Overview
Synopsis
Irish-American Erik Blake has brought his wife and his mother for Thanksgiving at the new home of his daughter and her boyfriend. His mother (affectionately referred to as “Momo”) is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and his other daughter Aimee has recently been the victim of a nasty breakup. The parents are disappointed that their daughters have left home to struggle in New York City, and worried that they are abandoning their values. The Humans tells the story of the quintessential family reunion: a group of people who love each other but still wrestle with basic human fears: old age, abandonment, poverty, and death. Filled with equal parts humor and hurt, The Humans is a Tony-award winning play from popular playwright Stephen Karam (Speech and Debate).
Show Information
- Book
- Stephen Karam
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2014
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary
- Time & Place
- manhattan, chinatown, present day, thanksgiving
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
According to Stephen Karam, The Humans is meant to examine the “black pit of dread and malaise Americans have been trying to climb out of post-9/11 and post-financial crisis.” This Thanksgiving tale of the Irish-American Blake clan is part family drama, part hilarious observation, and part horrifying tragedy. The Humans had its world premiere in Chicago in the fall of 2014. It opened to positive reviews and was produced on Broadway in February of 2016 with the same cast. After winning
to read the context for The Humans and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The Humans begins with the arrival of parents Erik and Deirdre Blake, along with their daughter Aimee and Erik’s ailing mother Momo, at their youngest daughter’s new apartment. Brigid, a classically trained musician and composer, has offered to host Thanksgiving dinner this year with her boyfriend Richard. The elder Blakes have driven in from Scranton, Pennsylvania, for the occasion. Aimee, a lawyer, is struggling with a devastating breakup as well as ulcerative colitis, and Momo is in the
to read the plot for The Humans and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Female |
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Lead |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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