The Humans

Run Time:
One hour and 35 minutes, with no intermission
Ages: 16+
Opened: February 18, 2016
Closing: January 15, 2017

The Humans - 2016 - Broadway History , Info & More

Hayes Theatre (Broadway)
240 West 44th St. New York, NY

The angst, anguish and amity of the American middle class are first coaxed - then shoved - into the light in this uproarious, hopeful, and heart-breaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake (Birney) has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate and give thanks at his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex, and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the Blake clan's deepest fears and greatest follies are laid bare. Our modern age of anxiety is keenly observed, with humor and compassion, in this new American classic.

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR The Humans

‘The Humans’ review: Stephen Karam comedy-drama on Broadway
8 / 10

There is so much love, dread, tenderness and brutality in "The Humans" that it is hard to believe just 90 minutes pass through Stephen Karam's deeply-felt family tragicomedy thriller...The move to a larger showcase feels right, enlarging the impact without losing the nuances of light and dark...On second viewing, the retelling of bad dreams now seems woven into a richer psychological carpet and the few plot threads that seemed undeveloped now feel beautifully wrought...Last season, there was talk about initiating a new Tony category that would honor an acting ensemble instead of singling out individuals. If ever a cast deserved an award for sublime ensemble interdependence, this is it.

Superb ‘The Humans’, About The Way We Live Today, Opens On Broadway; ‘Old Hats’ Clowns Around Off-Broadway – Review
9 / 10

A smart decision was made to hold on to the exquisitely matched acting ensemble and also the play's, well, human scale by re-mounting it in the Helen Hayes, the smallest Tony-eligible house. As a result, the play retains its remarkable power as a tale of sorrows veined with silver threads of humor...As the evening moves like nature from light into darkness, Karam and his incomparable director Joe Mantello...take this first-class ensemble and us interlopers along a journey that's part family drama and thriller...Although the cast couldn't be bettered (and the standout remains the wildly gifted Steele), I thought they were still settling into the rhythms of a larger performance at the critics' preview I attended...I can only reiterate what I wrote earlier, that The Humans is tremendously exciting theater, and I remain convinced that you won't see a better play this season.

Tony-Winning Thanksgiving Family Drama THE HUMANS Becomes Top-Grossing Play of 2016
by BWW News Desk - January 4, 2017

The most acclaimed, celebrated, and awarded American play in recent memory, The Humans, was also the top-grossing play of 2016 with box office receipts totaling $23,004,513.38.

THE HUMANS to Eat Last Holiday Meal on Broadway This Winter; National Tour on the Horizon!
by BWW News Desk - December 1, 2016

Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller announced today that the most acclaimed, celebrated, and awarded American play in recent memory, The Humans, will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at its third New York home, the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, after its year-long, smash hit run on Broadway and fourteen weeks Off Broadway.

Photo Flash: THE HUMANS Poses for Thanksgiving Family Portrait
by Nicole Rosky - November 24, 2016

To celebrate Thanksgiving, the award-winning ensemble of the reigning Tony Award®-winning Best Play, The Humans, posed for a commemorative "family portrait" in the style of Norman Rockwell's iconic painting, "Freedom from Want." The photograph, shot by artist Julieta Cervantes, was unveiled today in the pages of New York's Hometown Newspaper, the New York Daily News.

Tony Winning Play THE HUMANS Recoups in Just 26 Weeks on Broadway
by Caryn Robbins - September 19, 2016

Stephen Karam's Tony Award-winning drama THE HUMANS has recouped its $3.8 million capitalization after just 26 weeks on Broadway. Producer Scott Rudin confirmed the news this morning.

Tony Winning Play THE HUMANS to Play Final Performance at the Schoenfeld This January
by Caryn Robbins - September 15, 2016

The New York Times reports that THE HUMANS, which took home the 2016 Tony Award for Best New Play, will shutter on January 15th.

THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars with Kate Baldwin
by Nicole Rosky - September 16, 2016

In this week's edition, we caught up with Kate Baldwin, who returns to the Sheen Center on September 18 to sing the music of Georgia Stitt. For tickets, visit: http://sheencenter.org

THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- THE HUMANS' Arian Moayed
by Nicole Rosky - August 26, 2016

In this week's edition, we caught up with Arian Moayed, who stars as 'Richard Saad' in THE HUMANS, playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Up on the Marquee: THE HUMANS Moves to the Schoenfeld
by Walter McBride - July 28, 2016

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, on the heels of winning four Tony Awards including Best Play,The Humans will move into Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) to extend its limited run. The Humans will play its first performance in its new home on Tuesday, August 9. It played its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre on July 24, and is in the midst of a two-week hiatus to allow for the move. As previously announced, the Hayes is set to undergo significant renovations beginning in August. CLICK HERE to find out how the show will make the switch!

BWW Exclusive: Moving House- How a Tony-Winning Play Switches Theatres
by Nicole Rosky - July 24, 2016

Broadway shows changing houses is not a totally uncommon thing, though it has happened just a handful of times over the past few years. In 2013, Mamma Mia! packed up at the Winter Garden to continue its run at the Broadhurst Theatre. Rock of Ages moved three blocks from the Brooks Atkinson to the Helen Hayes in 2011. Before that, such shows as The 39 Steps, August: Osage County, The Lion King, and Chicago did the same. So what exactly goes into moving from Broadway's smallest theatre to a 1093-seat house? (Hint: Despite the show's apartment-style set, it's more than just cardboard boxes and a U-Haul.) Stage Manager Billy Barnes explains:

TCG Releases Revised Edition of THE HUMANS
by Tyler Peterson - June 28, 2016

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of a revised edition of Stephen Karam's The Humans, with an updated text and a new foreword by Samuel G. Freedman. The play premiered in November 2014 at the American Theater Company in Chicago, and premiered Off Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company in October 2015. It transferred to Broadway in the winter of 2016 to massive critical acclaim. The Humans earned six nominations for the 70th Annual Tony Awards in 2016 and won four, including Best Play.

Breaking News: Tony-Winning THE HUMANS Will Move to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre to Extend Run
by Nicole Rosky - June 23, 2016

Producer Scott Rudin announced today that, on the heels of winning four Tony Awards including Best Play, The Humans will move into Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) to extend its limited run. The Humans will play its first performance in its new home on Tuesday, August 9. It will play its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Sunday, July 24, and then take a two-week hiatus to allow for the move. As previously announced, the Hayes is set to undergo significant renovations beginning in August.

Photo Coverage: THE HUMANS' Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell Unveil Sardi's Portraits!
by Jennifer Broski - June 3, 2016

The beloved Broadway tradition continues as Sardi's just added two new caricatures of Tony Award-nominees Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell to its walls. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out photos below!

BWW Tonys Special: Hangin' with the Humans of THE HUMANS- Tony Nominees Reed Birney & Jayne Houdyshell!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - June 6, 2016

Jayne Houdyshell and Reed Birney play husband and wife onstage- Erik and Deirdre Blake in Stephen Karam's The Humans. The play, which originated at the Roundabout Theatre Company last year, earned six Tony nominations, including nods for the duo (Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Featured Role in a Play). Before the big day, they checked in with BroadwayWorld to tell us all about how they're holding up!

THE HUMANS' Jayne Houdyshell Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress - Play
by Caryn Robbins - June 12, 2016

Jayne Houdyshell has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role of Deirdre Blake in Roundabout Theatre Company's THE HUMANS.

THE HUMANS Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Play
by Caryn Robbins - June 12, 2016

Roundabout Theatre Company's THE HUMANS has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play.

THE HUMANS' David Zinn Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play
by Caryn Robbins - June 12, 2016

David Zinn has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play for Roundabout Theatre Company's THE HUMANS. 

THE HUMANS' Reed Birney Wins 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role - Play
by Caryn Robbins - June 12, 2016

Reed Birney has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his role as Erik Blake in THE HUMANS.

Tony Awards Close-Up: THE HUMANS' Jayne Houdyshell & Reed Birney Find the Roles of a Lifetime
by Nicole Rosky - May 31, 2016

Jayne Houdyshell and Reed Birney play husband and wife onstage- Erik and Deirdre Blake in Stephen Karam's THE HUMANS. The play, which originated at the Roundabout Theatre Company last year, earned six Tony nominations, including nods for the duo (Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Featured Role in a Play). Check out why they couldn't be happier below!

VIDEO: Tony Nominees Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell & More Talk Broadway's THE HUMANS
by Caryn Robbins - May 6, 2016

Playwright Stephen Karam, director Joe Mantello, and two of the show's Tony-nominated stars, Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell discuss the hit Broadway production.

THEATER TALK Spotlights Tony Nominated THE HUMANS This Weekend
by BWW News Desk - May 6, 2016

The newest edition of THEATER TALK spotlights the acclaimed new American play, THE HUMANS by Stephen Karam, which has just been nominated for six Tony Awards, including one for Best Play.

THEATER TALK to Spotlight Tony Nominated THE HUMANS This Friday
by BWW News Desk - May 3, 2016

The newest edition of THEATER TALK spotlights the acclaimed new American play, THE HUMANS by Stephen Karam, which has just been nominated for six Tony Awards, including one for Best Play.

The Humans FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Humans has had 3 productions including Off-Broadway which opened in 2015, Broadway which opened in 2016 and US Tour which opened in 2017.
The Humans has been nominated for several Tony Awards. It has received nominations for Best Play, Best Direction of a Play for Joe Mantello, Best Lighting Design of a Play for Justin Townsend, and Best Scenic Design of a Play for David Zinn.
Best Play, Best Direction of a Play for Joe Mantello, Best Lighting Design of a Play for Justin Townsend, Best Scenic Design of a Play for David Zinn, .
The Humans has been nominated for several awards. These include Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Director of a Play for Joe Mantello at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play for Justin Townsend at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Sound Design in a Play for Fitz Patton at the Drama Desk Awards, Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble for The Humans at the Drama Desk Awards, Distinguished Performance Award for Reed Birney at the Drama League Awards, Distinguished Performance Award for Jayne Houdyshell at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play for Stephen Karam at the Drama League Awards, Outstanding Director of a Play for Joe Mantello at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding New Broadway Play for Stephen Karam at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Outstanding Lighting Design at The Lortels for Justin Townsend, Outstanding Scenic Design at The Lortels for David Zinn, and Outstanding Sound Design at The Lortels for Fitz Patton.
The Humans has won several awards, including Best Play at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. Joe Mantello won Outstanding Director of a Play at the Drama Desk Awards, while Justin Townsend won Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play. The Humans also won Outstanding Play at the Drama Desk Awards and received a Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble. Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell both received the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards. Stephen Karam won Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play at the Drama League Awards, and Joe Mantello won Outstanding Director of a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Stephen Karam also won Outstanding New Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. The Humans received additional recognition at The Lortels, with Justin Townsend winning Outstanding Lighting Design, David Zinn winning Outstanding Scenic Design, and Fitz Patton winning Outstanding Sound Design.

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