The 39 Steps: Cast Opportunities

All roles are open. Theatre UP encourages actors of any ethnicity, identity, ability, etc. to audition for any role. If the script requires strict adherence to any characteristic(s), those will be listed in the character description. For this production, performers must be 18+. Any ages listed below are a guide only and may not reflect final casting.

Actor 1: Richard Hannay

Role: The lead protagonist.

Description: A suave, dapper, and bored 1930s English gentleman who gets unwillingly thrust into a global espionage ring after a mysterious spy is murdered in his flat.  This is the only actor who plays one single character for the entirety of the show. The role requires comedic timing and charm. 

Actor 2: Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret

Role: The Leading Women.

Description: 

Annabella Schmidt: An exotic, endangered secret agent with a heavy accent who brings the plot to Hannay's doorstep.

Pamela: A skeptical, sophisticated Englishwoman who accidentally gets handcuffed to Hannay while he is on the run, eventually becoming his reluctant ally and romantic interest.

Margaret: A young, sweet, and shy farmer's wife stuck in a dreary life who briefly shelters Hannay. 

Details: Requires rapid costume changes and the ability to pivot between different dialects (such as Russian, English, and Scottish). 

Actor 3 & 4: Clown #1 and Clown #2

Role: The Multi-Role Ensemble (The Clowns).

Description: Two actors responsible for playing every other role in the production—numbering anywhere from 50 to over 150 characters. 

Major Characters Played Include:

Professor Jordan: A mysterious, sinister figure linked to the spy network.

The Crofter / Mr. Crofter: A jealous, sharp-tongued Scottish tenant farmer who houses Hannay.

Mr. Memory: A vaudeville memory-act performer who holds the final secret to the 39 steps.

Various Others: Policemen, traveling salesmen, hotel proprietors, train conductors, thugs, and innocent bystanders.

Details: Requires lightning-fast quick-changes, intense physical comedy, slapstick, and playing multiple characters simultaneously or back-to-back.

We MAY split up some of these characters into more than one actor.  (The clowns are not clowns)

Theatre UP is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our productions, especially our casting process. We believe that true, vibrant storytelling reflects the rich tapestry of the human experience, and this is only possible when we actively seek out and center diverse voices and perspectives on our stage.