SWNCTA Announces Auditions for Spring 2026 Production of Clue

December 6, 2026

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association (SWNCTA) is bringing a classic whodunit to the stage this spring with its 2026 production of Clue, directed by Rachel Witt. Auditions will be held December 7–9 at Central Elementary in McCook.

Witt, a longtime SWNCTA volunteer and McCook High School graduate, said she’s thrilled for the chance to direct a show she has loved since childhood. “Clue has always been one of my favorite movies,” she said. She previously helped stage the production for Oberlin High School alongside her mother-in-law—where the small directing team also handled costumes, sets, lighting, and sound.

“This time, I won’t be doing it all alone,” she laughed. With SWNCTA’s support system and a larger crew, she’s excited to focus more deeply on performance and staging.

Witt will share directing responsibilities with Emily Lytle and Marcus Ingells. Witt and Lytle previously teamed up to co-direct Little Women, a production that highlighted the power of collaboration within the community theater group.

A Fast-Paced, Madcap Mystery

The stage version of Clue is a comedic, high-energy adaptation of the beloved board game and 1985 film. The story unfolds during a dinner party at Boddy Manor, where the host ends up dead and every guest becomes a suspect.

The iconic characters—Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Reverend Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard—must work together to solve the mystery, guided (and sometimes misled) by the clever and enigmatic butler, Wadsworth.

Unlike the musical versions of the story, SWNCTA’s production is strictly the play. Witt said this was intentional.

“Singing on stage can be really intimidating, even for talented performers,” she explained. “Choosing the play version opens the door for people who love acting but aren’t confident with musicals. We’re hoping it brings some new faces to the stage.”

The show is typically performed as a single, 90-minute act with quick room changes—often pulled off with modular rolling set pieces—and its farcical tone embraces the over-the-top chaos fans expect. “It’s just fun,” Witt said.

Witt’s Deep Roots in Local Theater

Witt’s connection to SWNCTA runs deep. In a previous interview, she spoke about why the organization matters so much to her:

“I want my son(children) to grow up in a world where it exists.”

A 2015 graduate of McCook High School, Witt went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from a Los Angeles conservatory. Despite friends questioning her decision to return home, she has built an impressive and meaningful acting and directing career right here in Southwest Nebraska—often more active in productions than many of her former classmates who stayed in LA.

From her early roles as a von Trapp child in The Sound of Music, to starring as Natalie in All Shook Up, to stepping into directing and now serving on the SWNCTA board, her dedication has helped sustain the volunteer-run organization as it enters its fifth decade.

Audition Information

Location

Central Elementary

604 West 1st Street

McCook, NE

Dates & Times

• Sunday, December 7: 2:00–4:00 p.m.

• Monday, December 8: 7:00–9:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 9: 7:00–9:00 p.m.

Details

• Must be 16 or older to audition.

• Sides (script excerpts) will be provided—no need to prepare anything.

• Rehearsals begin January 5.

• Performances are March 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th.

For audition questions, call or text Rachel Witt at 308-737-0932.