God of Carnage announces new cast

The Tony Award-winning Best Play, God of Carnage welcomes Emmy Award-winner Christine Lahti ('Chicago Hope') as 'Veronica,' Emmy and Golden Globe-nominee Annie Potts ('Designing Women') as 'Annette,' Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Jimmy Smits ('The West Wing') as 'Alan,' and Olivier Award-nominee Ken Stott (original cast member of West End productions of 'God of Carnage' and 'Art') as 'Michael' to the cast on 17 Nov 2009.

Yasmina Reza's comic-drama, God of Carnage, translated by Christopher Hampton, opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on 22 Mar 2009, following previews from 28 Feb 2009, starring Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. The original cast will play their final performance on 14 Nov 2009, as previously announced.

The show opened to rave reviews: "the most fun you'll have in the theater this season."
(www.newyorktheatreguide.com); "a familiar comic journey ..., but it travels first class" (NY Times); "keeps the fur flying and the laughter landing" (NY Daily News); "gleefully nasty fun." (NY Post); "Evenings in the theater don't get any funnier" (The Record); "it's elegant, acerbic and entertainingly fueled on pure bile." (Variety).

The comedy won three Tony Awards: Best Play; Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (Marcia Gay Harden); and Best Direction of a Play (Matthew Warchus).

God of Carnage: What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behaviour of their children. A calm and rational debate between grown ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a hysterical night of name calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but the adults are usually worse - much worse.

The comedy reunites the creative team that staged the Tony Award-winning Best Play, 'Art.' Designed by Mark Thompson (sets and costumes), with lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker & Chris Cronin, the play has music by Gary Yershon.

God of Carnage transferred to Broadway following a London production, also helmed by Matthew Warchus, which starred Ralph Fiennes, Tamsin Greig, Janet McTeer and Ken Stott at the Gielgud Theatre where it played from 7 Mar - 14 Jun 2008. The london production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

Bios:

Christine Lahti (Veronica) earned her first Oscar nomination in 1985's 'Swing Shift' then won an Oscar 10 years later as a first-time director for her short film 'Lieberman in Love.' In 1998 Lahti won both the Emmy and her second Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of 'Dr. Kathryn Austin' on 'Chicago Hope.' Lahti's Broadway credits are 'The Heidi Chronicles,' 'Present Laughter,' 'Scenes and Revelations' 'Division Street' and 'Loose Ends.'

Annie Potts (Annette) is making her Broadway debut in God of Carnage. She is well known for her role as 'Mary Jo Shively' in the popular television series 'Designing Women,' as well as for her films 'Ghostbusters,' 'Toy Story,' 'Pretty in Pink' and 'Texasville.'

Jimmy Smits (Alan) made his Broadway debut playing 'Juan Julian' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Anna in The Tropics' by Nilo Cruz in 2003. Smits has appeared Off-Broadway in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions of 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Twelfth Night.' He has also appeared in 'The Ballad of Soapy Smith' and 'Hamlet,' also for the Public Theater. Recent film work includes Robin Swicord's 'The Jane Austen Book Club,' 'Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones' and 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.' Smits TV credits include portraying 'Victor Sifuentes' on 'L.A. Law,' - winning an Emmy in 1990, and 'Bobby Simone' in 'NYPD Blue.'

Ken Stott (Michael) is a four time Olivier-nominated actor. He originated the role of 'Michael' in the London premiere of God of Carnage. Stott starred with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay in the original cast of the hugely successful 'Art' by Yasmina Reza, adapted by Christopher Hampton and directed by Matthew Warchus. More recently, Ken has completed a successful West End run as 'Eddie Carbone' in 'A View From A Bridge,' as well as staring in many National Theatreproductions such as The Magistrate, The Recruiting Officer, The Prince's Play and Arthur Miller's Broken Glass.