ON STAGE NOVEMBER 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24
Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM | Sundays at 2:00 PM
Recipient of the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Play
A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge, and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
“Examined coldly, this 90-minute play about two couples who meet to discuss a playground fight between two of their children isn’t much more than a sustained Punch and Judy show, dressed to impress with sociological accessories. But there’s a reason that Punch and Judy’s avatars have fascinated audiences for so many centuries in cultural forms low (“The Honeymooners” of 1950s television) and high (Edward Albee’s 1962 drama “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”). “God of Carnage,” which is poised somewhere in between, definitely delivers the cathartic release of watching other people’s marriages go boom. A study in the tension between civilized surface and savage instinct, this play (which recently won the Olivier Award in London for best new comedy) is itself a satisfyingly primitive entertainment with an intellectual veneer.“— NY Times
“Reza has established herself as a master [of] magnificently constructed plays.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Reza, the Tony-winning French author of “Art,” has skewered middle-class hypocrisy before. She’s also writing here about pent-up rage seething beneath daily lives, particularly in a big city like New York. The confrontation unleashes hostilities as ever-shifting alliances form between and among the couples. It’s sort of a “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” meets “Survivor.” Once rum starts flowing, it gets louder, uglier and funnier.” —
NY Daily News
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST
Eric Crist (Michael)
He/Him
Eric is pleased to be crossing state lines for his debut at South Camden Theater. Audiences recently saw Eric as Reverend Mother in Nunsense A-Men (Steel River Playhouse), Michael in God of Carnage (Stagecrafters Theater), Mr. Zuss in JB (Wilmington Drama League), and Uncle Charlie in August: Osage County (Footlighters). In the film, he plays Johnny in an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Woman in the Room, which has recently been played at festivals on both coasts. Other memorable roles are the Narrator in Into the Woods (SRP) and Hertz, in Rock of Ages (Barn Playhouse), Father in Eurydice (Footlighters), and multiple roles in The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later (SRP). When not in theater he will probably be found hiking a mountain, exploring a jungle, or kayaking in Antarctica. Much love to family and friends who continue to walk/run/skip/jump along with him in this raucous life journey.
Claire Golden Drake (Veronica)
She/Her
Claire is very happy to work with Eric again in SCTC’s production of God Of Carnage. Claire graduated from the University of the Arts with a BA in Acting. Currently, aside from teaching music at Kid View Preschool and facilitating kids’ parties, she is performing children’s shows regularly and practicing the art of Audiobook Narration. Acting credits include the title role in Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell (Philadelphia Fringe Festival), Veronica in God of Carnage (Stagecrafters), Lotte in Lettice & Lovage, Chris in Rumors, All In The Timing and Dicken’s Hard Times (multiple roles), Cassie in Wonder Of The World and Annie in all three parts of the Alan Ayckbourn trilogy, The Norman Conquests (Allen’s Lane Theater), various roles in The Elephant Man, Moby Dick Rehearsed and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Iron Age Theatre), Frau Schmitt / Nun in The Sound of Music, Mrs. Sowerberry & others in Oliver, & many Children’s Theatre touring shows (The Center Theatre). She has also performed with Hedgerow Theatre Company, Bckseet Productions, Vagabond Acting Troupe…
Claire would like to thank, as always, her incredible and supportive family and friends, including her kids, Natalie, Lucas & Nick, and her husband of 24 years, Carl!
Marc D. Donovan (Alan)
He/Him
THEATRE: “The Addams Family” (Forestburgh Playhouse), “Million Dollar Quartet” (Las Vegas; Forestburgh Playhouse), “A Steady Rain” (Walnut Street Theatre), “Lights Out: Nat ‘King’ Cole” (People’s Light), “Fat Pig” (12 Miles West), “Crazy For You” (Ogunquit Playhouse), “Carousel” & “Urban Cowboy” (West Virginia Public Theatre), “Pugilist Specialist “(Luna Stage). FILM/TV: Godfather of Harlem, Boardwalk Empire, Blue Bloods, Zero Hour, The Trust, The Young and the Restless, All My Children. Marc has also appeared in and lent his voice to over 40 television and radio commercials. He would like to thank Christina for her incredible support, encouragement, and love.
Caity Brown (Annette)
She/Her
Caity is happy to be making her debut at SCTC. Recent credits in the Philly and NYC areas include Photograph 51, Doubt, The Game’s Afoot, Hand to God, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Bad Seed, Bedroom Farce, Sense and Sensibility, and Silent Sky. She holds a B.A. in drama from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in political science from Georgetown University. She spends her days as a professor of the latter discipline at West Chester University. African politics happens to be one of her areas of expertise. Thanks to everyone involved in the production for their talent and professionalism.
Melody G. Moore – Stage Manager
She/Her
Melody recently relocated to Philadelphia after spending over 20 years in Key West, Florida, where she was directly involved in most aspects of the local thriving theater community, including Stage Manager, Box Office Manager, Actor, Set Dresser, Costumer, and Prop Mistress. Locally, she has stage-managed for Fever Dream Repertory and TheatreXP. She is excited to be back at it again and looking forward to working here at South Camden Theatre Company with the incredible group of creative individuals.
Meet the Director and the Playwright
Ms. Connie Norwood – Director
She/Her
Connie would like to thank South Camden Theater Company for bringing her back to direct God Of Carnage. She has a long association with SCTC, where she directed Suddenly Last Summer, Radio Golf, Kingdom of the Earth, King Hedley II, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur, The Mountain Top, Terminus, and Alabama Story. Other productions include No Exit, and The Dutchman for Chrysalis at different theatres. She produced and directed Beyond Closed Doors as a part of the 2008 Philly Fringe and co-wrote In Due Season, a gospel musical, performed at the Prince Music
Theater. Connie has directed dramas and comedies, including According to Plan and the one-man show Looking Over the President’s Shoulders with Brian Wilson , both at Hedgerow Theater. Welcome Home Eddy (Landmark Productions), Tom, Dick, and
Harriet (Brick Theater) and Back to the Old Landmark (Landmark Productions) among
many others. She has directed several of Rev. Johnny Thompson’s Productions, including
Anointed to Sing the Gospel, Grand Ole Night, Master, I Want to Live, which toured
Europe for four years. The one-woman shows Black Sistah with a Capitol B and
Coconut Therapy a one-woman show written and starring Quiara Alegria Hudes. She
served as Guest Artist of Temple University as a director and actor, in productions including Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Wedding Band, Joe Turners Come and Gone, The Crucible, and Museum. She also served as Associate Artistic Director of the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center and as Director of Youth Productions.
Yasmina Reza – Playwright
She/Her
Reza was the daughter of Jewish parents who had immigrated to France. Her Iranian father was an engineer, businessman, and pianist; her mother was a violinist originally from Budapest. Reza studied at the University of Paris X, Nanterre, and at the drama school of Jacques Lecoq before working as an actress. The first two plays she wrote, both winners of a Molière Award, were Conversations après un enterrement (1986; Conversations After a Burial), involving death and sex, and La Traversée de l’hiver (1989; “Winter Crossing”), about the unlikely friendship that develops between six people spending their vacation at a Swiss mountain resort.
Hunter Mountz – Lighting Designer
He/Him
Hunter is a Philadelphia-based theatre and dance lighting designer whose previous design credits include The Lightning Thief (Triple Threat Theatre Company), Who’s Holiday, and The Toxic Avenger – The Musical (South Camden Theatre Company) Into the Woods, The Laramie Project, Bedroom Farce (Salem State University) Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia! , The SpongeBob Musical (Panthers-on-Parade) Dare to Dream, and When Worlds Collide (SSU Repertory Dance Theatre). Hunter also received the Excellence in Lightning Design award from the 2021 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Meghan Malloy (Production Manager)
(she/her)
Meghan is a multi-hyphenate artist. She is thrilled to work with South Camden Theatre Company in this capacity! Meghan holds a BFA in Acting from Point Park Conservatory. A Barrymore-nominated actress, Meghan has worked with many regional theaters (locally: Walnut, Wilma, Arden, InterAct, Montgomery) and on national tours. Meghan currently coaches dialects for actors and productions. Additionally, Meghan teaches actors both film and theater techniques through The Actors Lab in Wayne, PA and Lights, Camera, Acting! in Bucks County, PA. Meghan recently re-entered the working world on the tails of working as a stay-at-home parent for ten years. For more information about Meghan’s work, visit: linktr.ee/meghan.malloy.creates.
Louise Gareau – Costume Designer
She/Her
Louise recently joined SCTC’s creative team after working as a costumer for her daughter’s music teacher’s productions. She’s delighted to be spreading her wings with our work on stage. Starting out with the recent production of The Toxic Avenger was quite an effort. She’s looking forward to costuming these four actors with just one costume each.
Pam Staley – Props
She/Her
Pam is delighted to work in theatre with her friend Dawn Varava at SCTC. Her past experiences included managing props and all things backstage for Dawn during many of her school productions. She has been jumping in to help SCTC be the best we can be for the last several shows.
SPONSORS
Funding has been made possible in part by the Camden County Cultural & Heritage Commission at Camden County College through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.