LORD OF THE FLIES

Content Warning

This production of Lord of the Flies contains flashing lights, loud noises, and depictions of staged violence and blood (including a simulated animal slaughter). Viewer discretion is advised.

Talk Back!!!

Join us immediately after the performance for a special Talkback Session with the cast, crew, and creative team of Lord of the Flies.

This is an opportunity to dive deeper into the world of the play such as its themes, its challenges, and the process behind bringing Nigel Williams’ adaptation to life on the Carnegie stage.

During the talkback, audience members are invited to:

Ask questions about the rehearsal process, design choices, and character interpretation
Hear from the actors about what it was like to embody the boys on the island
Learn from the designers about creating the production’s projections
Discuss connections between the play and real-world issues faced by communities today

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About the Play

Nigel Williams’ stage adaptation of Lord of the Flies takes Golding’s famous story and drops you right into the chaos. A bunch of schoolboys, stuck on a deserted island with no adults around, try to build their own little society. At first, they’re all about rules and order, but things go off the rails fast. Fear takes over. Violence breaks out. The play really digs into how fragile civilization is, and how easily our darker instincts take control when nobody’s there to keep us in line.

Cast

Oliver Balkanyi (as Ralph and Henry)

‍ Oliver is thrilled to take on the role of Ralph in Lord of the Flies. Previous Carnegie Theatre credits include the Priest in Cyrano and Oliver in PUFFS. He was drawn to this production because Lord of the Flies is such an iconic story, and the chance to play any role in it felt like an incredible opportunity. Oliver loves Carnegie Theatre for the amazing people and friendships it creates. He would like to thank his parents, his brother, Swami, Nathan, and everyone who has supported him along the way.
Ben Baudier (as Ralph)

Ben makes his Carnegie Theatre debut as Ralph in Lord of the Flies. This is his first show, and he joined the cast after some strong encouragement from Mr. Savage, but he’s thrilled to be part of the production and experience the world of theatre firsthand.
David Assad (as Jack)

David joins Lord of the Flies as Jack. Though he’s only been involved in theatre briefly in the past, he is excited to take on this role and gain more experience on stage. He originally joined the production to earn his honors credit, but quickly changed his view in discovering his love of theatre has enjoyed being part of the cast and the process of building the show. David would like to thank his family, Ethan, and Mr. Savage for their support.
Adan Abou-Sayed (as Piggy)

Adan is making his Carnegie Theatre debut as Piggy in Lord of the Flies! He joined the cast to meet new people and become part of the theatre community. Outside of acting, Adan enjoys math, reading, and cooking - he also shares his home with a dog and a bunny.
Penelope Caraballo (as Roe)

Penelope is thrilled to play Roe in Lord of the Flies. Previously, she appeared as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. She loves being part of the Carnegie Theatre Company and working with such an incredible group of people. Penelope would like to thank her parents for their endless support and encouragement.
Devon Riley (as Sam)

Devon returns to the Carnegie Theatre stage as Sam in Lord of the Flies. Previous performances include A Streetcar Named Desire and Cyrano. Devon loves acting and is grateful to his parents for always getting him where he needs to be and supporting his passion for theatre.
Ethan Sims (as Eric)

Ethan returns to the Carnegie Theatre stage as Eric in Lord of the Flies. He previously appeared as Skhebochevsky in Crime and Punishment. Ethan joined this production simply because “it seemed fun,” and he’s loved the experience of working with the cast and crew. He’d like to thank his mom, his day one, for always supporting him.
Ellery Orton (as Simon)

Ellery is delighted to bring Simon to life in Lord of the Flies. Past credits include Matilda the Musical, Matilda Jr., and The Little Mermaid. Ellery loves theatre because of the way a cast of strangers becomes a family by the end of each show. She sends love to Mom, Dad, Elise, Mo, Kiana, and Louisa; “you all are the best, thanks for always listening to my rants!”’
Denim-Leenox Sasser (as Bill)

Denim-Leenox makes her Carnegie Theatre debut as Bill in Lord of the Flies! Encouraged by Kennedy and her mom, Denim-Leenox joined the show out of curiosity for what goes on behind the scenes in CVHS Theatre Co. She’d like to thank the entire cast and crew for creating such a supportive and fun environment.
Christian Lazaro (as Maurice)

Christian is excited to return to the Carnegie Theatre stage as Marrice Walsh in Lord of the Flies. His past credits include Steve in A Streetcar Named Desire, the Executioner and Servant in The Duchess (UIL), De Gishie in Cyrano de Bergerac, Headmaster, Professor Sprout, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and a Death Eater in PUFFS, and Semyon Marmeladov in Crime and Punishment (UIL). Christian joined this production to reconnect with theatre at the start of his junior year after a meaningful experience at Tal’s Camp over the summer, where he rediscovered his love for the theatre community. He would like to thank his mom and dad for their constant support, Mr. Savage for always believing in him, and all of his theatre friends for making Carnegie Theatre feel like family.
Renn Rojas (as Perceval)

This is Renn’s first production with Carnegie Theatre, and he’s thrilled to take on the role of Percival! When asked why he joined the show, Renn’s simple answer was, “Why not?” He would like to thank his mom for always bringing him food and support during rehearsals.
Malk Al Sudani (as Roberts)

Malk returns to the stage after performing in Jack and Jill (Reader’s Theatre) and as Harriet Tubman in the Black History Month play. She joined Lord of the Flies to dive back into acting and explore new creative challenges. Malk thanks Kennedy, Nola, Paul, Maia, Christian, and Mr. Savage for their patience and understanding. She also insists she is “too nonchalant to be a theatre kid.”
Kennedy Gant (as Naval Officer)

Kennedy is a proud member of the Carnegie Theatre Company and is excited to perform as the Naval Officer. Her previous roles include performances in Cyrano and Crime and Punishment. Kennedy enthusiastically shares, “I love working on Carnegie Theatre shows!”
Grace Hall (as Rachel)

Grace makes her Carnegie Theatre debut as Rachel in Lord of the Flies. Although theatre had always interested her, she didn’t have the chance to explore acting at her previous school. Coming to Carnegie gave her the freedom to try something new, and she’s thrilled she did. Grace would like to thank her friends in the cast, especially Ellery, Malk, Penny, and Adan, for making every long rehearsal day meaningful and fun.

From our Director

STEWARD SAVAGE

Bringing Lord of the Flies to the stage is an act of collective inquiry—into power, identity, and the thin line between civilization and chaos. Our rehearsal process has not merely been about staging William Golding’s haunting allegory; it has been about discovering, as an ensemble, what happens when the structures that define society dissolve and we are left to confront our own impulses.

Working with a cast of young actors has made this journey both exhilarating and deeply complex. The play demands that its performers inhabit a world stripped of adults, authority, and order—yet our rehearsal room has had to build precisely the opposite: a space of mutual respect, safety, and trust. The process has required constant negotiation between the raw energy of youth and the discipline of craft. Each rehearsal became a dialogue between instinct and intention—between the chaos of the story and the care with which we chose to tell it.

Casting this production in a diverse, gender-inclusive manner has been a deliberate choice, one that reshapes and reclaims the narrative’s engagement with toxic masculinity. Golding’s original vision centered on the fragility of “man’s heart,” but exploring that concept across a spectrum of genders and identities broadens its meaning. It exposes how systems of dominance, aggression, and fear are not innate to any one gender—they are learned behaviors, social scripts we all inherit to varying degrees. Our ensemble’s diversity challenged the assumption that brutality or leadership looks one particular way, and how these characters, in the absence of any adults they play out ideas of their male role models and problematic ideas of their male role models.. In rehearsals, this tension invited deeper questions: What happens when power is embodied differently? How does empathy alter the hierarchy of the island?

This process has also foregrounded the ethical challenges of performing violence. The physicality in Lord of the Flies—its rituals, its eruptions, its unraveling—had to be approached not as spectacle but as metaphor. The goal was always to reveal how violence dehumanizes not only its victims but its perpetrators, how it seeps into language, gesture, and silence.

Ultimately, this production reflects our contemporary moment: a mirror to the fractures within our own society, where fear and tribalism still threaten our collective humanity. In staging Lord of the Flies, these young actors have not only built a world that collapses—they have also modeled one rebuilt through collaboration, vulnerability, and reflection. The play asks what remains when civilization falters; our process has offered one answer: the courage to look honestly at ourselves, together.

From Our assitant Director

Kennedy Gant

Being assistant director for this show has been a wonderful learning experience and I’ve had a blast! Working directly with Savage gave me an opportunity to see the creation of a show from the perspective of a director and has helped me better understand how the magic is made. I also believed it even made me a better actor! I thank Savage for this experience and hope you enjoy Lord of the Flies!

Technicians

Heads

Bella Rocca

Head of Costumes
Rishika Mishra

Head of Costumes
Kellie Chen

Head of Props
Mason Olander

Head of Props
Olivia Olander

Head of Props
Emma Yin

Head of Scenic
Daniel Guzman

Head of Set
Jose Moselina

Head of Lighting
Sebastian Mendoza

Head of Sound
Avery Puente

Head of Sound and Projections

Crew

Click here

Stage Managers

Nola Olson

Stage Manager
Paul Gau

Stage Manager
Maia Henderson

Assitant Stage Manager
Nixon Crockrom

Assistant Stage Manager
Leanna Estrada

Assitant Stage Manager

Special Thanks to

The best principal we could have asked for, always graciously supporting us through every creative decision we made.
Mr. Tse
Ali Al Sudani + Nisreen Al Sudani
Rose Arenas
Higinio Salazar + Flor Millan
Ingrid Germany
Niketa Desai + Sapan Desai
Lise Bohn + Devlin Browning
Laura Henry + Andrew Taylor
Carla Perez
Lanlan Shen
Isabel Sanchez
Angela Olvera + Alejandro Olvera
Tina Villarreal
Esmeralda Rodriguez David Rodriguez
Dalia Diaz Rene Rojas
Martha Gau
Erin Olson
Rob Lazaro
Sarah Shull
Jessie Ferguson
Ana-Maria Nicolae
Monica Sequeira
Khanh Nguyen
Rebecca Leahy