God of Carnage gets new cast

As previously announced Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best Play, God of Carnage welcomes its second new cast on 2 Mar 2010.

The comedy now stars Tony nominee Dylan Baker (Mauritius) as 'Alan,' original Broadway cast member and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels as 'Michael,' Emmy nominee Lucy Liu (Charlie's Angels) as 'Annette,' and Tony winner Janet McTeer (original cast member of West End production of God of Carnage) as 'Veronica.'

They replace Christine Lahti 'Veronica,' Annie Potts as 'Annette,' Jimmy Smits as 'Alan,' and Ken Stott as 'Michael.' The show's original cast featured Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden and James Gandolfini.

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.

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:

Dylan Baker (Alan). Broadway: 'November,' 'Mauritius,' 'La B?te' (Tony nomination), 'Eastern Standard'. Off-Broadway: 'Sea of Tranquility,' 'Homebody/Kabul,' 'What the Butler Saw, 'That Championship Season,' 'Pride's Crossing,' 'Wolfman,' 'The Common Pursuit,' 'To Whom It May Concert,' 'Not About Heroes' (Obie Award), 'Tartuffe,' 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' (NYSF). Film: The Matador; Across the Universe; The Hunting Party; Fido; Spider-Man 2 and 3; Hide and Seek; Head of State; Road to Perdition; Changing Lanes; Along Came a Spider; Thirteen Days; Happiness; Disclosure; Delirious; Planes, Trains & Automobiles; and The Long Walk Home. TV: "Drive," "The Book of Daniel," "The Laramie Project," "The Pitts," "Feds" and "Murder One."

Jeff Daniels (Michael) received a Tony Award nomination for the role of 'Alan' in God of Carnage. Broadway: 'Fifth of July', 'The Golden Age,' and 'Redwood Curtain.' Off-Broadway: Circle Repertory's 'Johnny Got His Gun,' 'Lemon Sky' at Second Stage and 'Blackbird' at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Daniels has appeared in over fifty films, including 'The Squid And The Whale' (Golden Globe Nomination), 'Something Wild' (Golden Globe Nomination), 'The Purple Rose Of Cairo' (Golden Globe Nomination), 'Gettysburg,' 'Pleasantville,' 'Terms Of Endearment,' 'The Hours,' 'Dumb And Dumber,' 'Fly Away Home,' and 'The Answer Man.'

Lucy Liu (Annette). Broadway debut. Film: Kill Bill: Vol. 1; Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle; Charlie's Angels; Chicago; Kung Foo Panda; Shanghai Noon; and Jerry Maguire. TV: "Dirty Sexy Money," "Cashmere Mafia," "Ugly Betty," "Ally McBeal" (Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series) and "NYPD Blue."

Janet Mcteer (Veronica). Theatre: 'Mary Stuart' (Broadway, Tony nomination; Donmar Warehouse, West End), 'Duchess of Malfi,' 'Uncle Vanya '(National Theatre); 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Worlds Apart,' 'The Storm,' 'As You Like It' (RSC); 'Taming of the Shrew' (Globe), 'A Doll's House' (London, New York - Tony and Olivier Awards); 'Simpatico,' 'The Grace of Mary,' 'Greenland' (Royal Court); 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'God of Carnage' (West End). Film: Tumbleweeds (Golden Globe Award, Oscar nomination); Songcatcher; The King Is Alive; The Intended; Tideland; and As You Like It. TV: "The Governor," "Yellowbacks," "Miss Julie," "Miss Marple," "Precious Bane," "Portrait of a Marriage," "Five Days," "The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard," "Sense and Sensibility," "Hunter," "Into the Storm".