"The God Committee" Sets Dramatic Stage

The inside world of an organ transplant team can be an overwhelming place to be, but the University Theatre Players are going there in a new play by Mark St.

Germain, "The God Committee" as a part of the twentieth anniversary season.

"The God Committee" is about dilemmas facing a transplant selection committee in selecting one from four potential candidates. The play is a drama "that is going to make you think," Maggie Knapp, a junior fine arts -theatre major said.

The festivities of St. Patricks Day in Manhattan continue in the streets while in a board room, seven selection committee members meet to discuss candidates for an available heart transplant. Heading the proceedings is chief physician Dr. Jack Klee (Clay Martin), who has health issues of his own. Other members of the committee are head nurse Nella Larkin (Chelsea Crook); Dr. Kiera Banks (Brandi Perry), a beginner in the field; psychiatrist Dr. Alex Gorman (Bobby Bloom), a very opinionated character; Dr. Ann Ross (Carla Cloud) who is coping with a life-changing decision; newly ordained Catholic priest Father Charles Dunbar (Matthew Cabbil); the head of social services Dominick Piero (Dylan Barton) who is confined to a motorized scooter; and veteran cardiac surgeon Dr. Peter Felker (Matthew Yon) who removed the heart. "Some decisions are just hard to make, and some of those are larger than life. This play is based on a subject that can't be put into funny settings. We're trying to make a statement with this play," Knapp said.

"Our job with this play is to make a script into three dimensional characters for the audience, think of it as putting television on stage," Clay Martin said. "It's an amazing opportunity and this is the most challenging role that I have ever played," Martin added.

Stephanie Sexton, sophomore fine arts-theatre major, said "It's about the dialogue, the gestures, the expressions on stage. There's not much action on the set itself, but there's a lot going on between these people."

Tickets are on sale now at the Etherredge Center box office. For more information, call the box office at 641-3305. The tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students. The show will run from Oct. 25 through Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 28.