Dinner With Friends
By Donald Margulies
directed by Curtis Barber

Rehearsals begin Sept. 8, 2026
Preview Oct. 22, 2026
Show run Oct. 23 - Nov. 7, 2026

Notes on character relationships

Gabe and Karen, a couple in their 40’s: A seemingly stable, loving couple whose confidence in their marriage is shaken by their friends' divorce.

Tom and Beth, a couple in their 40’s: Once the "ideal" couple, their marriage dissolves because of growing dissatisfaction, unmet expectations, and changing personal needs.

The Four Friends: Their long friendship is tested as loyalties divide and each person is forced to examine their own beliefs about love, commitment, and happiness. Avoid presenting any character as entirely right or wrong. Instead, each represents a different perspective on love, commitment, and the difficult choices that accompany adulthood.

Character descriptions

Gabe: Thoughtful, intelligent, and reflective. A successful food writer who values stability and tradition. Loyal to his friends and deeply unsettled by change, especially when he learns of Tom and Beth's divorce. His own marriage is tested as he questions whether long-term relationships are as secure as he once believed.

Karen: Warm, caring, and nurturing. She is passionate about cooking and hospitality, often expressing love through food and believes strongly in commitment and family. Initially sides with Beth and confronts her own fears about marriage and the compromises she has made.

Tom: Charismatic, confident, and restless. A successful lawyer who feels trapped by the routine of family life and marriage, believing he deserves a happier, more exciting life.

Beth: Sensitive, in touch with her emotions, and somewhat insecure. Once an aspiring artist, she sacrificed many of her ambitions to raise a family and feels blindsided and devastated by Tom's decision to leave the marriage. Struggles with the decision but gradually begins rebuilding her independence.