The 39 Steps Auditions

The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater is pleased to announce auditions for their upcoming production of The 39 Steps. Auditions will be held by video submission only.

We are bringing back a beloved version of this production from 2012 featuring most of the original cast and recreating the hilarious direction of Christopher Clark. As such, we are only hiring understudies for the four main roles and the Foley Artist.

Audition videos will must be received no later than 11:59pm on Monday, September 28, 2026 to be considered for callbacks.

Everyone must submit an AUDITION FORM. Please read the form carefully and answer all questions and prompts.

Synopsis

Combine a film masterpiece by Alfred Hitchcock with a juicy spy novel and add a large splash of Monty Python humor. The result? A fast-paced whodunit with four versatile actors portraying more than 50 roles!

London, 1935. The rather dull Richard Hannay encounters a woman who claims to be a spy. When she is suddenly murdered, Richard finds himself the focus of a nationwide manhunt led by a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps.” This film noir gem is a hilarious comedy full of dazzling, inventive stagecraft and virtuoso performances that will have you rolling in the aisles until the death-defying, climatic finale.

A fresh take on the classic adventure-comedy, The 39 Steps is theatre at its best… an absurd, delightful journey that can only be brought to life on stage.

Video Submission Details

Audition Materials can be found HERE.

Male presenting performers, interested in being Richard Hannay or The Clowns, please film yourself reading all four (4) excerpts from the Male Understudy Side with the noted accents. 

Female presenting performers interested in our multi-faceted woman, please film yourself reading all three (3) excerpts from the Female Understudy Side, with the noted accents.

Any person interested in being the Foley Artist only, please film yourself reading just one (1) excerpt of your choosing from the Foley Artist Understudy Side, with the noted accent.

All performers will select, in the Audition Form, what role you are interested in, whether specific or if it’s any role.

Notes on a making a great self tape: 

Film yourself in landscape mode (horizontally), and frame your shot from the waist up, with the camera lens even with your eye level. Please use a plain, neutral-colored background to avoid distractions. Check that your audio is clear and audible; the smaller the room, with no echo will provide the best sound. 

Make sure your video link is public and Google files are open to anyone with the link.

Videos are due 11:59pm on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Audition Form

Additional Info

Production Team -

Director: Lisa Hall
Associate Director: Meagan Downey
Production Stage Manager: Tannah O'Banion

Callbacks - 

Callbacks will be held in-person and are scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, October 10, 2026, and will be by invitation only.

This page will be updated when callback invitations and casting have been sent. For any additional questions, please contact us at auditions@theruth.org.

Rehearsals & Performances - 

Rehearsals will begin on or around November 30, 2026.
The 39 Steps runs February 22, 2027 – April 24, 2027.

A Note About Casting - 

At The Ruth & Nathan Hale Theater, we seek to honor the intentions of the works we produce. If nothing specific is given by the original playwright regarding the characteristics of any given role, and/or if those characteristics do not affect the intended story in any significant way, we will not consider any certain person or type over others when casting. 

We will be exploring double and single casting options based on availability and interest. At this time, we are unable to offer AEA contracts on this project. Rates per role are pre-budgeted and non-negotiable. The Ruth does not offer transportation to or housing in Utah.

We invite anyone and everyone to audition for any and all of our productions, regardless of any physical attribute, gender, race, age, ability, ethnicity, or experience. All are welcome at The Ruth.

Character Descriptions

Richard Hannay

Gender: Male presenting
Age: Mid-30s
Character Notes: A bored, dapper, and composed 37-year-old Canadian/English man living in London who finds his ordinary life upended when he is thrust into a chaotic espionage plot and framed for murder.

Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret

Gender: Female presenting
Age: 20s-30s
Character Notes: Played by a single actress, this umbrella role covers the three key women in Hannay's journey:

  • Annabella Schmidt: An exotic, glamorous, and mysterious femme fatale secret agent with a thick accent who collapses into Hannay's flat and sparks the entire adventure. 

  • Pamela: A beautiful, sophisticated, and deeply skeptical woman who accidentally gets handcuffed to Hannay during his flight from the law, eventually changing her tune as they grow closer. 

  • Margaret: A young, shy, and repressed Scottish farm wife trapped in a loveless marriage who dreams of excitement and glamour in the big city.

Clown 1 and Clown 2

Gender: Male presenting
Age: 30s-50s
Character Notes: Two multi-rolling physical comedians. They play over 50 roles combined—including villains, heroes, policemen, train conductors, hotel owners, farmers, traveling salesmen, and even inanimate objects. Notable characters within their track include:

  • Mr. Memory: A flamboyant stage memory-man performer who holds the ultimate, dangerous secret in his brain.

  • The Crofter / Scottish Farmer: A fiercely jealous, grim, and deeply suspicious local who reluctantly gives Hannay a night's lodging.

  • Professor Jordan: A seemingly respectable academic figure with a dark, sinister, James Bond-style villainous streak.

  • Mrs. Higgins / Innkeepers: Various eccentric English and Scottish landlords, hotel owners, and local authorities peppered throughout the cross-country chase.

Foley Artist

Gender: Any
Age: 20s-50s
Character Notes: An on-stage performer who acts as the live "sound effects engine" of a production. We’ll need a highly synchronized performer who creates everyday sound effects using an array of physical props to add humor and life to the show. They may also be asked to cover lines as various announcers and provide physical comedic bits as well.