Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) is holding in-person, by appointment only auditions for the upcoming production of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. in the Dance Studio at OCP, located at 6915 Cass St., Omaha, NE 68132. Virtual auditions via Zoom will be Monday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. Video auditions are being accepted now through Sunday, Nov. 29. Callbacks will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Dance Studio at OCP. To schedule an in-person audition or to submit a video audition, email Becky Deiber at
bdeiber@omahaplayhouse.com.
Through upholding high ethical standards, demonstrating respect for all and consciously working to provide diverse representation, OCP is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging, and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual's ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin or other factors. Omaha Community Playhouse is committed to diverse and inclusive casting.
Production: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
Credits: Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig
Director: Anthony Clark-Kaczmarek
Show Dates: Feb. 26–March 21, 2021
Omaha Community Playhouse, Hawks Mainstage Theatre
Rehearsals: Begin Jan. 17, 2021
Show Synopsis: A suspenseful and thrilling whodunit set aboard the world’s most famous luxury locomotive. Based on the crime thriller novel by Agatha Christie—the best-selling mystery novelist of all time—Murder on the Orient Express will keep you guessing until the very end. When the legendary Orient Express becomes stranded by a snow storm, a passenger is found stabbed to death in his private room. With the murderer still on board, detective Poirot must work to solve the crime before the train reaches its destination.
Auditions: In-person, by appointment only on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
Virtual auditions via Zoom on Monday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m.
Video auditions being accepted now through Sunday, Nov. 29
Callbacks: Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m
Location: Dance Studio, Omaha Community Playhouse
6915 Cass Street
Omaha, NE 68132
Notes: Everyone auditioning must have an appointment, whether virtual or in-person, which can be scheduled with Becky Deiber at
bdeiber@omahaplayhouse.com. Due to COVID-19, virtual auditions or video submissions are strongly encouraged and preferred. Please fill out the audition form here:
https://ocpcms.waveinteractive.com/Post/sections/5/Files/Murder%20Orient%20Audition%20Form.pdf and submit it with your video audition or send it to Becky Deiber when scheduling your audition appointment.
All actors are encouraged to select one of the Murder on the Orient Express sides, which can be found at
https://www.omahaplayhouse.com/Post/sections/5/Files/MOE_SIDES.pdf or another piece of literature that speaks to them to prepare for auditions. Alternate pieces of literature could originate from fiction, poetry, music, film or any other source. Actors may choose to read or memorize their selection. Actors should demonstrate their ability to make strong character choices, use a dialect and maintain realism in performance. If using one of the sides provided, the entire side does not need to be read. Actors are encouraged to keep the audition piece under four minutes total. For those submitting video auditions, actors are encouraged to have someone read with them off camera if possible.
For those auditioning in person: Temperatures of auditioners will be taken upon arrival. Auditioners will be required to wear a facemask. Auditions will be held individually. Call backs may include small groups. Provided seating will be plastic or metal chairs only, no fabric upholstery. The audition space will be appropriately sanitized. When arriving to audition, please enter through the Stage Door entrance on the West side of the building.
Please Bring: All contact information, personal schedules and a list of rehearsal conflicts with which to fill out an audition form. To expedite the check-in process, please bring a recent photo if you have one available. Please note, photos will not be returned.
Roles: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will consist of five male and five female actors.
Hercule Poirot – Male, all ethnicities: A famous Belgian detective; a big personality; authoritative, witty, charismatic and slightly pompous; driven to find the answers, good or bad, with a strong moral sense; very aware of his ability and his well-deserved reputation; extremely aware and instinctual, Belgian (or French) accent.
Monsieur Bouc – Male, all ethnicities: A Belgian man of good humor; playful, proud, generous; the director of the Compagnie Wagon Lit and formerly worked for the Belgian police force with Poirot; Belgian (or French) accent.
Mary Debenham – Female, all ethnicities: A governess, capable and romantic; a sadness around her eyes and a harness about her person, Standard British accent.
Hector MacQueen – Male, all ethnicities: Rachett’s personal secretary; tightly wound, edgy and nervous; he seems to be always on the verge of falling apart, American/New York accent.
Michel the Conductor/Marcel – Male, all ethnicities: one actor will play two roles; Michel: a good-natured Frenchman with a quiet, almost grave sense of humor; unfailingly polite; Marcel: a Turkish waiter, snooty, smooth, French accent.
Princess Dragomiroff – Female, all ethnicities: a Russian dowager; very formal, a sweeping, impressive presence; imperial, impatient, Russian Accent.
Greta Ohlsson – Female, all ethnicities: Princess Dragomiroff’s traveling companion; inherently odd and devout Swedish woman; frightened, sheep like quality, Swedish accent.
Countess Andrenyi – Female, all ethnicities: A countess through marriage; impeccably put together, with a warmth that wins over everyone she meets; her delicacy belies a steely edge; she is no wilting flower; Hungarian accent.
Helen Hubbard – Female, all ethnicities; an outspoken and flamboyant American from the Midwest; jovial, obnoxious, domineering, deliciously nosy and brash; unapologetic; American accent.
Colonel Arbuthnot/Samuel Rachett – Male, all ethnicities: one actor will play two roles; Colonel Arbuthnot - Scotsman, middle aged, handsome, very matter of fact, occasionally tender, Scottish accent. (also plays Samuel Rachett) Samuel Rachett – Male, all ethnicities: middle aged American businessman, evil at heart and frightening, dangerous, unforgiving, stern demeanor, domineering, American/Brooklyn Accent. (also plays Colonel Arbuthnot)
Contact: For more information, contact Becky Deiber, bdeiber@omahaplayhouse.com, at (402) 661-8539.
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