Show: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Theater: The Pennsylvania Playhouse
Theater Website: https://www.paplayhouse.org/murder-on-the-orient-express-auditions
Theater Phone: (610) 865-6665
Start date of auditions: 07/17/2026
The Pennsylvania Playhouse
390 Illicks Mill Rd, Bethlehem, PA,
610-865-6665
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Directed By Mark A. Stutz
Written By Agatha Christie
Adapted By Ken Ludwig
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 the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.
Audition Date:
Friday, July 17th
6:00 – 10:00 PM
Digital auditions accepted until July 17th at 6 PM
Callback Date:
Sunday, July 19th
6:00 – 9:00 PM
SELF-TAPE AUDITIONS
If you are unable to come to the audition on July 17th, please record yourself performing one of the monologues below. Submissions are due no later than Friday, July 17th at 6pm so our creative team is able to view your tape in a timely manner. All auditioning with video submissions must be able to be at callbacks in person on July 19th.
PERFORMANCE DATES
Performances will be October 9th to October 25th. Performances will take place from Friday to Sunday during this time. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM.
TECH REHEARSAL
Tech rehearsal will take place from October 4th to October 8th. Please note that tech rehearsal is mandatory for all actors.
AUDITION PREPARATION:
MONOLOGUE AUDITION
All monologue auditions will be held one person at a time. Monologue options can be found on the audition page. This does not need to be memorized for your audition. If you’d like to try an accent, please feel free, but it is not required. If you would like to audition for multiple roles, please limit your audition to two monologues total.
Note: for some characters, multiple monologues are featured as options. Please only choose ONE of the available monologues per character.
CALLBACKS
Callbacks will be held by invitation only on Sunday, July 19th from 6:00-9:00pm.
If you do not receive a callback, please know this does not mean you are not cast. It simply means we needed to have a second look at certain actors, some together, in order to be able to properly make final decisions with specific castings.
If you are invited to callbacks you will be sent the necessary materials via email. These will include additional sides to be read from the script with other actors.
CONFLICTS
All actors should have their conflicts listed at time of auditions. There is space on the form for this.
MORE QUESTIONS?
Please email all questions regarding auditions to production@paplayhouse.org
AUDITIONING AND PERFORMING INFO
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
HERCULE POIROT, Male presenting, 40-65, Belgian accent, any ethnicity
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, Male presenting, 40-65, Belgian accent, any ethnicity
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, Female presenting, mid 20s-30s, English (standard) accent, any ethnicity.
A governess. Anxious, but also cool and determined, Mary has a certain sadness about her, as well a many secrets. She is carrying on a secret affair with Colonel Arburthnot. Must be comfortable kissing on stage.
COLONEL ARBUTHNOT, Male presenting, 30s, Scottish accent, any ethnicity
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. Must be comfortable kissing on stage.
HECTOR MCQUEEN, Male presenting, 23-35, American accent (any), any ethnicity
Personal assistant and secretary to Sauel 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, Male presenting, 40s, French accent, any ethnicity
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, Female presenting, 60s-70s, Russian accent, any ethnicity
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, Female presenting, 30s, Swedish* accent, any ethnicity, ESL actresses welcome.
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. *Note: As written, the character is Swedish with somewhat broken English, but we will also consider actresses who have accents other than English or Swedish (Spanish, Italian, etc.).
COUNTESS ANDRENYI, Female presenting, 25-35, Hungarian accent, any ethnicity
In addition to being married to a count (and thus, nobility), she is also a doctor. Beautiful, educated, charming, and intelligent enough to match wits with Poirot. Must also be able to do an American accent.
HELEN HUBBARD, Female presenting, 45-60, American accent (any, possibly Wisconsin?), any ethnicity
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 RATCHETT, Male presenting, 35-50, American accent (mobster – possibly Brooklyn or Chicago style)
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. Efforts will be made to ensure comfort
