Audition for The Play That Goes Wrong

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Director: Mike Daniels

Auditions: Sunday, November 8th & Monday, November 9th, 2026 at 6:00PM. Callbacks Wednesday, November 11th, 2026 at 6:00PM

Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award-winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter! Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show: an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! 

We are looking for funny, physically adept performers who can commit to the style of the play and fully inhabit the characters. It is vital to believe in the characters who are performing the play within the play, as that is where the heartbreaking comedy comes from. With that in mind, we are looking for actors with a keen ability and understanding of comedy, but can play the truth of the scenes. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a physically demanding show. Most roles will require varying amounts of crawling, climbing, lifting, running, and/or falling. There is also a sword fight and some hand-to-hand combat.

Rehearsals: Monday/Wednesday/Sunday evenings from 6-9 PM, beginning on Monday, November 23rd, 2026
Tech Rehearsals: Sunday, February 7th – Wednesday, February 10th, 2027

Performance dates include:
Thursday, February 11, 2027 @ 7:30PM
Friday, February 12, 2027 @ 7:30PM

Attendance is required for all tech week dates and performance dates set forth. For more information and questions about auditions, Contact Amanda Menard at Amanda@stadiumtheatre.com

Stadium Theatre & Conservatory is dedicated to celebrating and cultivating a culturally diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We acknowledge that this process is a journey and that our commitment is essential and ongoing. Actors of all abilities, ages, ethnicities, genders, races, and sexual orientations are welcome to audition for any role that they are interested in playing.

Please be advised in order to enter the Theatre during auditions all individuals over 18 must provide a license or ID. Individuals under 18 must provide a license, school ID or parent's license. For all individuals entering the building bags will be checked by security.

Character Breakdown

Most characters fall between 18-40 years old. 

Chris - Male, British accent

Head of the drama society and plays Inspector Carter in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” High status clown. Rigid, uptight, everything really matters; he is the director of the show and this is the biggest day of his life; everything is riding on this; it is a nerve wracking and exciting night; his pain is evident and every time someone laughs the pain deepens; he has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors and the audience watching the play.

Robert - Male, British accent

Plays Thomas Collamore in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” Wants to be like Richard Burton as evidenced by his declamatory style; he is, however, not a parody of a bad actor; he is unaware of others around him; he does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his mistakes; there is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley Poly Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert); Strong vocal power.

Max - Male, British accent

Plays Cecil Haversham in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” He has never been on stage before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he’s told to do. He has zero connection with any of the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audience. Childlike and naïve. His mistakes are fundamental. He doesn’t think anything through, just looks for approval.

Dennis - Male, British accent

Plays the butler, Perkins, in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” He has no real desire to be involved in the theater; he just wants to make friends (of which he has none). He believes if he does well in the show, he will be more successful socially. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He may be slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong. The laughter is a personal tragedy/failure.

Trevor - Male, American accent

The play’s lighting and sound operator; they simply want to get on with the show; curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; they are easily distracted and do many things they shouldn’t, including engaging with the audience; when things go really sideways they are forced to act in the play; they hate acting.

Jonathan - Male, British accent

Plays Charles Haversham in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” A bit bland but sees himself as a James Bond type. Excited and having fun, but not naïve. He technically must drive the show. He cares about the play, but not to the same extent as the others. A very physical role.  

Sandra - Female, British accent

Plays Florence Colleymoore “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” She is vain and possesses a huge ego. Wants to be loved. Has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing in the way of what she wants but is smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can help her. The stakes are high for her. A very physical role.

Annie - Female, American accent

The stage manager; she has the biggest journey of any of the characters; when Sandra is indisposed Annie, who cannot bear to be on stage, must step in; initially terrified by acting, she is willing to kill for it by the end of the play; her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury; she starts small, but grows and grows. 

Stage Crew - Ensemble