diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ac48fbd..a1bb505 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,19 @@ Follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) · versioned wi
 
 ---
 
+## [1.9.1] — 2026-06-26
+
+### Fixed
+- **Character sheets — "Connection refused" failures**: the analysis could send a dead `localhost:11434` LLM URL to the server (when app settings hadn't loaded yet), causing every passage to fail. It now never falls back to that hard-coded default — when no endpoint is explicitly chosen it lets the **server use its own configured `llm_url`**, so character-sheet extraction uses the same working LLM as the rest of the app.
+- **Audiobook casting — empty "Review & cast" preview**: opening the manual-correction preview after a cast rendered no lines because the name-highlighter (`highlightText`) was scoped to the live cast view only. It is now shared, so you can review, fix speakers/emotions, and open in the Rehearser again.
+
+### Changed
+- **Script Rehearser / Stage — one text size**: narrator (action) text and spoken dialogue now use the **same font size** instead of mismatched 15px/16px, so the play reads evenly.
+- **Script Rehearser / Stage — text-size control**: a new **A− / A+** control in the Stage toolbar shrinks or enlarges the whole play (persists per browser), in both A4 and paginated/scroll views.
+- **Script Rehearser / Stage — collapsible character list**: the row of cast chips can now be **collapsed or expanded** via a "Characters (N)" toggle to free up vertical space.
+
+---
+
 ## [1.9.0] — 2026-06-26
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index f8e233b..9ab8337 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.0
+1.9.1
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index 28fdf3a..2a4b3a2 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
   <!-- ── Core styles (local — no CDN dependency for first paint) ────────── -->
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/vendor/mdi/materialdesignicons.min.css">
-  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css?v=1.9.0-1">
+  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css?v=1.9.1-3">
 
 
   <!-- ── Flag icons — non-blocking (loaded async, icons appear after JS) ── -->
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
 <script src="/static/vendor/wavesurfer-regions.min.js"></script>
 
 <!-- loader.js: fetches sections → loads JS modules → removes skeleton -->
-<script src="/static/loader.js?v=1.9.0-1"></script>
+<script src="/static/loader.js?v=1.9.1-3"></script>
 
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/static/js/audiobook.js b/static/js/audiobook.js
index e468b15..7754f1a 100644
--- a/static/js/audiobook.js
+++ b/static/js/audiobook.js
@@ -131,6 +131,26 @@ function audiobookProgress(total) {
 
 const _AB_PALETTE = ['#3b82f6', '#10b981', '#8b5cf6', '#f59e0b', '#ef4444', '#ec4899', '#06b6d4', '#84cc16', '#f97316', '#14b8a6', '#6366f1', '#d946ef'];
 
+// Escape a segment's text and underline any known character names. Module-level
+// so the review/preview overlay (audiobookShowPreview) can use it too — the cast
+// view (audiobookCastView) defines its own roster-coloured version that shadows
+// this inside its closure. Names default to the current run's roster.
+function highlightText(text, names) {
+  if (!text) return '';
+  let html = escHtml(text);
+  const list = (names || (_audiobook && _audiobook.roster) || [])
+    .filter(n => n && n.toLowerCase() !== 'narrator' && !/^Unknown|Unbekannt/i.test(n))
+    .sort((a, b) => b.length - a.length);
+  list.forEach((name, idx) => {
+    if (name.length < 2) return;
+    const safe = name.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
+    const color = _AB_PALETTE[idx % _AB_PALETTE.length];
+    html = html.replace(new RegExp(`\\b(${safe})\\b`, 'gi'),
+      m => `<span style="border-bottom: 2px solid ${color}; font-weight: 600;">${m}</span>`);
+  });
+  return html;
+}
+
 // Live casting view: a scrolling feed of attributed lines + a character roster
 // that fills up as speakers are discovered. Far clearer than a bare bar.
 function audiobookCastView(total, llmUrl, defaultModel, isIdle = false) {
diff --git a/static/js/character-sheets.js b/static/js/character-sheets.js
index 039ff02..e15dcee 100644
--- a/static/js/character-sheets.js
+++ b/static/js/character-sheets.js
@@ -7,7 +7,18 @@
 const CS_CHUNK_CHARS = 4000;
 const _cs = { running: false, cancel: false, cache: {} };
 
-function csLlmUrl()   { return $('reh-llm-url')?.value.trim() || (typeof rehDefaultLlmUrl === 'function' ? rehDefaultLlmUrl() : ''); }
+// Resolve the LLM endpoint. Prefer an explicitly-typed rehearser URL, then the
+// app's loaded settings. Crucially, NEVER fall back to the hardcoded
+// localhost:11434 default — if settings aren't loaded yet, return '' so the
+// SERVER uses its own configured llm_url instead of a dead localhost address
+// (which caused "Connection refused" character-sheet failures).
+function csLlmUrl() {
+  const explicit = $('reh-llm-url')?.value.trim();
+  if (explicit) return explicit;
+  const fromSettings = (typeof _appSettings !== 'undefined' && _appSettings && _appSettings.llm_url) ? _appSettings.llm_url : '';
+  if (fromSettings && !/localhost:11434|127\.0\.0\.1:11434/.test(fromSettings)) return fromSettings;
+  return '';
+}
 function csLlmModel() { return $('reh-llm-model')?.value || ''; }
 function csLang()     { return $('reh-design-lang')?.value || ''; }
 
diff --git a/static/js/rehearser.js b/static/js/rehearser.js
index e004357..87e3f8b 100644
--- a/static/js/rehearser.js
+++ b/static/js/rehearser.js
@@ -2129,6 +2129,48 @@ $('reh-start-btn')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
   highlightCurrentLine();
 });
 
+// ── Stage display controls (font size + collapsible cast) ───────────────────
+
+const REH_STAGE_FONT_KEY = 'ttsvc_reh_stage_scale';
+const REH_CAST_COLLAPSED_KEY = 'ttsvc_reh_cast_collapsed';
+
+function rehStageScale() {
+  const v = parseFloat(localStorage.getItem(REH_STAGE_FONT_KEY) || '1');
+  return isNaN(v) ? 1 : Math.max(0.7, Math.min(2, v));
+}
+function rehApplyStageFont() {
+  // Set on the page wrapper so the scale inherits to BOTH the single A4 page
+  // (#reh-a4-page) and the paginated `.reh-paper` pages built by page-mode.
+  const scale = String(rehStageScale());
+  const wrap = document.querySelector('.reh-page-wrap');
+  if (wrap) wrap.style.setProperty('--reh-stage-scale', scale);
+  const page = $('reh-a4-page');
+  if (page) page.style.setProperty('--reh-stage-scale', scale);
+}
+function rehStageFontStep(delta) {
+  const next = Math.max(0.7, Math.min(2, Math.round((rehStageScale() + delta) * 100) / 100));
+  localStorage.setItem(REH_STAGE_FONT_KEY, String(next));
+  rehApplyStageFont();
+}
+
+function rehApplyCastCollapsed() {
+  const row = $('reh-cast-row');
+  if (!row) return;
+  const collapsed = localStorage.getItem(REH_CAST_COLLAPSED_KEY) === '1';
+  row.classList.toggle('reh-cast-collapsed', collapsed);
+  const btn = $('reh-cast-toggle');
+  if (btn) btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', String(!collapsed));
+}
+function rehToggleCast() {
+  const collapsed = localStorage.getItem(REH_CAST_COLLAPSED_KEY) === '1';
+  localStorage.setItem(REH_CAST_COLLAPSED_KEY, collapsed ? '0' : '1');
+  rehApplyCastCollapsed();
+}
+
+$('reh-font-inc')?.addEventListener('click', () => rehStageFontStep(0.1));
+$('reh-font-dec')?.addEventListener('click', () => rehStageFontStep(-0.1));
+$('reh-cast-toggle')?.addEventListener('click', rehToggleCast);
+
 // ── A4 Script page ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 function buildScriptPage() {
@@ -2138,7 +2180,8 @@ function buildScriptPage() {
   // Cast strip
   const castStrip = $('reh-cast-strip');
   if (castStrip) {
-    castStrip.innerHTML = Object.keys(rehState.cast).map(sp => {
+    const names = Object.keys(rehState.cast);
+    castStrip.innerHTML = names.map(sp => {
       const c = rehState.cast[sp], isMe = c.voice === 'me';
       return `<div class="reh-strip-char" title="${escHtml(sp)} — ${isMe?'me':(c.voice||'no voice')}">
         ${voiceAvatarHtml(isMe?'':c.voice, c.color, 28)}
@@ -2146,7 +2189,11 @@ function buildScriptPage() {
         ${isMe?'<span class="mdi mdi-microphone" style="font-size:10px;color:var(--subtext)"></span>':''}
       </div>`;
     }).join('');
+    const lbl = $('reh-cast-toggle-label');
+    if (lbl) lbl.textContent = `Characters (${names.length})`;
   }
+  rehApplyStageFont();
+  rehApplyCastCollapsed();
 
   const linesEl = $('reh-script-lines'); if (!linesEl) return;
 
diff --git a/static/sections/s-rehearser.html b/static/sections/s-rehearser.html
index 498dead..4e7fe0d 100644
--- a/static/sections/s-rehearser.html
+++ b/static/sections/s-rehearser.html
@@ -291,7 +291,14 @@
 
           <!-- Director's console -->
           <div class="reh-console" id="reh-transport-bar">
-            <div class="reh-cast-strip" id="reh-cast-strip"></div>
+            <div class="reh-cast-row" id="reh-cast-row">
+              <button class="reh-cast-toggle" id="reh-cast-toggle" title="Show or hide the character list" aria-expanded="true">
+                <span class="mdi mdi-account-group"></span>
+                <span id="reh-cast-toggle-label">Characters</span>
+                <span class="mdi mdi-chevron-down reh-cast-chev"></span>
+              </button>
+              <div class="reh-cast-strip" id="reh-cast-strip"></div>
+            </div>
 
             <div class="reh-console-transport">
               <button class="reh-tb-btn" id="reh-tb-prev" title="Previous line"><span class="mdi mdi-skip-previous"></span></button>
@@ -333,6 +340,10 @@
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-tb-save" title="Save to library"><span class="mdi mdi-content-save-outline"></span> Save</button>
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-tb-export" title="Export .reh"><span class="mdi mdi-export"></span></button>
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-fountain-btn" title="Export as .fountain (plain text)"><span class="mdi mdi-file-document-outline"></span></button>
+              <span class="reh-fontsize-ctl" title="Adjust the play's text size">
+                <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm reh-fontsize-btn" id="reh-font-dec" title="Smaller text" aria-label="Decrease font size">A<span class="reh-fontsize-minus">−</span></button>
+                <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm reh-fontsize-btn" id="reh-font-inc" title="Larger text" aria-label="Increase font size">A<span class="reh-fontsize-plus">+</span></button>
+              </span>
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-page-mode-btn" title="Switch between A4 pages / scroll / PDF pages"><span class="mdi mdi-file-document-outline"></span> A4 pages</button>
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-train-open-btn" title="Train mode — practice your lines with cue playback &amp; speech recognition"><span class="mdi mdi-school-outline"></span> Train</button>
               <button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="reh-exit-btn">Exit</button>
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index ea9b6c3..abe7100 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -3537,42 +3537,46 @@ code { background: var(--panel); border-radius: 4px; padding: 1px 5px; font-fami
 
 /* ── Proper screenplay A4 formatting ─────────────────────────────────── */
 /* Use Courier New throughout — 1 page ≈ 1 minute of screen time */
+/* Base play font size. Everything below is expressed in `em` so the whole
+   play scales together via --reh-stage-scale (the +A / -A control). */
 .reh-a4-page {
   font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace !important;
-  font-size: 12pt;
+  font-size: calc(12pt * var(--reh-stage-scale, 1));
   line-height: 1.6;
 }
 .reh-page-title {
   font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;
-  font-size: 14pt;
+  font-size: 1.17em;
 }
 /* Scene headings: all-caps, bold, with spacing */
 .reh-scene {
-  font-size: 12pt;
+  font-size: 1em;
   letter-spacing: .04em;
 }
-/* Action text: normal weight, left-aligned */
-.reh-action-block { font-size: 12pt; }
+/* Narrator / action text and spoken dialog share ONE size (1em) so the play
+   reads evenly — no narrator-vs-dialogue size mismatch. */
+.reh-action-block { font-size: 1em; }
+.reh-action-text  { font-size: 1em; }
 
 /* Act headings: larger, extra top space */
-.reh-act { font-size: 13pt; }
+.reh-act { font-size: 1.08em; }
 
 /* Transitions: right-aligned */
-.reh-transition { font-size: 12pt; }
+.reh-transition { font-size: 1em; }
 
 /* Dialog block — screenplay format */
 .reh-block-name {
-  font-size: 11pt;
+  font-size: 0.92em;
   letter-spacing: .1em;
 }
 .reh-block-dialog {
-  font-size: 12pt;
+  font-size: 1em;
   padding-left: 32px;   /* ~1.5" dialog indent */
   max-width: 440px;     /* ~3.5" dialog column width */
 }
 /* Parenthetical directions: centered-ish */
 .reh-direction {
-  font-size: 11pt;
+  font-size: 0.92em;
   padding-left: 80px;
   color: #444;
 }
@@ -3664,6 +3668,20 @@ code { background: var(--panel); border-radius: 4px; padding: 1px 5px; font-fami
 /* Cast strip takes its own full row inside the console */
 .reh-console .reh-cast-strip { flex-basis: 100%; order: -1; padding-bottom: 5px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); margin-bottom: 0; }
 
+/* Collapsible character list (Stage) */
+.reh-console .reh-cast-row { flex-basis: 100%; order: -1; display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 10px; padding-bottom: 5px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.reh-console .reh-cast-row .reh-cast-strip { flex-basis: auto; order: 0; flex: 1; padding-bottom: 0; border-bottom: none; min-width: 0; }
+.reh-cast-toggle { flex-shrink: 0; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 5px; padding: 4px 10px; border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 16px; background: var(--panel); color: var(--text); font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; cursor: pointer; white-space: nowrap; height: 28px; }
+.reh-cast-toggle:hover { background: var(--border); }
+.reh-cast-toggle .reh-cast-chev { transition: transform .2s; font-size: 14px; }
+.reh-cast-row.reh-cast-collapsed .reh-cast-strip { display: none; }
+.reh-cast-row.reh-cast-collapsed .reh-cast-chev { transform: rotate(-90deg); }
+
+/* Play font-size stepper (+A / -A) */
+.reh-fontsize-ctl { display: inline-flex; gap: 2px; }
+.reh-fontsize-btn { font-weight: 700; padding: 2px 7px; }
+.reh-fontsize-btn .reh-fontsize-plus, .reh-fontsize-btn .reh-fontsize-minus { font-size: 9px; vertical-align: super; margin-left: 1px; }
+
 /* Act heading on A4 page */
 .reh-act {
   font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 700;
@@ -3695,15 +3713,16 @@ code { background: var(--panel); border-radius: 4px; padding: 1px 5px; font-fami
 }
 .reh-scene .mdi { font-size: 11px; opacity: .5; flex-shrink: 0; }
 
-/* Action / description block */
+/* Action / description block — 1em so narrator matches spoken dialog and
+   scales with the +A / -A control. */
 .reh-action-block {
-  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.75;
+  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.75;
   color: #2c2c3e; padding: 2px 0 10px; cursor: pointer;
 }
 
 /* Transition line */
 .reh-transition {
-  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 11.5px; font-weight: 700;
+  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: 700;
   text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .1em;
   color: #555; padding: 8px 0;
 }
@@ -3944,7 +3963,7 @@ code { background: var(--panel); border-radius: 4px; padding: 1px 5px; font-fami
 .reh-paper {
   width: min(794px, 100%); background: #fff; color: #1a1a2e;
   padding: 56px 72px 40px; box-shadow: 0 4px 24px rgba(0,0,0,.18);
-  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.6;
+  font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: calc(12pt * var(--reh-stage-scale, 1)); line-height: 1.6;
   border-radius: 2px; position: relative; box-sizing: border-box;
   min-height: min(1123px, calc((100vw - 32px) * 1.414));
 }