08/25/2026
Santa Paula Theater Center announces auditions Sunday Setember 6th from 11-1 PM, Tuesday September 8th 7 PM - 9 PM, and TBA callbacks Wednesday September 9th from 7 PM - 9 PM for their last Main Stage show of Season 2026. Auditions will be held at The Santa Paula Center. 125 S. Seventh Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060. Phone # 805-525-4645. www.santapaulatheatercenter.org.
DIAL M FOR MURDER will play from November 13 - December 20 2026 with performances on Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays Matinees at 4:00 PM and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 PM. No appointments necessary, cold readings and monologues from the script. This is a non-equity production. THERE IS NO PAY. Brian Robert Harris directs and inquiries about auditions and play may be directed to him at [email protected].
What begins as an elegant dinner and a seemingly perfect marriage quickly spirals into a dangerous game of manipulation, betrayal, blackmail, and murder. In this smart, sexy adaptation of the classic suspense thriller, everyone has something to hide—and the truth may be the most dangerous thing of all.
"A deliciously dark comedy ... crowd-pleasing, campy thriller that kicks off the summer with a fierce combination of exceptional design and tongue-in-cheek acting brilliance." - Broadway World
"Dial M for Murder gets an A+ for adaptation ... with the heightened stakes of live theater." - Vanguard Culture
"Wonderfully theatrical ... The pace is quicker, the dialogue is snappier, the women are smarter and more complex." - The Times of San Diego
"A satisfying thriller that breathes new life into a potentially musty script.... Hatcher's revisions give the drama layers of meaning and 21st century relevance that Knott probably never thought of." - Chicago Sun-Times
Actors of all backgrounds and ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Please come prepared with a list of conflicts for the rehearsal and performance period.
CHARACTERS:
MARGOT WENDICE -Female-presenting | 30s–50s | British accent. Beautiful, intelligent, and outwardly composed, Margot appears to have the perfect life. But beneath the polished surface is a woman caught between love, guilt, fear, and a marriage that is far more complicated than it appears. She is emotionally layered, vulnerable yet resilient, and must navigate the play’s increasingly dangerous twists with intelligence and strength.
TONY WENDICE - Male-presenting | 30s–50s | British accent
Margot’s sophisticated, charming husband. Clever, charismatic, and seemingly unflappable, Tony possesses the confidence of a man who believes he is always the smartest person in the room. Beneath his polished exterior lies a calculating and deeply controlling mind. This role requires an actor capable of charm, menace, precision, and psychological complexity.
MAXINE HADLEY - Female-presenting | 30s–50s | American accent. A successful American mystery writer and Margot’s former lover. Maxine is intelligent, witty, confident, and perceptive, with a natural charm and a sharp sense of humor. Initially appearing somewhat detached from the increasingly dangerous events around her, she quickly becomes an important player in unraveling the truth. This role requires warmth, intelligence, humor, strong chemistry with Margot, and the ability to hold her own in a battle of wits with Tony.
CAPTAIN LESGATE - Male-presenting | 30s–60s | British accent
A mysterious and unsettling man from Tony’s past. Lesgate is intelligent, opportunistic, and morally flexible. He is capable of appearing harmless when necessary, but there is always something dangerous lurking beneath the surface. This actor should be comfortable with ambiguity and able to create a character who is both sympathetic and threatening.
INSPECTOR HUBBARD -Any gender presentation | 40s–70s | British accent. A seasoned police inspector with a dry wit, sharp intelligence, and an unassuming manner that can easily be mistaken for bumbling. Hubbard is always watching, always listening, and almost certainly knows more than they initially reveal. This is a substantial role requiring excellent comic timing, authority, and the ability to gradually tighten the screws as the investigation unfolds.
Audition monologues are available at http://www.santapaulatheatercenter.org/auditions.html
From painting workshops to concerts to classes to magic shows to great plays – there’s always something happening at the Santa Paula Theater Center! For more information visit our website at www.santapaulatheatercenter.org.
WHAT: DIAL M FOR MURDER auditions
WHERE: Santa Paula Theater Center’s MainStage 125 So. 7th St. Santa Paula, CA 93060
WHEN: Sunday September 6th 11-1 PM, TUESDAY September 8th 7 PM - 9 PM, and TBA callbacks Wednesday September 9th 7 PM - 9 PM
CONTACT: Brian Robert Harris directs and inquiries about auditions and play may be directed to him at [email protected].
