God Help Us

GOD HELP US! is a play pulled directly out of today’s headlines. An evening full of hilarious, poignant, unifying, thought provoking entertainment.
Larry, (Jay Pyette) a liberal leaning fellow, and Randi, (Kate Hagen) a conservative kind of woman, find themselves confronted by GOD, Ed Asner, a wise, sarcastic, cantankerous and wildly funny character who is offended by what America’s political leaders have done to America. He has brought Randi and Larry to Purgatory for a lively debate about the issues our time. Whomever he finds more persuasive will get God’s “mighty thumb on the scale” in one or the other’s favor. We learn that Randi and Larry were a couple back in their college days, but politics tore them apart – in large measure because they couldn’t learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. God interrogates them on a wide array of topics – domestic, international and personal – while commenting on the Bible, the Big Bang, the origin of mankind, and so much more. Given the current state of our politics – GOD HELP US! speaks to audiences of all political persuasions with one essential argument, that we must listen to each other so that we can all live – and laugh – together.

Ed Asner (God) starred as Carl Fredricksen in Pixar’s 2009 box-office- hit Oscar winning Best Picture “Up!” and as Santa in the movie version of “Elf.” Mr. Asner was the recipient of his eighth Emmy Award at The CSA Awards for his guest appearance in the Canadian dramatic series “Forgive Me.” Mr. Asner is best known for his comedic and dramatic talent as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist Lou Grant, the role he originated on the landmark TV newsroom comedy, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and continued in the newspaper-biz drama “Lou Grant,” which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. Mr. Asner received two more Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for the mini-series “Rich Man, Poor Man” and “Roots.”

Jay Pyette (Larry) is the Artistic director for the Montana Actor’s Theatre having been associated with the theatre since its founding in 1992.
As an actor some of Jay’s favorite roles include Katurian in the “Pillowman”, Donny in the “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”, and Shag in “Equivocation”. He was recently seen in MAT’s production of “12 Angry Men” as Juror number 9.
As a designer, some of Jay’s favorite sets include those for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Eilma CV in Missoula, “Ruined” for the MAT stage, and the “mobile homes” for MAT’s Trailer Park production.
Complete information  on Jay’s career can be found at www.jaypyette.com.

Kate Hagan (Randi) has been performing with the Montana Actor’s Theatre for 5 years in such roles as Ms Furnival in “Black Comedy”, Josephine in “Ruined”, Frenchie in “Grease” and Annette in “God of Carnage” as well as many others.
Kate is an accomplished costumer, with degrees in Fashion and Design and Elementary Education.
She currently teaches fourth grade at Havre Elementary Schools.

Billings, Studio Theatre and the Montana Actor’s Theatre are both sponsored in part by the Montana Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.