The Humans
Directed by Pamela Berlin, Stephen Karam’s 2016 Tony-winner spends Thanksgiving in Chinatown with a family from Scranton, PA.
In The Humans, three generations of the Blake clan, plus one significant other, meet for Thanksgiving dinner in Lower Manhattan. The Irish Catholic family from Scranton, PA find themselves in Chinatown for the holiday because the youngest, Brigid (Valeri Mudek), has just rented an apartment there with her boyfriend, Richard Saad (Arash Mokhtar). Their dinner guests include Brigid's mother Deirdre (Charlotte Booker), her father Erik (J. Tucker Smith), and his mother, known as Momo (Cecelia Riddett). Brigid's sister Aimee (Courtney Balan), a lawyer who lives in Philadelphia, is also there.
In 90 minutes of real-time, the company eats, airs everything from minor complaints to serious setbacks, runs up and down a spiral staircase to get to the bathroom, finds joy in their shared traditions, criticizes, and demonstrates their unshakable love for each other. But beneath the typical holiday festivities, eerie things take place: thuds, shadows, rumbles. Is this just life in contemporary Manhattan, or is something else going on?
"The play is rackingly funny even as it pummels the heart and scares the bejesus out of you," said Jesse Green in Vulture. In the Chicago Tribune, Chris Jones called it,"truly remarkable and exceptionally moving."
The design team for The Humans is Michael Schweikardt (Scenic), Suzanne Chesney (Costumes), John Lasiter (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Casting is by Pat McCorkle. Fred Noel is the Production Stage Manager and Spencer Whale is the Assistant Stage Manager.
About the Playwright
Stephen Karam's plays include The Humans (Tony Award, Obie Award for Playwriting, and Pulitzer Prize finalist); Sons of the Prophet (Pulitzer Prize finalist); and Speech and Debate. His adaptation of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard premiered on Broadway as part of Roundabout Theatre's 2016 season; his film adaptation of The Seagull, starring Annette Bening, is upcoming. Stephen is a 2002 graduate of Brown University. He grew up in Scranton, PA.
Performance Schedule
Tuesdays at 7 pm.
Wednesdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm.
Saturdays at 2 pm (except Nov. 11 & 18) plus 2 pm on Thursday, Dec. 7.
Sundays at 2 & 7 pm (except Dec. 10 when the final show is at 2 pm).
There will be no performance on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 23.
Press Night is Thursday, Nov. 16. Opening Night is Friday, Nov. 17.
Ticket prices: $25 - $65. Tickets for students & age 26 & younger: $15.75.
Discounts for groups of 10+ are available by contacting Casey Helm at 412.316.8200 ext. 704 or chelm@ppt.org.
Ticket prices are subject to change.
For tickets call 412.316.1600, buy online, or visit the O'Reilly Theater Box Office.