EPAC Presents Central PA Premiere THE HUMANS

Ephrata Performing Arts Center presents the Central Pennsylvania premiere of Stephen Karam's Tony Award-winning drama THE HUMANS, directed by EPAC Artistic Director Edward R. Fernandez.

In 2016, a one-act play opened on Broadway that would join the ranks of DEATH OF A SALESMAN,LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY as one of the great plays to examine the American family. This play went on to win the Tony Award for Best Play of 2016. THE HUMANS is a play about the average family's Thanksgiving, filled with fun, frustration, love, loss, turkey, therapy, and the entire complex range of human emotions that usually accompanies the holiday. Some of us dread it, some of us look forward to it all year, and most of us do both. This year, the Irish, three-generation Blake family will be celebrating in the Chinatown apartment of youngest daughter Brigid. Around the table we find Catholic parents Erik and Deirdre; Brigid who is living in sin with her boyfriend Richard; Aimee who recently broke up with her girlfriend and is now suffering an intestinal illness; and grandmother Fiona "Momo" who is suffering from Alzheimer's. It's bound to be a strange and uncanny evening wrought with psychological hubbub and a wildly good time.

The cast includes Julia Elberfield as Brigid Blake, Kathleen Godwin as Fiona "Momo" Blake, Elizabeth Pattey as Deirdre Blake, Megan Riggs as Aimee Beck, Tim Spiese as Erik Blake and Brian Viera as Richard Saad.

Elizabeth Pattey (Deirdre Blake). EPAC credits: PICNIC (Helen), AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Violet Weston), THE HEIRESS (Aunt Lavinia Penniman), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Old Lady), ASSASSINS (Sara Jane Moore) and ANGELS IN AMERICA (Hannah Pitt/Ethel Rosenberg).

Megan Riggs (Aimee Beck). EPAC credits: THE HEIRESS (Catherine Sloper) and KING LEAR (Regan).

Tim Spiese (Erik Blake). EPAC credits: CHICAGO (Billy Flynn), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Aide Turkle), THE FULL MONTY (Harold), URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL (Caldwell B. Cladwell) and INTO THE WOODS (Narrator/Mysterious Man).

Brian Viera (Richard Saad). EPAC credits: HAND TO GOD (Timothy), VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (Spike), THE HEIRESS (Morris Townsend), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Jim O'Connor).

The creative team includes Bob Breen (Co-Director), Douglas Frawley (Scenic Design), Carolyn Smith (Costume Design), Michael Wiltraut (Lighting Design), and John Leyden (Sound Design).

THE HUMANS will run from March 14, through March 23, at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at ephrataperformingartscenter.com or by calling 717-733-7966 x 1.

Thursday night shows are at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday shows are at 8:00pm. Tickets are $15 - $32.

THE HUMANS is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.