AUDITIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!
Thank You for your interest in joining the cast of our thrilling holiday feature film! Auditions are now open for all roles. Rehersals will take place in Washington Terrace, Utah starting in October, 2025. Take some time to read through this page for all of the information pertaining to this film, and how to submit your audition or application. We're excited to hear from you!
Lucas the director's small explainer videos
02:41
Breaking down the The music of Lufferton description #murdermystery #communityfilmproject
02:59
Magic Porch Swing Audition Talk
A few words from those that worked with us on our previous film "Before Your Time"
00:48
Erin Black on "Before Your Time" (2017)
00:50
Ronni Nybo on "Before Your Time" (2017)
02:32
Dan Jacobs on "Before Your Time" (2017)
01:01
Ryan Boam on "Before Your Time" (2017
02:24
Karlie McKinnon
Shannon Dossett
Character Description
The artistic heartbeat and de-facto steward of the Lufferton Theatre. Shannon holds the company together after its founder, Dottie Bunkford, dies and Dottie's son Chad assumes ownership and runs the playhouse toward ruin. She becomes both protagonist and moral compass as the mystery unfolds.
Personality
Smart, sharp-tongued, and grounded. A natural leader with a quick wit, she balances empathy with sarcasm and carries herself with confidence earned from years of community theater. Though she’s often the most competent person in the room, she’s not interested in the spotlight—she wants the show (and the people) to succeed. Beneath her cool exterior is a deep well of loyalty and heartbreak.
Age: Late-30s to early-40s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
Detective H. Michael Redding
Character Description
Audience surrogate and reluctant sleuth. Drafted by county officials when opening-night tragedy strikes, Redding becomes the eyes and ears through which we unearth the theatre's secrets. His dogged logic and bone-dry wit frame the investigation.
Personality
Hyper-observant, pragmatic, socially awkward, and possesses a dry sense of humor. He has a profound disdain for musicals, which makes every backstage outburst doubly painful—and funny—for him.
Details
Age: Late-40s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Non Singing Role
Chad Bunkford
Character Description
Narcissistic antagonist whose schemes imperil the Lufferton Theatre. Publicly the dutiful son honoring founder Dottie Bunkford; privately the saboteur plotting to sell the building.
Personality
Undeniably talented with a golden baritone, but a spotlight addict who sees every scene as a chance to showcase himself. Entitled, petty, and vindictive.
Details
Age: Late 50s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
Dottie Bunkford
Character Description
Beloved founder of the Lufferton Theatre and creator of the annual holiday musical "It's a Wonderful Life in Lufferton. Though deceased before the story opens, her legacy drives every character's motivation.
Personality
Warm, commanding, and fiercely passionate about the Lufferton Theatre. She led heart and hustle, nurturing generations of misfits and dreamers through her productions. She believed in the power of community and art to transform lives and wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers to protect what mattered. Underneath her bold exterior was a deep well of secrets, regrets, and a maternal love that extended beyond her own fractured family.
Details
Age: Late 70s at time of death (appears in flashbacks)
Ethnicity: Open to all
Non Singing Role
Alison Langley
Character Description
Alison is known for her mismatched clothes, camcorder-in-hand, and constant sense of urgency. She volunteers for everything, questions everything, and fully believes the theater hides secrets. Her quirky charm makes her a standout—and a surprising key to the truth.
Personality
Eccentric, excitable, and curious, Alison lives halfway between reality and a world of conspiracy theories and ghost stories. She’s the type to bring night-vision goggles to rehearsal and scribbles in her personal conspiracy notebook. Though some see her as odd, Alison is loyal, insightful, and unexpectedly brave when it matters most.
Age: Late teens / Early 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
G. Tommy Hunter
Character Description
A bank clerk by day, hopeful actor by night—and the proud descendant of Gabriel Luff himself. His deep love for Lufferton and its history drives him to audition for the Christmas musical before the theater can go under. Though often underestimated, Tommy’s talent and sincerity shine through, and his presence stirs both admiration and rivalry (especially from Chad). His blend of awkward charm and genuine heart makes him both comic relief and a subtle anchor in the chaos.
Personality
Friendly, earnest, and a little awkward, Tommy is a wide-eyed optimist with a heart full of enthusiasm and zero poker face. He’s eager to please, desperate to belong, and always ready with a nervous grin or an overly formal introduction. Tommy believes in legacy, community, and doing the right thing—sometimes to a fault, as he’s quick to trust and slow to see the theater’s hidden tensions.
Age: Mid 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
Dave Seamons
Character Description
Flamboyant, witty, and loyal, Dave is the group’s sarcastic truth-teller. Best friends with Judy Richey, he doesn’t hold back, but beneath the sass is deep compassion. He’ll call you out—and show up when it counts. Humor masks old wounds of small-town rejection.
Personality
Dave is sharp-tongued, stylish, and always in the middle of the action. His close bond with Judy brings both laughs and heart. Behind the drama, he’s often the one holding things together.
Age: 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Background Singing Role
Judy Richey
Character Description
Powerhouse voice and a flair for drama—both onstage and off. Judy clashes with slackers and divas alike (especially Chad, but Dave is the exception). Her bond with Dave adds warmth and comedy. She’s a rising star, still figuring out who she is offstage.
Personality
Ambitious, intense, and wildly talented, Judy takes theater very seriously. She’s driven to stand out and doesn’t suffer fools—but beneath her competitive streak is a deep insecurity about being stuck in a small town.
Age: 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Background Singing Role
Ronald McCarthur
Character Description
Tall, athletic, and full of excellent pranks, Ronald once had a full-ride basketball scholarship lined up—until Chad Bunkford interfered. While he plays the clown alongside Don, betrayal bothers him more than he lets on. His blend of comedic timing and buried resentment makes him both comic relief and a surprising emotional anchor.
Personality
Charming, determined, and slightly overconfident, Ronald is the self-appointed leader of the Ron & Don duo. He’s got big ideas, bigger ambition, and a deep need to prove himself—especially after what Chad did to him. While he’s often the loudest in the room, he’s surprisingly thoughtful underneath. He’s also recently developed a serious soft spot for Alison Langley, and it shows in his awkward attempts to impress her.
Age: Late teens/early 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Non Singing Role
Donald Porter
Character Description
Soft-spoken with a big grin and an even bigger heart, and holds an even brighter candle for Alison. He looks up to Ronald like a brother and trusts him completely. While he rarely takes initiative, his calm nature balances Ronald’s energy. Whether he's moving set pieces or misreading stage directions, Donald brings warmth and unexpected insight to the chaos around him.
Personality
Quiet, loyal, and a little spacey, Donald is the laid-back half of the Ron & Don duo. He’s not one for big speeches or big plans—he’s just here to help, follow Ronald’s lead, and have a good time. Though he seems slow on the uptake, he often stumbles into wisdom without realizing it.
Age: Late teens/early 20s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Non Singing Role
Charles Sr.
Character Description
Weathered and intense, Charles Sr. was once the heart of Lufferton’s musical legacy, having composed the key piece for the town’s annual Christmas production. But after Dottie’s death and Chad’s rising control, he’s been pushed aside and stripped of recognition. His relationship with his son is strained, fractured by silence and unspoken pain. In moments of vulnerability, though, Charles reveals a quiet yearning—for forgiveness, for legacy, and for connection through music.
Personality
Passionate, prideful, and deeply wounded, Charles Sr. is a lifelong musician whose identity is tied to the music he wrote for the theater. He’s sharp-tongued and stubborn, often letting his ego get in the way of reconciliation—especially with his son, Charlie Jr. His feud with Chad over stolen credit for his music fuels much of his bitterness, but underneath, he’s a man desperate to feel seen and respected before it’s too late.
Age: Early 60s
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
Charlie
Character Description
Charlie is the silent soul of the theater—always present at the piano, supporting others from the shadows. Tension with his father, Charles Sr., and resentment toward Chad have kept him isolated, but his music reveals a deep well of feeling. When he finally plays again alongside his father, it becomes a powerful act of forgiveness and healing.
Personality
Quiet, introspective, and emotionally tuned in, Charlie rarely speaks but says everything through music. He avoids conflict, internalizes pain, and lets his piano do the talking. Tactics that are all employed when it comes to his strained relationship with his father, Charles Sr.
Age: Late 30's
Ethnicity: Open to all
Singing Role
Maxwell Grover
Character Description
Maxwell is the behind-the-scenes backbone of Lufferton Theatre. He paints sets, fixes what’s broken, and keeps secrets no one else knows. He once loved Dottie in silence—and never forgave Chad for how he treated her. Calm in chaos, Maxwell is the kind of man who builds more than just sets—he builds trust.
Personality
Steady, quiet, and deeply loyal, Maxwell is a craftsman with a soft heart. He sees what others miss, speaks only when it matters, and holds tight to the legacy of Dottie and the theater.
Age: Mid 70's
Ethnicity: Open to all
Non Singing Role
Anita Butler
Character Description
Anita attends every show with a cane in one hand and a thermos in the other. Once a celebrated Brazilian performer—Anita De Rio—she hides her past behind sarcasm and soup. Fiercely devoted to the stage (and to Chad, for reasons of her own), Anita sees more than she lets on…and in the end, plays a key role in justice being served.
Personality
Sharp-tongued, theatrical, and full of secrets, Anita is the theater’s most loyal (and most opinionated) patron. Beneath her sass is a deep well of heartbreak and untold history.
Age: Early 80's
Ethnicity: Latina, Brazilian
Non Singing Role
