KINGS MOUNTAIN LITTLE THEATRE announces
AUDITIONS FOR Agatha Cristie's
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Auditions will be held in person on Sunday, November 23 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm and Monday, November 24 2025 from 7:00pm to 9pm
at the Joy Theatre, 202 S. Railroad Ave. Kings Mountain, NC.
Directed by Wendy Walega and sponsored by Harris Funeral Home.
Performance dates: February 20-22, February 27-28, March 1, 2026.
During your audition time you will be doing cold reads from the script. You do not need to attend both audition dates but are welcome to do so. In person callbacks for certain roles may be held on Tuesday, November 25th.
Not receiving a callback is not indicative of casting decisions. If you can not attend either date but would like to audition please contact: scarylady@carolina.rr.com.
Rehearsals are typically held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, from 7-9pm and are expected to begin Monday, January 5th. Detailed rehearsal schedules will be created and distributed after the show is cast.
Kings Mountain Little Theatre is a volunteer-based organization and all positions are unpaid.
ABOUT MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
It’s winter 1934 and an avalanche stops the luxurious train dead in its tracks. To make matters worse, an American tycoon onboard was stabbed to death behind locked doors. Thankfully,
debonair detective Hercule Poirot is on the train and on the case. With a train full of suspects, each with an alibi, can Poirot crack the case?
AVAILABLE ROLES: Ages listed are ages of the characters to be played not necessarily the age of the performer. Those marked with a * : may be open to different accent if needed. Some roles may be double cast.
Detective Hercule Poirot
Agatha Christie’s most famous detective. Age Range – 40 up. Poirot is fastidious, very intelligent, extremely aware, instinctual and is a brilliant detective. Belgian/French Dialect with great clarity.
Intimacy Note: Poirot may be asked to kiss someone’s gloved hand or cheek in the manner of a customary greeting.
Monsieur Bouc
The Director of Wagon Lit, Orient Express. Bouc is a middle-aged man with a youthful vigor and attitude. Gregarious, honest and forthright, he is concerned about his company’s image.
He is not a match for Poirot in intelligence, however. French/Belgian *
Mary Debenham
An English governess in her late 20s – 30s, she is 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 Arburthnot.
Intimacy note: Must embrace Colonel, may need to kiss onstage.
Colonel Arbuthnot
A military man age range late 30s through 50s, possibly old-money age, and used to being obeyed without question. He is strong, charismatic. Has a temper. Intimacy note: Must embrace Mary, may need to appear to kiss onstage.
Scottish *
Hector McQueen
A young American 20-30s personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, he is a nervous character with a stutter that appears when he is anxious. Seems rather new to his profession. Talks a bit too much.
Michel
Competent and organized, Michel is the French conductor , 40s up (must be believable as father to someone in their 20s) for the first-class carriages of the Orient Express.
Handles himself well in a crisis, and is very good at his job.
Princess Dragomiroff
Displaced Russian nobility, 50s-70s, she is generally not amiable and resents being questioned. Arrogant and accustomed to getting her way.
Greta Ohlsson
A 20s-30s age Swedish Catholic missionary and baby nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. This character may be funny, but should not be played as a caricature for laughs.
Countess Andrenyi
In addition to being married to a count she also is a doctor. Late 20s and up (must be believable as daughter of Linda Arden) with both Hungarian and American accents she is beautiful,
educated, charming, and intelligent enough to match wits with Poirot. Intimacy Note: May have her gloved hand kissed as a manner of greeting by Poirot. Will deliver a staged slap.
Helen Hubbard
Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious, loud, obnoxious American age 45-60s 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 cultured American accent.
Samuel Rachett
A dangerous and unlikable man, 30’s up, full of entitlement, with a hair trigger temper. Must have a forceful personality, and come across as someone not to be trusted or crossed.
Thinks he’s more charming than he really is. Intimacy Note: Will receive a stage slap.
Additional train porters, waiter, train guests.
Any gender, ages 18 and up: A number of people will be cast to support the action in the show as porters and train guests. These cast members will have additional backstage responsibilities related to props, train car movements and may also be asked to understudy specific roles.