Auditions (Calgary): The Midnight Torch: A Detective Murdoch Mystery – Vertigo Theatre, Theater News

CASTING CALL
The Midnight Torch: A Detective Murdoch Mystery (Equity and Non-Equity)
A new stage play by Michael Ross Albert, with a story by Peter Mitchell and Saleema Nawaz
Directed by Jack Grinhaus

ENGAGEMENT COMPANY AND OUTSIDE DATES
Vertigo Theatre (Calgary) – rehearsals begin April 20, 2027; opens May 20, 2027; closes June 13, 2027. Potential extension to June 19, 2027.

Vertigo Theatre, based in Calgary, is Canada’s pre-eminent National Theatre in the Intrigue and Mystery genre. These include stories of Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Noir, Crime, Courtroom, and Political Drama.

As one of the most successful theatres in Canada, now going into its 50th Anniversary Season, Vertigo has been lauded for its works, accumulated numerous awards, and has a large and consistent audience base for the 5-show playbill season, presented from existing canon while also commissioning, developing, adapting, and premiering World, North American, and Canadian plays within the genre.

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION
The World Premiere of the live stage play The Midnight Torch: A Detective Murdoch Mystery is auditioning nationally for its premiere production at Vertigo Theatre, in Calgary AB.

This exciting new stage adaptation acts as both an origin story and canon for fans of the beloved long running CBC Shaftsbury series, as well as a standalone live mystery play for audiences less familiar with it.

The year is 1893. New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and Edith Booth, a well-off debutant inspired by her recent visit to the Chicago World Fair, invites a group of inventors to her Toronto home to present their new inventions to her. Among her guests is young, newly-appointed junior detective William Murdoch, an inventor in his own right. When the presentation of a ‘disappearing device’ goes terribly wrong, Fred Miller is found dead inside the machine and it is clear that murder is the cause. Now all of the guests are suspects. What starts out as a cut-and-dry case soon devolves into a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. Murdoch and his new acquaintance Julia Ogden must combine their knowledge of science and investigation to deduce who the killer is.

ROLES TO BE CAST

WILLIAM MURDOCH
Male, early 30s
A principled and scientifically minded junior investigator and amateur inventor, ahead of his time with his investigative methods. Truly brilliant in nearly every regard, he works tirelessly to solve even the most ingenious murders. Terribly handsome and with a wry sense of humour, he can nevertheless be very awkward thanks to his specific intellectual pursuits and his repressed Catholic sense of decorum. Though often reserved, he is a man of depth and passion that is awakened when he meets Julia Ogden.

GEORGE CRABTREE
Male, 20s
A credulous constable with good instincts and an active imagination. Fiercely loyal to his friend William Murdoch. Good-hearted through and through, George would do anything to help someone in need. Though his flights of fancy can make him seem naive or even daft, he is in fact very smart, and his lateral thinking often proves invaluable in his police work.

THOMAS BRACKENREID / FRED MILLER
Male, able to play mid-30s and 40s
BRACKENREID (40s): An irascible police inspector from Yorkshire whose bark is worse than his bite. A no-nonsense man of surprisingly diverse interests who implicitly trusts Murdoch’s instincts. Though he often comes into conflict with the constables and detectives in his station house, Brackenreid commands a deep respect from his fellow coppers. An imposing figure, he can use force and intimidation when the need might arise – but at heart he is a family man, with a good sense of right and wrong.
MILLER (mid-30s): A novice inventor from Chicago. Full of grand gesture, arrogance, and enthusiasm, Fred has all the confidence in the world. He believes he has an invention that will change the course of history and humanity. Tons of charisma and charm.

JULIA OGDEN
Female, late 20s
A young medical student with an investigative turn of mind. Independent, irrepressible, and a staunch supporter of women’s rights, she finally meets her match – and perhaps the love of her life – when she encounters William Murdoch. Ahead of her time, she is noble, defiant, and progressive to a fault. But she also has a playful side, and takes delight in morbid humour.

CHRISTINE WESTERFIELD
Female, late 40s – 50s
An audio engineer and British intellect with a deeply sarcastic and dry humour. Christine comes from good stock, but her history and the death of her husband is shrouded in mystery. She is a dear friend of Edith, and perhaps more. *British dialect.

JOHANNES DIETRICH
Male, mid-30s
A chrono-photography expert from Germany, Johannes is arrogant and blunt, almost rude. He claims to be right hand to the Kaiser and boasts a personal relationship to him. He also uses this aristocratic tone to put down his experiences in Canada as low class. Has a sinister air about him. *German dialect.

KITTY BROWN
Female, late 20s
An aspiring actress that appears sweet and innocent, Kitty needs someone to take care of her. She plays less smart than she is, but is also outmatched in intellect and wit in a room full of geniuses, and feels the insecurity that comes from that.

EDITH BOOTH
Female, late 40s – 50s
A widowed philanthropist who was inspired by her visit to the World’s Fair in Chicago and wants to bring that kind of excitement to Toronto. She is well-intentioned but easily manipulated. An intellect herself, she knows how to keep secrets. She has a weakness when it comes to Fred, and her behaviour towards him raises many questions.

AMBROSE HARPER
Male, late 50s
A city alderman, Ambrose is a wise man that has been at the forefront of many things that have helped shape the growing city of Toronto. He has also been a well-loved mentor of many young professionals and law enforcement. A ‘man of the people’, he is still a good politician and is enigmatic in nature. Walks soft but carries a big stick (and he knows it).

AUDITION DATES
In Calgary: June 25 and 26, 2026.
In Toronto: June 29 and 30, 2026.

CASTING PROCESS
Selected candidates will be provided with scenes to work from during the auditions.

Vertigo Theatre has a responsibility to create work spaces where people are comfortable in a creation process, and can be themselves in every capacity. With this in mind, we encourage submissions from those who identify as Indigenous, Black, or POC as well as 2SLGBTQIA+, Disabled/People with Disabilities and/or Neuro-Divergent people.

If there are any potential barriers (language, disability, or any other considerations) preventing you from applying to audition, please let us know and we will work with you to find a suitable application process.

HOW TO SUBMIT
We would like to request a submission package consisting of:
• headshot
• resume

Please submit packages through the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/murdoch

We will not be collecting hard copies of headshots and resumes at the audition. The audition panel will receive them all electronically.

DEADLINE for submission packages is June 11th, 2026, at 11:59pm MDT.
CAEA Members will be given first priority.

Laura Willow
Company Manager, Vertigo Theatre
[email protected]