The Humans find a new home on Broadway

The four-time Tony Award-winning production of Stephen Karam's play The Humans, directed by Joe Mantello, will transfer to a new Broadway home. It will play its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 24 July 2016, before taking a 2-week hiatus and re-opening at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 9 August 2016. The Helen Hayes Theatre will then undergo major renovation work from August.

Producer Scott Rudin released the following statement:

"Few success stories I have ever been a part of have been as sweet as the story thus far of Stephen Karam's beautiful play. Every aspect of its life has been charmed, in the way that great work sometimes has the ability to create its own narrative. What has made the venture work with such seeming ease has been, in fact, the extraordinary amount of care and commitment given to it by Joe Mantello and its tremendous acting company. For Barry Diller and myself, this entire process has been a joy, including and especially the generosity extended to us by Phil Smith and Bob Wankel in finding us a new and perfect home for The Humans just one block north of the Helen Hayes."

Previously, the NY premiere of The Humans began played off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre from 25 October 2015 through to 3 January 2016.

Synopsis: "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 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."

The complete cast of The Humans includes Cassie Beck (Aimee), Tony winner Reed Birney (Erik), Tony winner Jayne Houdyshell (Deirdre), Lauren Klein (Fiona 'Momo' Blake), Arian Moayed (Richard), and Sarah Steele (Brigid).

The Humans features scenic design by David Zinn, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Fitz Patton. It will be produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin and Barry Diller, alongside the Roundabout Theatre Company.

This marks playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam's second commission by The Roundabout Theatre Company, as part of their New Play Initiative. His first commission came in the form of his 2011 offering 'Sons of the Prophet'. His 2007 play 'Speech & Debate' also featured as the inaugural production of the Roundabout Underground program. This Broadway production marks Karam's Broadway debut.

The Humans picked up a total of four Tony Awards at this year's ceremony, including Best Play, Best Featured Actress in a Play (Jayne Houdyshell), Best Featured Actor in a Play (Reed Birney), and Best Scenic Design of a Play (David Zinn).

- by Tom Millward