The Concord Players Announce Auditions for

Murder on the Orient Express -- Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig -- Directed by Brian Kelly

Directed by Brian Kelly

The Concord Players are thrilled to announce auditions for our upcoming winter production of Murder on the Orient Express, brilliantly adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig.

About the Show: Eight suspects, one thrilling ride! Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the luxurious Orient Express dead in its tracks. By morning, 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, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer before the storm clears and the killer strikes again. Ken Ludwig’s adaptation infuses Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit with high-energy glamour, mounting suspense, and a healthy dose of humor.

Audition format: Auditionees will be auditioning in front of a small group of other actors. Auditions will consist of reading short monologues adapted from the script.

Audition preparation: Select two monologues for the audition from the Audition Monologues which will be provided in your audition confirmation email. Memorization is not necessary. Please attempt the character’s accent or change your English dialect between monologues. If you are only interested in Poirot, please perform both Poirot monologues. The initial audition is to get a sense of your timing and ability to change your voice. We will focus on scene work during the callbacks. Some cold reads may be presented during the initial audition only if necessary.

Auditions will be held at 51 Walden St., Concord, MA, on:

  • Tuesday, August 11, 7:30–10:00 PM
  • Wednesdy, August 12, 7:30–10:00 PM

Actors will be seen in groups of up to 8, by appointment only: to reserve your place in a 30-minute appointment slot, please use our signup form below. See the Audition format and Audition preparation paragraphs, above, for how to prepare for your audition.

Important Note on Accents & Dialects: The characters in this show feature a wide variety of specific accents (including French/Belgian, British, Scottish, Swedish, Russian, Hungarian, Turkish, and American).

Please note that some roles may require actors to switch accents during the show. Accent work is a critical component of this production, and actors will be expected to demonstrate their accent capabilities at the time of the initial audition. Sides will indicate the required dialects. We are not looking for perfection, but for a demonstration that you can effectively change dialects and show phonetic flexibility. Dialect work and coaching will be part of the rehearsal process.

Accent Resources (Web pages or YouTube videos):

Callbacks will be held on Thursday, August 13, beginning at 7:00 PM, at 51 Walden St., Concord, MA. If you are called back, your in-person attendance is mandatory.

See the Character Descriptions below for more details.

Rehearsals / Important Dates:

  • The initial readthrough is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 7:00PM.
  • Rehearsals: Sunday evenings from 7-10PM, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7-10 PM, beginning on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Additional rehearsals are scheduled for the following Fridays:
    • Fri Nov 27 2026
    • Fri Jan 1 2027
    • Fri Jan 22 2027
    • Fri Jan 29 2027
    • Fri Feb 5 2027
  • Tech week begins on Sunday, February 7, 2027.

There will be eight performances in February 2027, over three weekends:

  • Friday, February 13, at 8:00 PM
  • Saturday, February 14, at 8:00 PM
  • Sunday, February 15, at 2:00 PM
  • Friday, February 20, at 8:00 PM
  • Saturday, February 21, at 8:00 PM
  • Sunday, February 22, at 2:00 PM
  • Friday, February 27, at 8:00 PM
  • Saturday, February 28 at 8:00 PM

Please note that conflicts are not permitted on performance dates, nor for tech week.

To sign up for auditions, please complete our online form, below. Before you fill it out, please note the following:

  • Be ready to select a 30-minute appointment slot on one of
    Tuesday, August 11 (7:30-10:00 PM) or Wednesday, August 12 (7:30-10:00 PM).
    • If you cannot make any of these times, you may submit a video audition, or you may contact the staff at
      orient-express-staff@concordplayers.org to arrange an alternate appointment, if possible. Please note that if you are called back, you must attend in person.
  • Be prepared to upload your resume and headshot (when you receive a confirmation email for your signup):
    • Resume: PDF format is preferred, but most any document type will do (no image files, please).
    • Headshot: If you do not have a headshot, a front-facing picture of your head or head and torso, with just yourself centered in it, is acceptable. JPEG or PNG format is preferred, but any image format will do. (no PDF files, please).

  • Instructions for uploading your headshot and resume will be in the confirmation email sent to you when you sign up.

    (Similarly, if you need to submit a video audition, instructions on how to submit it will be emailed to you.)

    Sign Up Now

If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to the staff at orient-express-staff@concordplayers.org

Character Descriptions

Concord Players is committed to diversity and inclusion. As such, we encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and abilities to audition. We also recognize that these characters are written on the binary (use he/him or she/her pronouns) and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with.

Please note: We will not be casting anyone under the age of 18.

Hercule Poirot (male presenting, 40s – 60s, Belgian/French accent)
A famous Belgian detective with a "big," authoritative, witty, and charismatic personality. Slightly pompous, he is keenly aware of his ability and well-deserved reputation. Driven by a strong moral sense to find the truth, good or bad.

Monsieur Bouc (male presenting, 30s – 60s, Belgian/French accent)
A Belgian gentleman of good humor. Playful, proud, and generous with a predilection for grandeur. A whirlwind of energy who requires an actor with excellent comedic skills.

Colonel Arbuthnot (male presenting, 30s – 40s, Scottish accent)
A handsome, middle-aged Scotsman. Very matter-of-fact but occasionally tender. Must possess great comic timing. (Often double-cast with Ratchett).

Samuel Ratchett (male presenting, 30s – 40s, American accent)
A middle-aged American businessman who is evil at heart, frightening, brusque, and unforgiving. He has a stern, pushy, and domineering demeanor. (Often double-cast with Arbuthnot).

Helen Hubbard (female presenting, 40s – 70s, Minnesota/Midwest accent) An outspoken, flamboyant, and jovial American from the Midwest. Obnoxious, domineering, deliciously nosy, and unapologetically brash. Must be an excellent comedian.

Countess Andrenyi (female presenting, 30s – 50s, Hungarian accent)
Brilliantly beautiful, like something out of a fairytale. Impeccably put together, she possesses a warmth that wins over everyone she meets. Her outward delicacy belies a steely edge; she is no wilting flower.

Mary Debenham (female presenting, 20s – 30s, English accent)
An English beauty and a governess. She is capable yet romantic, carrying a subtle sadness around her eyes and a certain hardness about her person.

Princess Dragomiroff (female presenting, 40s – 70s, Russian accent)
A Russian dowager with a sweeping, formal, and impressive presence. Imperial and impatient, she commands the room when she enters. Described as "more battle-axe than princess."

Hector MacQueen (male presenting, 20s – 50s, American accent)
Tightly wound, edgy, and nervous. He constantly seems to be on the verge of falling apart or coming completely unwound. Serves as the assistant to Samuel Ratchett.

Michel the Conductor (male presenting, 20s – 50s, French accent)
A good-looking Frenchman with a quiet, almost grave sense of humor. Unfailingly polite and professional. (Often double-cast with Head Waiter).

Head Waiter (male presenting, 20s – 50s, Turkish accent)
A Turkish waiter who is snooty yet smooth. Requires an actor with great comic timing. (Often double-cast with Michel).

Greta Ohlsson (female presenting, 20s – 60s, Swedish accent)
Inherently odd and very devout Swedish woman with a frightened, sheeplike quality. Requires an excellent comedian with an impeccable accent.

 

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