Civility doesn’t stand a chance — and the results are absolutely hilarious.
Dayton’s Gem City Groundlings is bringing the Tony Award–winning dark comedy God of Carnage to the stage this month, and if the material is any indication, audiences are in for one unforgettable night out.
Written by playwright Yasmina Reza, the play drops audiences inside the Novaks’ living room, where two sets of parents gather to calmly sort out a playground altercation between their kids. Mature. Measured. Completely adult about it. For about five minutes. What unfolds from there is a razor-sharp, escalating demolition of social niceties — egos collide, alliances flip, and the thin veneer of civilized behavior peels back to reveal something far more entertaining underneath.
It’s the kind of show that makes you laugh, squirm, and quietly wonder if you’ve been in that exact living room before.
For Gem City Groundlings, it’s a natural fit. The company has built its local reputation on bold, actor-driven work that doesn’t shy away from complexity — and God of Carnage is exactly that kind of theatre. Sharp, intimate, and impossible to look away from.
A Few Dates Worth Noting
The run kicks off March 4 with a Preview Night, and Sunday, March 8 is Pay-What-You-Can Donation Day — a great opportunity to catch a sharp production at your own price.
Performance Schedule
God of Carnage plays two Dayton-area venues this month:
The Lift — March 4–8 114 S. June St., Dayton, OH 45404
Brick and Beam Event Center — March 12–14 55714 Hills Ave., Kettering, OH 45414
Tickets and info at gemcitygroundlings.com — or follow Gem City Groundlings on social media for updates.
