Director Katie Marra will hold auditions for “Murder on the Orient Express” on Saturday, June 18th from 10am-1pm. The Agatha Christie murder mystery will be performed from September 23 through October 9. This is an open audition for members and non-members of the repertory company.

Live Oak Theatre Announces Auditions for 2022-23 Season Opener, Murder on the Orient Express.

This will not be a typical Live Oak audition. This audition will require PREPARED readings from the script. Those who audition must be prepared to show their ability to become the character for which they are auditioning.

Below is a message from the director and a description of each character, as well as what sides to request from the stage manager.

“As we close this season we are jumping right into the next! Due to the intricacy of this show, we felt it necessary to offer this description of characters and the accents they will require in the show.”

If you would like to audition, please email liveoakstagemanager@gmail.com for sides and familiarize yourself with the scenes pertaining to the characters you are interested in before the audition date.

Character Descriptions:

Detective Hercule Poirot
Gender – Male
Age Range – 40-65
Accent – Belgian
Sides – Pgs. 12-13 (monologue), 18, & 43
“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.” (Carries the bulk of the lines throughout the show.)

Monsieur Bouc
Gender – Male
Age Range – 40-64
Accent – Belgian

Sides – Pgs. 18, 24, & 43
“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)
Sides – Pg. 35
“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 Arbuthnot.”

Colonel Arbuthnot
Gender – Male
Age Range – 30s
Accent – Scottish
Sides – Pg. 35
“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.”

Hector MacQueen
Gender – Male
Age Range – 23-35
Accent – American
Sides – Pgs. 16 & 21
“Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, MacQueen 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)
Sides – Pgs. 18 (Turkish), 20 & 24 (French)
“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 Tokatlian Hotel and will also need to be able to do a Turkish accent.”

Princess Dragomiroff
Gender – Female
Age Range – 60s-70s
Accent – Russian
Sides – Pgs. 19 & 20
“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
Sides – Pgs. 19 & 20
“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
Sides – Pg. 43
“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
Gender – Female
Age Range – 45-60
Accent – American (regional & transatlantic)
Sides – Pgs. 16 & 24
“Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious, loud, obnoxious American busybody who has been married multiple times. Must be comfortable singing and lightly 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
Gender – Male
Age Range – 45-65
Accent – American (mobster)

Sides – Pgs. 20 & 21
“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.”

Note: As the murder victim, this actor may be required to remain on stage and still for an extended period of time.

About Live Oak Theatre Company (LOT),

Live Oak Theatre Company (LOT) is a not-for-profit 501 (C) (3) repertory company of local artists, located at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601.  The Live Oak Theatre Company exists to enrich families, individuals and the community as a whole by providing positive artistic experiences in the Performing Arts – including excellent, affordable, and edifying family friendly entertainment, performance, and educational opportunities for Theatre patrons and participants of all ages. 

For more information about the Live Oak Theatre Company, including sponsorship and audition opportunities, call 352-593-0027, email  liveoakboxoffice@gmail.com , or go to www.LiveOakTheatre.org.   Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LiveOakTheatre.