The Picketwire Players are holding auditions for their 2020 spring production of “The 39 Steps” on February 18^th and 20^th from 7:00-9 :00 PM.

Director Heather Pidcock-Reed brings this fast-paced, zany production to the Picketwire stage. This hilarious Monty Python-esque parody of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock whodunit spy story calls for the entirety of the play to be performed by a cast of only four. One actor plays the hero, an actress plays the three women with whom he has romantic entanglements, and two other actors play every other character in the show: heroes, villains, men, women, children and even the occasional inanimate object.

“This show is going to be a lot of fun,” states Pidcock-Reed. “It asks a lot of the actors. Four people are expected to play somewhere around 100 different characters. It’s also incredibly physical. There’s a lot of running around onstage. It’s pretty different from anything Picketwire has done recently.”

Roles are available for men and women age 18 and up. The auditions will consist of selected readings from the script. Those coming to auditions should also dress comfortably and be prepared to do a lot of movement.

“Audition for the show if you really seek a challenge,” says Assistant Director Tom Seaba. “You’ve heard it said that dying is easy, but comedy is hard. Some people think performing comedy means you don’t need polished acting skills. This is not true. A drama gives you multiple chances to build suspense and work the audience. In a comedy, the humor comes front-loaded with immediate feedback. The audience will either get it, or they won’t, there is no second chance.”

Those interested in working backstage should come to auditions to fill out a form indicating their interest in doing so. Production dates for “The 39 Steps” are April 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th at 7:30 PM. For more information visit www.picketwireplayers.org, contact us online or by phone at 384-8320.

The Picketwire Center for Performing and Visual Arts is located at 802 San Juan Ave. in La Junta.