Discover 'Good People' with producer Kevin Carr's 'dream project'

Ancient Greek philosopher Plato theorized that there are two worlds: the physical world in which we live and the world of forms, where the invisible, perfect world of ideas exists. The highest form is the Form of the Good. But what does authentically striving for "good" mean, and how do we humans do that? And what does it mean to be human?

Opening at the end of July, Monticello Opera House will present the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire's play, "Good People." And returning performance artist and theater producer Kevin Carr describes the production as "a dream cast and dream project."

Catching the 'theater bug'

Carr admits that the arts were a whole new world for him as he was growing up. "I came from a working-class Irish immigrant family, and we weren't an arts family at all," Carr says. He admits that he is the only one in his family to catch that ‘artistic bug'. "But I ended up performing with the Boston Symphony and the Opera Company of Boston… And I definitely liked it."

And while he was serious about playing the piano back then, thinking he might even study music in college, Carr found practicing the piano very lonely. So he joined the theater club. "It was incredibly social," Carr explains, stating that it allowed him to come out of his shell. "I was incredibly shy and not very popular, and theater gave me a chance to grow and develop my confidence, which is what every kid needs."

Carr's high school English teacher took the students on trips to see plays in downtown Boston. "That's where I really caught the theater bug, and I've been a lifer ever since." He would go on to study theater at Ithaca College and eventually complete his Ph.D. in English at Florida State Universityin 2013.

It was while pursuing that Ph.D. that Carr realized he needed to "find an outlet to stay sane, which many Ph.D.s can relate to." He had missed doing theater, so he began to teach acting classes. "I eventually created a production company, Canopy Roads Theater, and produced several shows with the students from my classes."

Carr has studied many methods over the years and draws a little from each. "Mostly, for me, acting is about repetition and play," he says. "Being free and open to play and try things in rehearsal." Another key element to acting for him is about listening, being present, and reacting truthfully in the moment. "It's a lot harder than it sounds!"

The art of producing theater

Yet, Carr has done it all. From acting to directing to stage managing to sound to props to producing. "We joke that theater is an addiction, and sometimes it feels that way for me," he said. The only area Carr says that he has not done is lighting. "I think that was only because I was too afraid to get up on a ladder!"

Nevertheless, the act of producing and directing one's own productions can be physically and mentally demanding. "It was exhausting," Carr said. As an arts advocate for most of his life, Carr says that the general public is often unaware of the extensive effort required for a theater production.

"Not only the hours of rehearsal, but the care and decisions from casting to costumes, lighting to props, to marketing, to rehearsal logistics, to transportation, set construction, to managing personal crises, a producer has to do it all," he said. "I've been very lucky to have had smooth productions, but it's not always like that."

Yet since leaving Tallahassee, Carr has had few opportunities to do theater, which is why he came back to perform in and produce this project. "Tallahassee… [it] feels like my theater home."

He has worked with several theater groups in the area, including Monticello Opera House. "I fell in love with that place. It's a very special place to me," Carr said. He served on the MOH Board and still supports it as much as he can. He also helped local performing artist Alejandra Gutierrez launch the Tallahassee Hispanic Theater (THT), which is hosting its 9th Micro Theater Festival in August. "I've written a couple of plays, directed and acted with them, and I still serve on the Board of THT."

Also, while in graduate school, Carr connected with local performing artists Laura Johnson, Phil Croton, and several others, to revive the Southern Shakespeare Company. "That was really a dream come true," Carr said. "I can still remember the feeling of our first performances at Cascade Park."

Good people putting on a good show

And dreams continue as Carr works in "Good People" with both Croton and Johnson. "Laura and I have been friends and worked together on several projects," Carr explains, excited to get a chance to share the stage with her. There are other local artists Carr is ecstatic to work with, too.

"Marcy Palmer is a fantastic local actor and friend who's done a lot of film and theater work. Marlene Dubois is another phenomenal actress… We've got some great chemistry that audiences are just gonna love."

When asked to describe the show "Good People" a bit, Carr explains that it is a play about people struggling to get by. It follows a tight-knit working-class community, South Boston (or ‘Southie'). "I grew up in Dorchester, right next to Southie. So, this play has been an incredibly personal and familiar journey for me," Carr sayid.

Sometimes, he has found that portrayals of Boston characters can be overdone for laughs. "These are people who are very real to me that I've known and grown up with, so I want to be sure to be respectful, to show them "warts and all" but with deep respect and love. And audiences will love the Boston accents!"

To Carr, playwright David Lindsay-Abaire is among the best living playwrights, even though many have not heard of him. "[The play] is deeply human… it will make you laugh, it will make you think, it will draw you in like all good theater can," he says.

Carr continues by emphasizing the importance of seeing this play. "I can't imagine a more important play that deals with the financial struggles many Americans are feeling and the relationship between the ‘haves' and the ‘have-nots'… [and theater] is one of the few opportunities left that bring us all together in the same room to share an experience."

And what is more human than coming together, seeing yourself in your neighbor, and realizing that all we are trying to do is a little good?

If you go

What: "Good People" by David Lindsay-Abaire, Presented by Monticello Opera House

When: July 31-Aug. 9; Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; no performance on Friday, Aug. 7

Where: Monticello Opera House, 185 West Washington Street, Monticello

Cost: Tickets are $25 (discounts and upgrades are available) | Tickets may also be purchased at the door (pending availability). The MOH bar will be available for all performances beginning one hour before show start.

Details: MonticelloOperaHouse.org; 850-997-4242

Samantha Sumler is the Marketing & Communications Manager for the Council on Culture & Arts. COCA is the capital area's umbrella agency for arts and culture (tallahasseearts.org).

(This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy.)

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Discover 'Good People' with producer Kevin Carr's 'dream project'

Reporting by Samantha Sumler, Council on Culture & Arts / Tallahassee Democrat

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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 12:38 PM.