Auditions

Company of 14
including two swings serving in roles of porters/waiters

This production is open to casting performers of any race/ethnicity, gender identity or gender-non-conforming and ability for any and all roles. 

HERCULE POIROT
Male presenting, 40s-50s
Belgian dialect
A famous Belgian detective, known for his brilliance and meticulous approach to crime-solving. He is a punctilious and eccentric character, often described as small and very self-assured, with a distinctive moustache and keen.

MONSIEUR BOUC
Male presenting, 40s-50s
Belgian (French) dialect
A friend of Poirot's, Bouc is a high-ranking employee of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the company that operates the Orient Express. As the murder of Mr. Ratchett is a considerable liability for the company, Bouc asks Poirot to solve the case.

MARY DEBENHAM
Female presenting, 20s-30s
Standard English dialect
A governess and an English beauty. 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. They touch, hug, and kiss.

HECTOR MACQUEEN
Male presenting, 30s
American dialect
An assistant to Mr. Ratchett, primarily helping him navigate the various languages of Europe and elsewhere in his (Ratchett’s) travels.

PIERRE MICHEL 
Male presenting, 40s
French dialect
Conductor employed by Wagon-Lit for over fifteen years and is considered quite trustworthy and honest.

PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF
Female presenting, 60s-70s
Russian dialect
A wealthy, elderly, and aristocratic Russian woman who now resides in France and is a naturalized French citizen. Strong willed, self-possessed, and regal. 

GRETA OHLSSON
Female presenting, 49
Swedish dialect
Swedish, Catholic missionary and baby nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. She would like to help small children in Africa. Deeply devout. Mild mannered and delicate.

COUNTESS ANDRENYI
Female presenting, 20
Hungarian dialect
Hungarian noble married to Count Andrenyi. Beautiful and quiet woman. Observant and possibly capable of concealing her emotions

HELEN HUBBARD
Female presenting, 45-60
American dialect with smidgen of Minnesota showing up
Loud and obnoxious, and in need of almost constant attention. The poster-child for the ugly American tourist.

COLONEL ARBUTHNOT 
Male presenting, 40s,-50s
British with Scottish flavor or full-on brogue 
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 views. Has a temper. He and Mary touch, hug, and kiss.

SAMUEL EDWARD RATCHETT 
Male presenting, 60s-70s
American-Chicago dialect
Outward veneer of a charming, polite person, but underneath his sinister, criminal mind can be sensed. 

REHEARSALS
Weeknights, Oct. 6-Nov. 11; 6:30-10:30pm

TECH REHEARSALS
Nov. 12, 13, 14; 6:30-11pm
November 15 1-4 pm

DRESS REHEARSALS
November 15, 17, 18, 6-11pm

PERFORMANCES
Nov. 19-21 6:15-11pm
Nov. 22 4:30-11pm
Nov. 23 12:45-5pm

STRIKE
Nov. 23, 6-10pm

A response from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival will happen after one performance TBA. This is required for all participants!

Company of 7, with some actors doubling as indicated in the character breakdown.

This play specifically deals with race relationships and how skin color tells a story. While the director will be open to all auditionees, casting will be based on the storytelling elements needed to convey the playwright’s intentions. The play follows Vera over several decades, so please note that you will not have to be the age of the characters; instead, lean into the energy of them.

VERA STARK 
(Black-identifying)
28 year-old woman that works as a maid for starlet Gloria Mitchell. Beautiful, smart, funny and willful; aspiring actress seeking her big break. Some close, flirtatious contact with Leroy.

GLORIA MITCHELL 
(White-identifying)
28 year-old starlet, known as “America’s little Sweetie Pie”. Although she is Vera’s employer, she and Vera have a friendly relationship. Nonetheless, she asserts her power and privilege over Vera, demanding constant assistance and emotional support.

ONE ACTOR PLAYS:

LEROY BARKSDALE (Black-identifying): Smooth and charming “Man Friday” and loyal aide of director Maximilian Von Oster. He shows heavy flirtatious interest in Vera; and just like Vera couldn’t live without acting, Leroy couldn’t live without his trumpet. He is studying music theory and composition at a university. Some close, flirtatious contact with Vera.

HERB FORRESTER (Black-identifying): Facilitator of the 2003 colloquium “Rediscovering Vera Stark, the Legacy of The Belle of New Orleans.” He identifies as a filmmaker, musician and entrepreneur from Oakland, California.

ONE ACTOR PLAYS:

LOTTIE MCBRIDE (Black-identifying): 20s woman, larger than life. Vera’s cynical and witty roommate, who loves radio soap operas and theatricality. Like Vera, she also aspires to act in films.

CARMEN LEVY-GREEN (Black-identifying): Panelist participating in the Vera Stark colloquium and a professor of media and gender studies at USVC. She’s spent years researching Vera’s trajectory and has written about her career in her book Hollywood Dreams.

ONE ACTOR PLAYS:

ANNA MAE SIMPSKINS (Black-identifying): 20s fair-skinned Black woman who uses her looks and light complexion to get what she wants. Very much a seductress. Hungry for success as an actress and willing to do whatever it takes, even pretending to be Brazilian. She is a roommate of Vera and Lottie. 

AFUA ASSATA EJOBO (Black-identifying): Another panelist in the Vera Stark colloquium, Afua is an established vocal black feminist, poet, journalist, and performer.

ONE ACTOR PLAYS:

MR. SLASVICK (White-identifying): Owner of the studio looking to produce the film “The Belle of New Orleans”. He’s not interested in producing a bluesy film about slaves during the Great Depression. He challenges Von Oster to add a couple musical numbers (among changing other things) in “The Belle of New Orleans” script to make it more appealing to audiences.

BRAD DONOVAN (White-identifying): Host of the 1970s talk show, “The Brad Donovan Show.” He interviewed Vera in the 1970s in one of her last public appearances.

ONE ACTOR PLAYS:

MAXIMILLIAN VON OSTER (White-identifying): Russian director of The Belle of New Orleans. He’s interested in capturing what he believes to be the gritty “truth” that cinema has otherwise glossed over, particularly of the African-American experience.

PETER RHYS-DAVIES (White-identifying): A famous and groovy English musician who is a guest on Brad Donovan’s talk show with Vera.

FALL FILMING DATES
Fall Rehearsal/Filming Dates TBA (Vera and Gloria only). Work will be scheduled around the availability of students playing Vera and Gloria.

REHEARSALS
Weeknights, Jan. 27-Mar. 3 6:30-10:30 pm

TECH REHEARSALS
March 4, 5, 6 6:30-11pm
March 7 1-4 pm

DRESS REHEARSALS
March 7, 9, 10 6-11pm

PERFORMANCES
March 11-13 6:15-11pm
March 14 4:45-11 pm
March 15 12:45-5 pm

STRIKE
March 15, 6-10 pm

A response from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival will happen after one performance TBA. This is required for all participants!