River Stage’s newest production, “Gloria,” is a 2016 Pulitzer Prize-nominated dark comedy that examines aspiration, workplace culture and the cost of success, at the Cosumnes River College Black Box Theatre.

Directed by Anthony D’Juan, a Sacramento-based director, playwright and adjunct professor at CRC, the production blends humor with heavier subject matter, even including a content advisory warning, reflecting the pressures of competitive professional environments.

D’Juan said he was drawn to the script for its depth and challenge.

“It was assigned to me by the chair, and I took it as a challenge,” he said.

He added that a lot of time was spent reading through the script and discussing its themes. The approach to balancing humor and heavier subject matter was “grounding it in humanity and real people, real behaviors and real responses,” D’Juan said. “In the end, it’s about the dangers of ambition.”

The play follows a group of young editorial assistants navigating a competitive publishing office before a pivotal and unsettling moment shifts the trajectory of their lives. The production includes a content advisory for audiences due to its mature subject matter.

Despite its heavier themes, the production incorporates moments of humor through distinct character choices and performances.

Cast members described the emotional and technical demands of bringing those themes to the stage.

Faye Crook, a 20-year-old music major, plays Kendra, an abrasive and self-focused editorial assistant who prioritizes her own ambitions over her responsibilities, often leaving the office for personal errands.

Crook said understanding her character required looking beyond surface-level behavior.

“Understanding her motives was hard but I think it’s about understanding her, not judging her,” Crook said. “Even though Kendra is a terrible person, she’s not heartless.”

With this production, many cast members were able to take on many different roles during the show.

Kaleb Roberts, a 20-year-old film and digital media major, portrayed multiple characters, each bringing a different perspective that was both challenging and rewarding.

“Making each character unique and different, while also bridging the gap between all of them, was very exciting,” Roberts said. “Although my characters were often overlooked, they were filled with optimism, hope and faith.”

Peter Demarzio, a 32-year-old local community member, takes on dual roles as Dean, an ambitious writer determined to succeed before turning 30, and Devin, an underappreciated IT worker who only exists on the margins of the office.

Demarzio said portraying Dean required fully committing to the character’s intensity and unfiltered behavior, despite how different it is from his own personality. His portrayal highlights the character’s gradual emotional breakdown while maintaining the play’s dark comedic tone.

“He’s trying to catch sand with a sieve,” Demarzio said, describing how the character begins to unravel, symbolizing the futility of trying to grasp onto both sanity and control.

Sevryn Michael, a 28-year-old theatre arts major who plays Lorin, described his character as grounded in realism, which offers a contrast to the heightened personalities around him.

“I think a lot of people can relate to him if they’ve ever been in an environment that was toxic and full of fake people,” Michael said.

CRC’s “pay-what-you-can” model allows students and community members to attend performances regardless of financial barriers.

“It is a theatre program that is built foundationally on accessibility to the arts for all communities, which is a very powerful thing and not something that you see every theatre trying to do. Keeping theatre accessible, affordable,” Demarzio said.

Audience members said the production was both surprising and engaging.

CRC alum Katie Pinkston said this production really stands out for its tone and that she always looks forward to attending our shows.

“It was definitely the most serious that I’ve seen, but really enjoyable,” Pinkston said. “I really appreciate that everyone out here is very talented.”

Pinkston said she and her good friend Maya Bell make an effort to attend CRC shows together, taking advantage of the program’s accessibility.

Bell said attending CRC’s theater productions has become a regular experience.

“I’ve committed to coming to shows with her,” Bell said. “I love Cosumnes River College’s ‘pay-what-you-can’ model.”

She added that going into the play without reading the content advisory made the experience much more intense.

“I didn’t read the audience warning ahead of time,” Bell said. “I’m glad because it made it more like, ‘Oh my goodness!’”

Demarzio said the meaning behind the show and the real topics addressed is what makes the show distinctive.

“CRC is one of the few college theaters that I see doing shows that don’t pull punches,” said Demarzio. “It’s important that we’re talking about these things and doing these kinds of shows because it’s the reality of the world we live in.”

Demarzio also said the program stands out for its environment and sense of community.

“It is one of the most supportive, fun, refreshing theater experiences I’ve ever had—and I’ve worked with a lot of theaters in the Sacramento area, both professional and community theater.”

Demarzio said that commitment, along with the program’s willingness to take on challenging material, makes it unique.

““Gloria” will run from April 24 through May 3 at the CRC Black Box Theatre, with multiple afternoon and evening showtimes. Tickets are available for as little as zero dollars and can be found on the CRC events calendar or directly through the ticketing website.