Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre
Auditions for 2026 Summer Season
AUDITIONS FOR OUR 2026 SUMMER SEASON
SATURDAY, APRIL 18 – 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
We are looking for ten actors for roles in our two upcoming summer shows. Some actors will be cast in two shows. Contracts are six to eight weeks and include a stipend as well as room and board for non-local actors.
Please prepare a 1 minute contemporary monologue that shows range and is appropriate for the season. Auditioners may be asked to stay and read from sides, there will not be a separate callback date. Also, please bring your headshot and resume stapled together.
PERSONNEL
Artistic Director: Noah Ilya Alexis Tuleja
Managing Director: Jensen Glick
EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Noah Ilya Alexis Tuleja (Artistic Director and director for “Murder on the Orient Express”)
Michael Ofori (Director for “The 39 Steps”)
Jensen Glick (Managing Director)
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Written by Agatha Christie/ Adaptation by Ken Ludwig
1st Rehearsal: June 1st
Opening: July 2nd
Closing: July 11th
SYNOPSIS: It is just after midnight; a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight 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 – in case he or she decides to strike again.
SEEKING:
HERCULE POIROT: ROLE IS CAST. Male-presenting. 40-60’s. The brilliant Belgian detective. Fastidious and sharp.
MONSIEUR BOUC: Male-presenting. 30-60’s. A Belgian gentleman of good humor; playful, proud, generous; a predilection for grandeur; a whirlwind of energy; must be an excellent comedian.
MARY DEBENHAM: Female-presenting. 20-30’s. An English beauty; a governess, capable yet romantic; a sadness around her eyes and a hardness about her person.
HECTOR MACQUEEN: Male-presenting. 20-30’s. Tightly wound, edgy and nervous; he seems to always be on the verge of falling apart or coming unwound. Assistant to Samuel Ratchett.
PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF: Female-presenting. 40-70’s. a Russian dowager; very formal, a sweeping, impressive presence; imperial, impatient. Everyone knows when she enters the room. More battle axe than princess.
GRETA OHLSSON: Female-presenting. 20-30’s. Inherently odd, and very devout Swedish woman; a frightened, sheeplike quality; must be an excellent comedienne with an impeccable Swedish accent.
COUNTESS ANDRENYI: Female-presenting. 20 -50’s. Brilliantly beautiful, like something out of a fairytale; 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-presenting. 40 -70’s. An outspoken and flamboyant American from the Midwest; jovial, obnoxious, domineering, deliciously nosy and brash; unapologetic; must be an excellent comedienne. Also sings. Please familiarize yourself with the song “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”.
COLONEL ARBUTHNOT/ SAMUEL RATCHETT: Male-presenting. 30-40/s. Colonel Arbuthnot: Scotsman, also middle aged, handsome, very matter of fact, occasionally tender; must have great comic timing. Samuel Ratchett: middle-aged American businessman, evil at heart, brusque, unforgiving, stern; pushy, and domineering.
MICHEL THE CONDUCTOR /HEAD WAITER Any gender. 20-30’s. Michel: a good-looking Frenchman, with a quiet, almost grave sense of humor; unfailingly polite. Marcel: a Turkish waiter, snooty, smooth; must have great comic timing.
THE 39 STEPS
Based on the 1935 film with adaptation by Patrick Barlow
1st Rehearsal: June 9th
Opening: July 17th
Closing: July 25th
SYNOPSIS: The story follows the ordinary Richard Hannay, who gets entangled with a mysterious spy in London, leading to her murder, a frame-up, and a frantic, nationwide chase across Scotland as he tries to uncover a plot including a secret organization called “The 39 Steps”. Based on Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name.
SEEKING:
RICHARD HANNAY: Male-presenting, 30s – 50s. A 1930s leading man type. Suave, dashing and debonair. Intelligent and resourceful. A touch full of himself — maybe more than a touch. Requires a good RP British accent and strong comedic timing.
ANNABELLA/PAMELA/MARGARET: Female-presenting, 20s – 40s. A German spy, a 1930s Hitchcock blonde ingénue and a shy Scottish farm lass. A versatile performer who possesses strong physicality and an ability to handle German, British RP and Scottish accents.
CLOWN 1/ CLOWN 2: Any gender, 20s – 50s. They will portray all the other 150 roles of the show. Requires very strong physical performance ability, strong comedic timing and an ability to handle a variety of accents. Clown 1 plays Mr. Memory, Mrs. Higgins, The Crofter, Mrs. Jordan, Salesmen, Cops and many others (subject to change). Clown 2 plays The Compere, The Milkman, The Sheriff, Professor Jordan, Salesmen, Cops and many others (subject to change).
Please email Noah Tuleja at ntuleja@mtholyoke.edu and request a one-hour time slot, either 10-11, 11-12, 12-1, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5. Please put “MHC Summer Theatre Audition” in the subject line.
You will be asked to do your monologue first. Following the monologues you may be asked to read from sides from the season’s shows. Most people will be done by the end of their hour time frame, although some may be asked to stay and read with another group.