The Windham Theatre Guild announces auditions for Agatha Christie’s "Murder on the Orient Express," adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig.
The auditions will take place on Monday and Tuesday, January 9th and 10th at the First Congregational Church in Willimantic, located at 199 Valley Street.
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.

We are looking for five men and five women to be part of this wonderful show, which will be directed by Michael Young. Auditions will be cold reads from the script. Accents preferred but not required. The actress playing Ms. Hubbard may be asked to sing and dance.

**Show dates are March 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, April 1 & 2, 2023**
For more information, please email us at windhamtheatre@aol.com.

Character Bios:
Hercule Poirot (M)
Age 40-65
Belgian/French Accent
Agatha Christie’s most famous detective. He is the center piece of the show and all characters revolve around him as he continually analyzes all of them. Poirot is meticulous, almost to a fault. He is extremely intelligent, which at times can come across as a bit arrogant, even though his true intentions are humble and honest. He is keen at observation and excels in the psychology of people and their behaviors. He solves his cases with deductive reasoning and believes in the rule of law above all else.

Monsieur Bouc (M)
Age 40 -60
Belgian/French Accent
Bouc is the owner of the Wagon Lit, Orient Express. His persona is larger than life. Friendly, honest and forthright, he puts the needs and comfort of his friends and customers above all else. He cares deeply for his company and works diligently to maintain its image and reputation.

Mary Debenham (F)
Age mid 20s-30s
Standard English Accent
The governess. She has an iron demeanor. Prim, and proper with a mix of anxiousness, she has a defiant heir which happens to cover an inner core of passion. Surprisingly, she is a match for Poirot’s intelligence and proves to be much more than just a pretty face. (Relationship with Arbuthnot) Stage kissing may be required.

Hector MacQueen (M)
Age 25-35
American Accent
Samuel Ratchett’s personal assistant/secretary. Tightly wound, edgy and nervous; he seems to always be on the verge of falling apart or coming unwound.

Michel the Conductor (Doubles as head waiter) (M)
Age 40s
French Accent (Conductor)/ Turkish(Headwaiter)
Michel is the Orient’s conductor for its first-class coaches. He is competent, well organized and very good at his job. He is calm, cool and collected, even during a crisis.

Princess Dragomiroff (F)
Age 60s-70s
Russian Accent
Of Russian Nobility. The princess is an elderly woman whose beauty, if it ever really existed, has long since faded from her frail and aging frame. However, she is tough as nails, a fortress of determination. She is arrogant, opinionated and most certainly used to getting her way.

Greta Ohlsson (F)
Age mid-30s – 40s
Swedish Accent
A pious and devout Catholic missionary hoping to minister and nurse small children in Africa. Greta is a bit of a ninny. She likes to prattle on about herself and her religious views. She has taken on the role of travelling companion to Princess Dragomiroff in order to earn funding for her trip.

Countess Andrenyi (F)
Age mid 20s-30s
Hungarian/America Accents
Young, dark-haired, beautiful. She is married to Count Andrenyi, so she gives off an air of nobility. Educated and trained as a doctor, she has the intelligence and talent to match Poirot.

Helen Hubbard (F)
Age 45-60
American Accent
(Should) be able to carry a tune and learn basic dance steps. Hails from Minnesota. Married multiple times. She begins the play by coming off as a loud, obnoxious, American busybody, but she has more under the hood than meets the eye. She shows a more cultured, refined and calculating side to her personality as events unfold.

Colonel Arbuthnot (Doubles as Samuel Ratchett) (M)
Age 30-50
Scottish/American Accents
Arbuthnot:
A military man. Strong, commanding, used to getting his way. He has a temper and he knows how to use it. He is charming enough to have won the affections of Mary Debenham.
Ratchett:
The mobster type. Tough, brash, full of entitlement. He too, has a quick temper and uses it when he deems it necessary. This character is pushy, and confrontational. He comes off as criminal without even trying. People do not like him, and wish to avoid his company whenever possible.