AUDITION: Murder on the Orient Express
Schedule
Sat May 04 2024 at 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm
Location
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck | Rhinebeck, NY
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Murder on the Orient ExpressSaturday, May 4th @ 1:00 PM
Sunday, May 5th @ 7:00 PM
Monday, May 6th @ 7:00 PM callbacks
CENTERstage Productions is thrilled to announce open auditions for the mystery play Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, directed by Emily DePew.
Synopsis: A who-done-it mystery. Passengers aboard the opulent Orient Express awake to frightful news: Overnight, the American business mogul among them was stabbed to death behind locked doors. Thankfully, debonair detective Hercule Poirot is on the train and on the case. Murder on the Orient Express is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's famous murder mystery novel. The story revolves around a murder that takes place on a train in 1934. The detective Hercule Poirot interrogates passengers of the train to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Presented by: CENTERstage Productions
Director: Emily DePew
Location: The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Performance Dates: August 23, 2024 - September 8, 2024, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
Seeking: 5 Adult Males and 5 Adult Females. Ages 20’s-70’s+
Possible accents needed: French, Hungarian, English, Russian, Scottish, Turkish, Swedish and Minnesotan. But not required.
We strongly encourage women, persons of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals to audition. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of our work.
Prepare / Bring: - A 1-3 minute monologue in the style of the show.
Questions: Contact Director - [email protected]
Casting Breakdown
Detective Hercule Poirot: Gender – Male, Age Range – 40-65 Accent - Belgian Analysis Iconic character. Agatha Christie’s most famous detective. Poirot is fastidious, thorough, a touch ridiculous, and incredibly observant and intelligent. He is both arrogant and humble to fault. He is an observer of people, astute at analyzing why people behave as they do, and firmly believes that most crimes can be solved primarily by observation, psychology, and thinking them through. He values intelligence and the rule of law above all else.
Monsieur Bouc: Gender – Male, Age Range – 40-64 Accent - Belgian Analysis The owner of Wagon Lit, Orient Express. Bouc is a middle-aged man with a youthful vigor and attitude. Gregarious, honest and forthright, he puts his friends and customers above profit, although he is concerned about his company’s image. He is not a match for Poirot in intelligence, however.
Mary Debenham: Gender – Female, Age Range – mid 20s-30s Accent - English (standard) Analysis A governess. Anxious, but also cool and determined, Mary has a certain sadness about her, as well as many secrets. She is carrying on a secret affair with Colonel Arburthnot. May need to kiss onstage.
Colonel Arbuthnot (doubles as Samuel Ratchett): Gender – Male, Age Range – 30s Accent - Scottish accent Analysis A military man of the old fashioned type, possibly old-money, and used to being obeyed without question. He is strong, charismatic, but also problematic in some of his personal views. Has a temper. May need to kiss onstage.
Hector McQueen: Gender – Male, Age Range – 23-35 Accent – American Analysis Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, McQueen is a nervous character with a stutter that appears when he is especially anxious. Seems rather new to his profession. Talks a bit too much.
Michel (doubles as Head Waiter): Gender – Male, Age Range – 40s Accent – French (Michel) & Turkish (Head Waiter) Analysis Competent and organized, Michel is the conductor for the first-class carriages of the Orient Express. Handles himself well in a crisis, and is very good at his job. Note: This actor will double as the Head Waiter of the Tokatilian Hotel, and will also need to be able to do a Turkish accent.
Princess Dragomiroff: Gender – Female, Age Range – 60s-70s Accent - Russian Analysis Displaced Russian nobility. The Princess is a battleship: determined, arrogant, and accustomed to getting her way. She travels a great deal, and holds very decided opinions.
Greta Ohlsson Gender – Female, Age Range – 30s Accent – Swedish Analysis A Catholic missionary and baby nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. She would like to help small children in Africa. Deeply devout. This character may be funny, but should not be played as a caricature for laughs.
Countess Andrenyi: Gender – Female, Age Range – 25-35 Accent - Hungarian Analysis In addition to being married to a count (and thus, nobility), she also is a doctor. Beautiful, educated, charming, and intelligent enough to match wits with Poirot. Must also be able to do an American accent.
Helen Hubbard: Gender – Female, Age Range – 45-60 Accent - American Analysis Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious, loud, obnoxious American busybody who has been married multiple times. Must be able to sing and do a little dancing. Should also be able to pull off a cooler, more calculated version of this character with a very standard or even cultured American accent.
Samuel Rachett (doubles as Colonel Arbuthnot): Gender – Male, Age Range – 35-50 Accent – American (mobster – possibly Brooklyn or Chicago-style) Analysis A dangerous and unlikable man, full of entitlement, with a hair trigger temper. Must have a forceful personality, and come across as someone not to be trusted or crossed. As the murder victim, this actor may be required to remain on stage and still for an extended period of time.
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Where is it happening?
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308,Rhinebeck,NY,United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
