Actors Theatre

The Off-Broadway of Grandrapids

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God of Carnage Promo Image

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, translation by Christopher Hampton
April 17-26, 2014
All Shows Begin at 8:00 pm
Call (616) 234-3946 for tickets or purchase them online now!

A playground altercation between their eleven year-old boys brings two couples together in an attempt to resolve the matter.  Initially diplomacy prevails but, as the evening progresses (and  alcohol flows…), the gloves start to come off in Yasmina Reza's award-winning, comically explosive landslide.

"A study in the tension between civilized surface and savage instinct, this play is itself a satisfyingly primitive entertainment with an intellectual veneer. God of Carnage may be a familiar comic journey from A to B, but it travels first class."
-The New York Times
"...turns on the idea that adults are no more evolved than kids, that the bourgeoisie, groomed and courteous on the surface, are beastly underneath."
- London Observer


Underwritten by


Behind the Scenes

Yasmina Reza, Plawright
Yasmina Reza PhotoMs. Reza is a multi-award-winning French playwright, novelist and memoirist. Her work has been translated into more than 30 languages and been produced worldwide, and has achieved both critical praise and popular international success. She is the author of seven plays, including Conversations After a Burial, Winter Crossing, Art, The Unexpected Man, Life x3, A Spanish Play and God of Carnage; the novels Desolation, Adam Haberberg and On Arthur Schopenhauer’s Sledge; the memoirs Hammerklavier and Nulle part; Dawn, Dusk or Night, a nonfiction account of a year she spent trailing French president (then-candidate) Nicolas Sarkozy on the campaign trail; and a dramatic translation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis for director Roman Polanski.
Tom Kaechele, Director
Tom Kaechele PhotoTom Kaechele holds a Master's degree in Directing from Wayne State University and is the head of the theater program at Grand Rapids Community College. In addition to his on and off stage work with Actors' Theatre, his previous directing credits at Actors'  include 2012's Next Fall, The Little Dog Laughed, Lieutenant of Inishmore, Rabbit Hole, Fat Pig, and Lobby Hero. Other local directing credits include Rumors, RENT and Noises Off for Circle Theatre. Tom and his wonderful wife Amy have four exceptional children; Celia, Owen, Adelinne, and Linus.


Meet the Cast



Amy McFadden (Annette) has been performing all over Michigan for over 20 years on stage, TV and in film. She is a founding member of Dog Story Theater in downtown Grand Rapids, an Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator and taught 2nd grade for a bunch of years before “retiring” to act full time. She is a graduate of GR Catholic Central and Saint Mary’s College and Notre Dame, where she earned BAs in Theater and Education.

Carrie McNulty (Veronica) has theatrical experience that has taken her to Toronto, London, Ireland, and nearly every state in the country, from touring to regional theatre. Select credits include: Frozen, The History Boys, Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Always, Patsy Cline, To Kill A Mockingbird, 9 to 5, The Beaux Stratagem, Twelfth Night, and The Good Doctor. Work in West Michigan includes: Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Grand Award), A New Brain (Grand Award Nomination), and The Wild Party (Grand Award), all with Actors' Theatre. She earned her MFA in Acting from Pennsylvania State University.

Craig Hammerlind (Michael) is thankful for the many opportunities he has had in the Grand Rapids Theatre Community; “Sometimes it's nice to become someone else in another person's story.” Craig has been in many productions at Actors’ Theatre including: The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Looking for Normal - GA nomination, Rabbit Hole, A Man of No Importance - GA Nomination, Angels in America Part 1, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire DeLune, Les Laisions Dangereuse and Co-Directed The Wild Party - GA Winner for Best Direction of a Musical. Craig is a graduate of Grand Rapids Junior College (now Grand Rapids Community College) and Western Michigan University. He also studied at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Conservatory.

Sammy A. Publes (Alan) started his theatrical studies at GRCC and graduated with a BA in Arts and Sciences from Western Michigan University. He moved to Chicago after graduating where he performed at Steppenwolf Theater in Our Lady of 121st, Teatro Vista/Goodman Theater’s Two Sisters and a Piano as well understudying at Lookingglass Theater this past summer. Sammy has also worked in TV and Film; film credits include Stone, Things Fall Apart, and Scream 4. TV credits include, (NBC) Chicago Fire, (NBC) Chicago PD (Ep. 12 airing this April), (FOX) Chicago Code, (SHOWTIME) Shameless, (STARZ) Boss, and (AMC) The Beast. His theater credits include Topdog Underdog, Jesus Hopped the A Train, Lady of the Camellias, Sideman (all for Actors’ Theatre) Chaim’s Love Song, and Shmulnik’s Waltz (for Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids).





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