What: Open auditions for Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the classic and oh-so-stylish whodunit by Agatha Christie, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. Directed by Isaac Joyce-Shaw.
When: 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26.
Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW — located off Highway 22, about 6 miles west of downtown Salem, Oregon
Casting: Five females and five to six males, depending on roles to be doubled. For a full list of roles, genders and ages, please scroll down this post.
Pentacle Theatre affirms, promotes and celebrates the participation of all, without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion or socioeconomic status.
Things to know:
Lobby doors open at 12:30 p.m. and open auditions for all roles begin promptly at 1 p.m.
Plan to arrive early to fill out an audition form. We encourage you to download a copy and complete it in advance. Please write clearly, especially your contact information. Headshots and resumes are not required, but always appreciated.
Bring your calendar and provide a complete list of your conflicts through Feb. 8. If you have a conflict on the audition date, please contact the director, below.
Actors will audition by reading selected scenes from the script.
Callbacks: TBA if needed.
Rehearsals: Generally, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Oct. 28 at Pentacle Theatre’s rehearsal studio in downtown Salem. Depending on cast availability and preferences, the rehearsal schedule may shift to Sundays through Wednesdays. The director will set weekend rehearsals and work sessions as needed.
Rehearsals will be scheduled to make the best use of everyone’s time, especially for actors in school. Only actors needed for scheduled scenes will be required at rehearsals, and we’ll release actors as early as possible. As we get farther into rehearsals, we’ll need everyone there so we can run the whole show. If you have questions or concerns about rehearsals, please contact the director, below.
Show dates: Friday, Jan. 17 to Saturday, Feb. 8.
Cast members may be required to make special appearances for marketing purposes in the weeks before the show opens.
About the show: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by morning, there is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, famed detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer … in case he or she decides to strike again. — Samuel French
Casting call: 10-11 actors able to play the following roles, with appropriate accents. Certain roles may be double-cast.
Hercule Poirot — The famous Belgian detective. Precise, intelligent, with impeccable taste and style. Age 60+.
Monsieur Bouc — M. Bouc owns the Wagon Lit train service. He is a friend of M. Poirot and is aboard the Orient Express with him. He too is Belgian, middle-aged and of good humor.
Mary Debenham — An English beauty in her late 20s to mid-30s. She is a governess and a friend of Colonel Arbuthnot.
Hector MacQueen — A beleaguered, nervous American in his mid-20s to 30s who travels with Mr. Ratchett as his secretary.
Michel the Conductor / Head Waiter — Michel is the Wagon Lit conductor. He is a good-looking Frenchman, about 40, with a quiet, almost grave, sense of humor. Monsieur Bouc knows and trusts him. Doubles as a head waiter.
Princess Dragomiroff — Russian, in her 70s, expensively dressed and heavily bejeweled. She has a strong Russian accent and an imperious manner.
Greta Ohlsson — Plain, middle-aged and Swedish. Her English is not good, but she speaks and understands French. Greta is a matron in a missionary school and a trained nurse.
Helen Hubbard — A self-privileged, outspoken American in her mid-50s who is flamboyant and often demanding.
Countess Andrenyi — A brilliantly beautiful young lady in her 20s who is dressed to the nines. She looks quite exotic, speaks a little English and has a charming Hungarian accent and a warm smile.
Colonel Arbuthnot — A Scotsman with a Scottish accent in his mid-30s who served in India. He is honorable and upright, if a bit dim.
Samuel Ratchett — A brusque American business tycoon in his 30s, who is mysteriously murdered by being stabbed a dozen times in his locked train compartment.
Suitability: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a classic whodunit suitable for all ages.
Sponsored by: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is made possible in part by the generous support of our sponsor, Glantz Law Group.
Information: If you have questions or a conflict on the audition date, please contact director Isaac Joyce-Shaw at 503-485-4300 or isaacjoyceshaw@gmail.com.
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