One Thing We Can All Agree On: Go See "God of Carnage"

Pioneer Productions has found a welcoming new home at the Morristown United Methodist Church. Their first show in this historic venue is the award-winning hit God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. This must-see show, directed by Shanna Levine-Phelps, opens on Friday, October 28. There will be six performances in total, with a closing matinee on Sunday, November 6. The stellar cast includes Tom Olori, Leslie Darcy, Miriam Salerno, and Jon Beeler. Daniel Peter Vissers is the Technical Director, and Doug McLaughlin is the Creative Consultant.

The plot of God of Carnage is simple. Two boys get into a playground altercation. Their parents meet, and a verbal battle transpires, revealing much about human nature and our so-called civilized existence.

This one-act, 90-minute play has been performed around the world to critical acclaim, including performances in Spain, Croatia, Australia, Romania, and Ireland. This dark comedy touches the human heart, soul, and mind so profoundly that it transcends cultural differences. Ms. Levine-Phelps stated, "There are few human experiences more universal than parenthood. Every parent, no matter the culture, feels the same insecurities and the same struggle. In the end, we all love our children and want the best for them … We all struggle and, let's be honest, no one ever really knows what they are doing … Every single parent has to figure things out for themselves, and every single kid is complicated and challenging in their own way. This is an absolute universal human condition, and the play perfectly captures the essential chaos of parenthood." My take on why this particular play has universal appeal comes down to this simple truth: if we can't make peace in our homes, our hearts, and our neighborhoods, how can there be peace in the world?

The 2009 Broadway cast, Jeff Daniels, Marcia Gay Harden, and two New Jersey natives, Hope Davis and the late James Gandolfini, were all nominated for Tony Awards for their outstanding performances. This well-crafted play allows actors to dig deep within to bring forth memorable performances. Ms. Levine-Phelps contends, "The script is so well written, and the characters are beautifully constructed with enough specificity and enough freedom to allow each actor to bring his or her own perspectives to the roles. Each character also has both poignant moments and absolutely absurd moments – there is a full range of opportunities for each actor to stretch themselves and really shine in their respective roles."

Incorporated in 2003 as a 501 c-3 non-profit theatre company, Pioneer Productions has performed shows in locations all over New Jersey. According to Ms. Levine-Phelps, "They are now ready to settle in one community and really ground themselves in a place they can call home. Their partnership with Morristown United Methodist Church will give them an opportunity to grow in Morristown and build a network of local actors, musicians, writers, and talent, as well as grow their audience. We would love to produce new works. In the past, we have workshopped new plays and musicals for writers. For example, in 2019, we were proud to support the development process of a new musical entitled The Disability Diaries written by Joseph Visaggi, which is a beautiful show that illustrates the challenges and triumphs of those of us with disabilities. We hope to do more projects like that one in the coming months and years. Now that we have a more permanent venue, it will be easier to showcase works of local writers."

Pioneer Productions' website states, "The power of theatre stimulates conversation, stirs the soul, and celebrates the diversity of the community it serves." With that concept in mind, their next mainstage show will be Songs for a New World, coming in June 2023. According to Ms. Levine-Phelps, "Songs for a New World is a small but powerful musical, typically produced with a diverse cast of four actors who play a variety of characters, all of whom share stories of change and uncertainty, self-actualization, bravery, new beginnings and finding inner strength to explore opportunities – a theme that is sure to connect with audiences, especially after the challenges we have all faced over the past few of years."

Pioneer Productions, a polished and professional theatre company, is on a mission to bring forth past, present, and future theatre to Morristown. How great is that! Support your newest community theatre production, God of Carnage, by purchasing tickets today.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Shanna Levine-Phelps at (917) 847-6230. Tickets are available at https://pioneerproductionscompany.org/seasontickets.html. All performances take place at the Morristown United Methodist Church (50 South Park Place in Morristown).

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Long Island Authors Group. She is the author of Grant Me a Higher Love, Why Good People Can't Leave Bad Relationships, and Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic. Two of her monologues from her full-length plays are featured in Smith and Kraus's The Best Men's Stage Monologues of 2022 and The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 2022. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.