Cary Players Announces Auditions for

Deathtrap

A Thriller in Two Acts

By Ira Levin

About the Play

Synopsis: Once-successful playwright Sidney Bruhl has seen declining success over the last several years -- and now finds himself mired in writer’s block and despair. That is, until he receives a package from a former student, Clifford Anderson. Inside is an unproduced script that's likely better than anything Sidney has ever written. At the urging of his wife, Myra, Sidney invites Clifford to his country home to collaborate on the new play – but Sidney may, in-fact, be forming plans to murder young Clifford and then announce the script as his own work.

Physical Considerations

Deathtrap is a murder mystery / comedy.  As such, “violent death” is a major plot-point. In addition, there are romantic-relationship plot points that require mild physical intimacy.   Cary Players is committed to the safety, comfort, and well-being of the entire cast and production team.  Both an Intimacy Coordinator (IC) and a Fight Captain (FC) will be part of the production team.  The IC will work with the production team to choreograph and stage any physical intimacy, ensuring that individual’s safety, personal boundaries, and comfort levels are respected.  The FC will work with the production team to choreograph and stage all fight scenes, lifting, and falls, ensuring individual and team safety are top priority.

The characters in Deathtrap are written on the binary with he/him or she/her pronouns as noted in the character descriptions below. That said, we seek to be as inclusive as possible and ask gender non-conforming, transgender and non-binary actors to list on the audition form the roles with which they most identify. 

Cast of Characters:

• Sidney Bruhl - Stage age: early 40s to late 60s - Polished, dashing, devious, clever, thinks he’s the smartest man in the room and wants people to know it; he is “on stage” even when at home.  Married to Myra Bruhl.  The role requires some physicality (fight scenes and lifting) and mild intimacy (Myra Bruhl / Clifford Anderson).

• Myra Bruhl – Stage age: mid 40s to late 60s - Sophisticated, upper-class, but embraces the country life.  She is supportive of Sidney’s career and moods but exhibits backbone when he crosses the line. The role requires some physicality (lifting and falls) and mild intimacy (Sidney Bruhl / Clifford Anderson / Helga ten Dorp).

• Clifford Anderson – Stage age early 20s to mid-30s – A student and an aspiring writer. He is boyish and handsome; physically fit; he is very clever; KNOWS he’s the smartest man in the room and can bide his time to display it; displays innocence, affection, and naïveté – until he doesn’t. The role requires some physicality (fight scenes and lifting) and mild intimacy (Sidney Bruhl / Myra Bruhl).

• Helga ten Dorp – Stage age early 40s to mid-70s -Psychic, from the Netherlands – with a heavy Dutch accent; Wild, individual; in and out of her world and this world; knows she’s a celebrity and buys into the “show” of her gift; is disarming and brave when faced with pain and violence.  The role requires a physical actor – who will act out acts of violence and intimacy performed by others (Myra Bruhl / Sidney Bruhl / Clifford Anderson / Porter Milgrim).

• Porter Milgrim - Stage age Mid 30s to mid 60s - Professional, solid, matter-of-fact.  A successful lawyer, but a failed playwright; He is observant about little details -- but sometimes misses the bigger picture. He is hiding his own secrets, and struggling with his own demons – fight scene (Helga ten Dorp)

Audition Prep

Please prepare a One- to Two-minute monologue from a contemporary play.  (Monologues from Deathtrap are acceptable, however not required.)  There will be a brief interview and potentially some movement and scene work.

Please print out and bring the completed following forms:

• Audition Form

• Conflict Calendar

(you may also provide an acting resume and/or headshot – however these are not required)

Location, Dates, Times

Auditions will be held:

• Sunday, February 8, 2026 – 2:30 to 5:00 PM – Mainstage at Cary Arts Center

Please arrive between 2:30 and 3:45 pm to check in.

• Monday, February 9, 2026 – 6:30 to 9:00 PM -- Mainstage at Cary Arts Center

Please arrive between 6:30 and 7:45 PM to check in.

We will begin auditioning promptly at start time in the approximate order individuals were checked in.  After the initial monologue, auditionees may be asked to perform individual or group cold reading scenes from the play (sides will be provided).  Individual audition time is expected to be between 60 and 90 minutes after which auditionees will be excused. 

Video monologue submissions may be sent (with completed audition form and conflict calendar) to: info@caryplayers.org – by 6:00 PM Monday, February 9, 2026.

A perusal copy of the script is available at the adult reference desk on the second floor of the Cary/Wake County Public Library -- 315 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27511

Call Backs

The announcement for Call Backs will go out via email (and on social media – Facebook/Instagram/Cary Players website) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Call backs will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Cary Arts Center

Rehearsals

The first rehearsal/read-through will be February 23, 2026.  Rehearsals will typically be four to five weeknights.

Performances

April 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18 at 7:00 PM, and April 12 and 19 at 3:00 PM.

About the Director

Mark A. Zumbach is a current Cary Players Board Member and long-time resident of the Town of Cary. He has directed several shows for Cary Players, including Red Herring, Blind Date, and A Trip to Bountiful.  In addition to his work with Cary Players, he has worked with East Carolina University Theater, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Flying Machine Theatre, Manbites Dog Theatre, and Theatre in the Park. He’s a proficient street busker, clown, and Emcee having worked with the local flow arts and burlesque communities -- including Revolution Raleigh, Bloke City, Raleigh’s SparkCon and Durham’s Beaver Queen Pageant.  He is a regular participant in Cary’s Final Friday drum circle and fire dancing, with One Tribe and in downtown Cary.