Actors Community Theatre Seeks Cast for March Dinner-Theatre

Actors Community Theatre is inviting local adults to audition for This Murder Was Staged, a comedic mystery by Patrick Greene and Jason Pizzarello, with performances set for March 26 to 29, 2026 at the Jasper Arts Center. Auditions are scheduled for the evening of January 16 and the afternoon of January 17 at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center Black Box Theatre, and performers must be at least 18 years old to participate.

The notice describes the play as a tongue-in-cheek whodunit that lends itself to ensemble comedy and fast-paced pacing, the kind of small-cast caper that plays well in a dinner-theatre format. Actors should expect cold readings during the audition process and may be asked to read for multiple characters. The production team also requested that auditionees provide any scheduling conflicts for the rehearsal period, signaling a commitment to building a reliable rehearsal calendar that accommodates cast availability.

For Dubois County residents, the production is more than entertainment. Dinner-theatre formats typically extend audience dwell time downtown, creating spillover business for restaurants and cafes near the Jasper Arts Center. Community theatres also serve as training grounds for local talent and volunteer roles, from set construction to front-of-house operations, strengthening civic engagement and cultural capacity in a county where arts programming can anchor local economies and social life.

Actors Community Theatre’s call for cast members opens a pathway for emerging and experienced local performers to gain onstage experience in a public, ticketed run. Rehearsal scheduling requests indicate the group is aiming for efficient production management, which can reduce last-minute cancellations and improve the overall quality of performances. That approach supports reliable run dates for patrons planning dinner-and-show evenings during the March run.

Interested performers should plan to attend one of the two audition sessions at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center Black Box Theatre and be prepared for cold readings and multiple character reads. The production will be staged at the Jasper Arts Center March 26 to 29, 2026. Local residents who attend can expect a lighthearted mystery and an opportunity to support community arts while contributing to downtown economic activity.