Church & State
by Jason Odell Williams

Name: Church & State
Brand: Jason Odell Williams
SKU: 9780822237624
Rating: 3.94 (33 reviews)

Off-Broadway

Church & State Book Cover — Church & State Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

Three days before his bid for reelection, in the wake of a school shooting in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, a Republican U.S. senator makes an off-the-cuff comment to a blogger that gets leaked on “the Twitter,” calling into question the senator’s stance on guns and God.

As his devoutly Christian wife and liberal Jewish campaign manager try to contain the damage, this look at how religion influences politics and how politics has become a religion is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting in this play by Jason Odell Williams.

Press Reviews

"Surprisingly subtle and gripping entertainment… a sophisticated dialectic that presents both sides of the gun debate. Williams avoids demonizing his conservative Southerners, who are winning, strikingly intelligent, and above all, sincere in their beliefs."
— Los Angeles Times

"Named one of Huffington Post’s Top 10 Theatre Productions of 2016! “This is a powerful, often humorous, and highly contemporary piece. The play has several surprises, four fascinating characters, and so many lines that resonate."
— Huffington Post

"Williams presents his argument so entertainingly, few would object to going along for the ride. Williams is adept at jacking up the tension, and he leavens potentially leaden debates with plenty of humor. Williams’ words need to be said and heard."
— Time Out New York

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
SENATOR CHARLES “CHARLIE” WHITMORE (R-NC) Male. 40s to 50s. Born and raised in North Carolina, he is a former state senator, now incumbent Junior U.S. Senator up for reelection. His father was governor of North Carolina for many years before he died. Charlie’s two older brothers are members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Though not gunning for it himself, the party is grooming Charlie for a presidential run in a few years. Charlie is a man filled with doubt. But he has plenty of charisma and sex appeal. He’s a rare honest politician and gifted public speaker. A real family man who loves his wife, sons and constituents.	female	40s	Male. 40s to 50s. Born and raised in North Carolina, he is a former state senator, now incumbent Junior U.S. Senator up for reelection. His father was governor of North Carolina for many years before he died. Charlie’s two older brothers are members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Though not gunning for it himself, the party is grooming Charlie for a presidential run in a few years. Charlie is a man filled with doubt. But he has plenty of charisma and sex appeal. He’s a rare honest politician and gifted public speaker. A real family man who loves his wife, sons and constituents.
SARA WHITMORE Female. 40s. Charlie’s wife. A big, brassy, former real estate agent, now stay-at-home mom to their boys Matthew (9, athletic and fearless) and Luke (6, artistic and sensitive). She is sweet, charming, and instantly likable. Even when she’s bossing you around, she does it with an irresistible smile. More “street smart” than “book smart” but can still hold her own with the big boys. Also born and raised in North Carolina. Loves her family, Jesus and the Bible. She’s a tough Southern woman with a soft underbelly.	female	40s	Female. 40s. Charlie’s wife. A big, brassy, former real estate agent, now stay-at-home mom to their boys Matthew (9, athletic and fearless) and Luke (6, artistic and sensitive). She is sweet, charming, and instantly likable. Even when she’s bossing you around, she does it with an irresistible smile. More “street smart” than “book smart” but can still hold her own with the big boys. Also born and raised in North Carolina. Loves her family, Jesus and the Bible. She’s a tough Southern woman with a soft underbelly.
ALEX KLEIN Female. 30s to 40s. Charlie’s campaign manager. A fast-talking, no-nonsense liberal Jew from New York whose star is on the rise as a go-to campaign manager. Hired by the Whitmore campaign so she wouldn’t defeat him working for the other side. She is great at her job, but knows her career is on the line if this election goes badly. Her self-doubt bubbles to the surface at times, but she’s clearly a professional at the top of her game.	female	30s	Female. 30s to 40s. Charlie’s campaign manager. A fast-talking, no-nonsense liberal Jew from New York whose star is on the rise as a go-to campaign manager. Hired by the Whitmore campaign so she wouldn’t defeat him working for the other side. She is great at her job, but knows her career is on the line if this election goes badly. Her self-doubt bubbles to the surface at times, but she’s clearly a professional at the top of her game.
TOM/MARSHALL/REPORTER/SECURITY GUY Male. 20s to 30s. Tom is a paid intern with the campaign. Simple with a good heart. Tom is an NC State graduate and North Carolina boy through and through; more “country,” while Marshall is more of a “Southern gentleman.” Marshall is a blogger with Christian values but not much journalistic experience. Reporter is a smart, charming, on-the-scene news reporter. Security Guy is a typical non-speaking bodyguard.	male	20s	Male. 20s to 30s. Tom is a paid intern with the campaign. Simple with a good heart. Tom is an NC State graduate and North Carolina boy through and through; more “country,” while Marshall is more of a “Southern gentleman.” Marshall is a blogger with Christian values but not much journalistic experience. Reporter is a smart, charming, on-the-scene news reporter. Security Guy is a typical non-speaking bodyguard.
MALE and	—	—	and
FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR ,	—	—	,
RUGGED AMERICAN MALE , and	—	—	, and
MAYOR Voices that can be pre-taped by actors in the cast or others.	male	—	Voices that can be pre-taped by actors in the cast or others.