Kelley Schoger directs her first Theatre UAB production, taking audiences on a wild, wickedly funny and emotional ride with mystery writer Agatha Christie’s world-famous detective Hercule Poirot.Theatre UAB will present the mystery classic “Murder on the Orient Express” from March 25-29.
An American tycoon lies dead in his Orient Express compartment, and the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the killer — in case they decide to strike again. Playwright Ken Ludwig adapts Agatha Christie’s novel to a wickedly funny, yet deeply felt, character-driven journey. This production features witty dialogue, diverse dialects, a colorful cast of characters, and at its heart, questions about redemption and justice.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 25-28 and at 2 p.m. March 29, in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $20; $15 for UAB employees and senior citizens; and $10 for UAB students. Buy tickets, visit AlysStephens.org for more information, or call the ASC Box Office at 205-975-2787.
Theatre UAB is the performance company of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
This is the first production at UAB directed by Assistant Professor Kelley Schoger, who joined the faculty in 2025. Schoger is also the show’s intimacy director.
About the play
We are all at least familiar with this writer, book and genre, Schoger says, but the story is surprisingly dark and is based on the true events of the Lindbergh murder case from the 1930s.
“The characters hold deep secrets,” she said. “Christie’s complex geopolitical perspectives also surface in the story. We haven’t shied away from these aspects in this production.”
As a director, Schoger says, she seeks to identify the heart and depth of a story and its resonances to today. This play, both comedy and tragedy, is about what happens when a diverse group of people with complex pasts board a small train that gets stuck. The Orient Express provides the small confines that bring these people dangerously close to each other with nowhere to go. The train’s opulence, against a backdrop of unforgiving and stark terrain, is a metaphor for the light and dark in each of us, she says.
“I believe comedy is deeply human, and I asked the actors to approach their characters as such,” Schoger said. “Comedy and tragedy come from the same place, the gut. A belly laugh and a sob come from the same place in the body.”
This case challenges world-famous detective Hercule Poirot’s deeply held beliefs in morality, justice and the rule of law. Amid the fun, it asks deeply moral questions: Does retaliation lead to peace or guilt? Is it ever OK to bend the law? Where is the line? What is justice? The answers are as complex as human history.
“Within these deeper questions, we have intrigue, red herrings, romance and an amazing cast of actors carrying it all out,” Schoger said. “It is my wish for our audiences to think, to be moved and to laugh.”
Cast and crew of “Murder on the Orient Express”
The cast is Case Warner of Edwardsville, Illinois, as Hercule Poirot; Joshua Eubanks of Birmingham, Alabama, as Monsieur Bouc; Stella Shipman of Trussville, Alabama, as Mary Debenham/Nanny; Miles Polson of Dothan, Alabama, as Hector MacQueen/Father; Judah Lathem of Elgin, Texas, as Michel the Conductor; Camille Coco of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as Princess Dragomiroff; Lilly Grace Wilmoth of San Antonio, Texas, as Greta Ohlsson/Daisy Armstrong; Jane Delahoussaye of Sugar Land, Texas, as Countess Andrenyi; Ava Chen of Parkland, Florida, as Helen Hubbard/Mother; Peyton Seigel of San Antonio, Texas, as Colonel Arbuthnot; Andrew Gleason of Las Vegas, Nevada, as Samuel Rachett/Man; and Zion Carmichael of Birmingham as Head Waiter. Understudies include Wyatt Hart of Cumming, Georgia; Lena Bilbrey of Albertville, Alabama; Arianna Mendoza-Corona of Helena, Alabama; Simon Tsikalas of Huntsville, Alabama; and Robert Oakley of Houston, Texas.
Stage management by Selby Whaley of Birmingham with assistant stage managers Katelyn Gottlieb of Helena and Aidyn Mohr of Gardendale, Alabama.
Technical director and lighting and scenic design by Therrin J. Eber. Assistant lighting designer is Grayson Farr. Assistant technical director is Tatum Sasser of Hoover, Alabama. Properties manager and associate scenic designer is Inji Ha. Jonathan Harder is assistant technical director and scene shop foreman.
Costume design by Kimberly Schnormeier. Costume shop foreman is Sharon Morgan. Hair and makeup design by Amy Page. Audio and visual design by David Page. Dialect design, vocal coach and fight choreography by Santiago Sosa. Light board operation by Cory Hogeland and AV board operation by Webb Baker. Dressers are Ta’Shauna Jenkins and Faith Craig. Run crew is Jackson Scott, Dante Hall, Isaiah Leslie, Leah Harris and Perry Hazelwood.