Directed by Noah Matthew

Audition for Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced

Audition materials can be found here.

When: March 9-10, 6:30 PM 
Where: The Shack, 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point, WI 54481

A Murder is Announced Plot and Character Descriptions (7w, 5m)

In the quiet English village of Chipping Cleghorn, a strange advertisement appears in the local newspaper Gazette: “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 13th, at Little Paddocks at 6:30 p.m.”

The villagers assume it is an invitation to a murder-mystery party, and many arrive that evening at the home of Letitia Blacklock, who is baffled—she never placed the advertisement. At the appointed time, the lights suddenly go out, a masked gunman bursts into the room, and the mystery begins. Who placed the advertisement? What secrets are all the guests concealing? Miss Marple is on the case.

Miss Jane Marple A sharp, elderly amateur detective from St. Mary Mead. Soft-spoken and polite, she uses her deep understanding of human nature, especially village behavior, to unravel the case. Despite seeming frail, she sees what others miss.

Letitia Blacklock Owner of Little Paddocks, apparently a dignified, somewhat reserved woman in late middle age. She becomes the apparent target of the attack. Calm but secretive, with a complicated past involving money, business connections, and family ties.

Dora “Bunny” Bunner Letitia’s old school friend and companion. Sweet, scatterbrained, and nostalgic. She worships Letitia and often recalls details from their youth—some of which become key to the mystery.

Patrick Simmons A young man living at Little Paddocks. Charming, mischievous, and rather flippant. He often teases others and approaches the murder affair lightly, though he has motives and secrets of his own.

Julia Simmons Patrick’s sister, also staying with Letitia. Intelligent, poised, and occasionally sharptongued. She has a mysterious air and a complicated relationship with her brother and the rest of the household.

Mitzi A housemaid working for Letitia. Dramatic, emotional, and paranoid, she constantly claims people are out to get her. Her accent and fearfulness add both humor and tension— especially when she becomes a key witness.

Phillipa Haymes A lodger at Little Paddocks. Quiet, gentle, and self-contained. She harbors a private grief and an past she tries to conceal.

Mrs. Swettenham A widow who, with her son, lives nearby. Inquisitive, genteel, and always eager for village gossip. She attends the fateful “party” out of curiosity.

Edmund Swettenham Her son, a would-be writer. Cynical, clever, and mildly self-important. He fancies himself as an observer of life and often makes wry, humorous remarks. Possible romantic interests involve one of the young women.

Sergeant Mellors The local police sergeant. Solid, honest, and methodical.

Detective Inspector Craddock The lead investigator from Scotland Yard. Competent, perceptive, and willing to rely on Miss Marple’s insights. A grounded, likable professional whose cooperation with Marple is essential to solving the crime.

Rudi Scherz A young man who appears as an intruder.

A collaboration between Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater (cwACT) and the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO)

Come one and all to auditions for a staging of “Peter and the Wolf,” by Sergei Prokofiev. Peter and the Wolf is a wonderful collaborative event sponsored by the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra and the Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater! Performers will be working with the Orchestra to provide an engaging production for the 4th grade class of the Stevens Point Area School District that will also be part of CWSO’s Spring Concert Series.

Dates

• Monday, January 19th, 2026 – 6:30p-8:30p
• Tuesday, January 20th, 2025 – 6:30p-8:30p

Location

1300 Maria Dr, Stevens Point, Wisconsin – CREATE Portage County Building

Preregister with this online form. Walk-ins welcome, movement clothing encouraged!

Rehearsal Information

Check out the Rehearsal Calendar online.

Rehearsal Location

CREATE Portage County Building (TBD)

General Rehearsal Window

December 15th @7pm – First Cast Meeting

January 6 – March 7, 2026
Rehearsals typically Monday/Wednesday @6:30-8:30pm.

Each performer will receive a small stipend for their participation!

Technical & Dress Rehearsals (Mandatory)

• March 3rd @7pm – Rehearsal @UWSP w/Orchestra
• March 10th @7pm – Tech Rehearsal @Sentry
• April 10th @7pm – Tech Rehearsal @Sentry
• April 11th @1pm – Dress Rehearsal @Sentry

Performance Dates

School Performance

• Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 (Daytime)

Public Performances

• Saturday, April 11th, 2026 @7:30pm
• Sunday, April 12th, 2026 @7:30pm

Characters & Descriptions

Note: cwACT and CWSO welcome all community members to audition for any role regardless of their age, orientation, or background.

The Narrator – (Any age, any type)

The voice of the story and only speaking lines in the piece. Check out the lines here.

Peter – (Younger Age Range Under 40)

A curious, brave young boy who drives the story forward.
Acting focus.

Grandfather – (Older Age Range 40+)

Peter’s stern but caring elder guardian.
Grounded, expressive acting role.
Acting focus.

The Bird

Quick, agile, bright personality. Represents the flute in the symphonic score.
Suggested: Dance/movement experience OR puppetry experience.

The Duck

Gentle, comedic, waddling physicality. Expressive bodywork encouraged.
Suggested: Dance/movement experience OR puppetry experience.

The Cat

Cunning, sleek, smooth mover with clear physical storytelling.
Suggested: Dance/movement experience.

The Wolf

Large physical presence, dramatic, able to evoke tension.Likely two people performing as a single puppet!
Suggested: Strong movement or puppetry experience.

Hunters/Ensemble (3 roles)

Confident, rhythmic ensemble. Some coordinated movement involved.
Suggested: Acting and dance/movement experience

Location

cwACT
2952 Minnesota Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Date and Time

December 4 & 5 @6:30pm

Characters

• Dot (w): 50-60-something. Orchestrates the weekend. Has a 30-something-year-old son, Stephen.
• Meg (w): 40s. Dating Stephen. Has a 20-something-year-old daughter Ellie.
• Carol (w): 30s. Trying to have a baby with her husband, Rick.
• Ellie (w): 20s. Free spirit. Doesn’t really want to be there.
• Stephen (m): 30s. Dot’s son. In a relationship with Meg.
• Rick (m): 30s. Carol’s husband.
• Sheriff Tom Lane (m): 40s. Divorced. Newly elected.
• Bubba (m): 20s. Townie. Went to college with Ellie. Currently working for his dad.

Ho, Ho, Ho! Auditions!

cwACT Presents
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Clause

Auditions

Monday, November 3rd @6:30pm
Tuesday, November 4th @6:30pm
at The Shack, 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point

Omigod You Guys! Auditions!

cwACT Presents
LEGALLY BLONDE The Musical
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
And a Book by Heath Hack

Directed by Carrie Gruman-Trinkner

Auditions

Thursday, August 28th, @6pm – 8:30pm
Saturday, August 30th, @9am – 12pm
Callbacks, August 30th, 12pm – ???
at The Shack, 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point

Performances

October 24-26 and October 31-November 1, 2025
at Sentry Theater, 1800 North Point Drive, Stevens Point

Please Note: If you are cast in this show, Load-In (October 17) and Strike (November 2) are mandatory. Plus, a minimum of two hours is required for set building on Oct 18 or 19. Rehearsals will be mostly on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. More details are provided with the link to the Audition Form.

Fill out an Audition Form Here!

SanZman Productions, in collaboration with cwACT, presents The Crime Club Dinner Theatre…

Don’t be a spoilsport, it’s only murder!

Interweaving new money with Country Club style, personalities reveal themselves as the characters intermingle at play and sport until dirty secrets are exposed. Love, hatred, double dealing, intrigue, blackmail…

Game…Set…MURDER!

The Country Club Capers

Directed by Ken Salzman
Auditions: Monday, August 18, 6:30 p.m. at The Shack – 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point
Performances: September 27 & October 4, 2025

3 Women, 4 Men. Pay Per Performance.

The Characters

Nancy Ping: Tennis professional. She knows members well, in fact, too well.
Trevor Halstead: Golf pro. He is pursued by most women and not for golf skills.
Sandi Trapp: She is wealthy and available
Dean McGregor: Married to Mitzie. Oil business is rocky.
Mitzie McGregor: She has not realized her bank account is negative. Her porch light is out.
Rusty Nailor: Richest man at the club. His best friend is Dean McGregor.
Knute Jersey: The neighborhood security who’s moonlighting.

Please send an email to Ken Salzman at skenchris@aol.com to sign up to audition. You can attach your resume or bring it to the audition. Walk-Ins are welcome! If you have any questions, please feel free to send to skenchris@aol.com.

We are excited to host the 5th annual Schmeeckle Shakes performance of Romeo & Juliet directed by Joe Nowinski! The performances for Romeo & Juliet will be Thursday, July 31th thru Sunday, August 3rd. Here is the calendar for the audition and rehearsal schedule. The show will be performed at at the Pankowski Family Amphitheatre in Schmeeckle Reserve, Stevens Point, WI. 

Auditions

Auditions will be held on May 26th & 27th @6:30pm. Callbacks as needed will be May 28th @6:30pm. The audition form can be found here, along with the script for the show.

Auditions and rehearsals will be at The Shack, 2952 Minnesota Ave in Stevens Point.

What to Expect

1. Arrive 5 minutes before 6:30 at The Shack.
2. Finalize your physical audition form (your online form will pre-fill many spots).
3. Based on your desired characters, actors will read from sides of the script iwth other actors to show their skill/talent/energy.
4. When actors are finished reading, all potential performers will sing.
5. (Optional) Any actors that play a musical instrument and who brought them may play a song.

Synopsis

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare is the classic, yet tragic tale of two young lovers from feuding families. In 1880 deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall deeply in love and secretly marry. Facilitated by a man of god, the lovers experience a fate marked with wild passion and devastating loss. The world of both families are rocked by the long grudge held by generations new and old. In the end, the couple’s love brings the family together only after their tragic end.