played by a man, as a black, provocative woman.  She is also pregnant and the mistress of Pai Francisco/Mateus.  She is also a comedic character, who is known to dance a frantic Samba.  She is very significant in the story, as she is the one who requests the arrival of the bull for its tongue.  Sometimes, a secondary female character comes out with Catirina, named Dona Joana.  She is also a black woman played by a man, who normally wears amusing ornaments.
Pai Francisco, Chico or Mateus: Catirina's husband, vaqueiro (cowboy), dress in simpler clothes. His role is to provoke laughter in the audience.  
The ox: one or two men under a structure usually made of bamboo, covered with colored fabric, such as velvet.  The head can be an ox skull or a mask adorned with flowers, stars, and ribbons.  The ox has the largest effect on the crowd, and its death and resurrection is the basic framework of the play. In Maranhão, it is called Miolo to the person responsible for the evolutions and choreographies of the ox.
Capitão do Mato: An aggressive man wearing a military costume, who represents the authorities or the police.  He is heavily mocked by the audience.
Priest: Is played by a man wearing an elegant robe of sorts, usually with some type of religious symbol on it, such as a cross or Mary, the mother of Jesus.  He Arrives on-scene to bless the dead bull,
Bumba Meu Boi