Quincy As the auditions for Murder on the Orient Express Murder, based on the classic Agatha Christie novel and staged by Ken Ludwig, begin, Quincy Community Theatre invites area actors to board for an exciting theatrical journey. Performances are planned for September 12–14, 18–21, and auditions are scheduled for Monday, July 28, and Tuesday, July 29.
This chic and gripping show, which is set aboard the luxurious and enigmatic Orient Express, follows famed investigator Hercule Poirot as he works to solve a startling murder before the murderer retaliates. Every traveler turns into a suspect when a snowdrift stops the train and a wealthy American is discovered dead from a knife wound in his locked compartment. Every piece of information counts.
Murder on the Orient Express will be produced under the guest direction of Ron Ziegler. After more than 40 years in theater, Ziegler retired from his role as Festivals Coordinator for the American Association of Community Theatre. After ten years in North Port, Florida, he recently relocated north once more.
After earning his master’s degree from the University of South Dakota, he worked as an associate director at the Des Moines Iowa Playhouse, where he was the first artistic/managing director for the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre, and at the Waukesha (WI) Civic Theatre, Sioux Falls, S.D., Community Playhouse, Orlando, Fla., and Repertory Theatre. He established and oversaw the Iowa Fringe Festival in Des Moines.
He was appointed an AACT Fellow, served as the American Association of Community Theatre’s treasurer, president, and member-at-large before joining the AACT Staff in 2009 as the director of field services. In addition to directing for theaters in Iowa, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, Wisconsin, and Germany, Ziegler has judged state, regional, and national theater festivals both domestically and overseas.
In addition to co-directing Peter and the Starcatcher and Girls Weekend for the Ansbach Terrace Playhouse in Germany, he and his wife, Kathy Pingel, were recognized with the 2015–16 Cloris Leachman Award for Outstanding Direction for their work directing The Hobbit at the Des Moines Young Artists Theatre. AACTWorldFest featured Ron’s theater production of David Harrower’s Blackbird from Venice, Florida, in June 2022. He received the American Association of Community Theater’s Art Cole Lifetime of Leadership award in 2023.
According to a press release from Ziegler, this stage adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express offers a unique chance to bring a timeless mystery to life. It is organized in a way that only Agatha Christie’s brain and pen could have created, and it is chock-full of intriguing and suspenseful characters. The rehearsal process ought to be thrilling and enjoyable. I’m excited to assist the actors in introducing Quincy audiences to this fantastic adaptation.
Audits are only scheduled via appointment. On July 28 or 29, interested actors can register for a 30-minute solo audition time slot. Scripts can be checked out at the QCT box office for those who wish to be ready beforehand. Nine a.m. to five p.m., Monday through Friday. Character criteria and descriptions can be found on the QCT website.
The production staff for Murder on the Orient Express consists of stage manager Quinton Metcalf, dialect coach Erik Red Larsen, lighting designer Wesley Cone, costume designer Valerie Hernandez, scenic designer Seth Campbell, and guest director Ron Ziegler.
This is your opportunity to participate in a glitzy and enigmatic theatrical experience that is unlike any other, regardless of your level of expertise on stage. For further information and to register, go to 1QCT.org.
