The Humans

The Humans
is copyright © 2015 by Stephen Karam

The Humans
is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc.,

520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the author's representative: John Buzzetti, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, (212) 903-1166.

Epigraphs:
Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill was first published by the Ralston Society in 1937; Penguin, New York, 2005.
The Uncanny
by Sigmund Freud was first published in
Imago
, Bd. V., 1919;
The Uncanny
, Penguin, New York, 2003. “Dance of Death” by Federico García Lorca, published in
Poet in New York
, Grove Press, New York, 2008.

The publication of
The Humans
by Stephen Karam, through TCG's Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Karam, Stephen.

The humans / Stephen Karam.—First edition.

pages; cm

ISBN 978-1-55936-835-3 (ebook)

1. Families—New York—Drama. 2. Interpersonal relations—Drama.

3. Domestic drama. I. Title.

PS3611.A72H86
   
2015

812'.6—dc23
   
2015032787

Book design and composition by Lisa Govan

Cover design by Mark Melnick

Cover photographs: Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images (statue);

Carlos Casariego/Getty Images (New York skyline)

First Edition, October 2015

PRODUCTION HISTORY
PRODUCTION HISTORY

The Humans
was commissioned by the Roundabout Theatre Company and received its world premiere on November 18, 2014, at the American Theater Company (PJ Paparelli, Artistic Director) in Chicago. It was directed by PJ Paparelli; the set design was by David Ferguson, the costume design was by Brittany Dee Bodley, the lighting design was by Brian Hoehne, the sound design was by Patrick Bley; the production stage manager was Amanda J. Davis, the production manager was Markie Gray and the assistant stage manager was Abigail Medrano. The cast was:

The Humans
received its New York premiere at the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Managing Director; Julia C. Levy, Executive Director) on October 26, 2015. It was directed by Joe Mantello; the set design was by David Zinn, the costume design was by Sarah Lau, the lighting design was by Justin Townsend, the sound design was by Fitz Patton; the artistic consultant was Robyn Goodman, the literary manager was Jill Rafson and the production stage manager was William Barnes. The cast was:

This script went to print as rehearsals for the New York production were underway. Any revisions to the script made during rehearsal will be reflected in later editions.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE
DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ERIK BLAKE
, sixty

DEIRDRE BLAKE
, Erik's wife, sixty-one

AIMEE BLAKE
, their daughter, thirty-four

BRIGID BLAKE
, their daughter, twenty-six

“
MOMO
”
BLAKE
, Erik's mother, seventy-nine

RICHARD SAAD
, Brigid's boyfriend, thirty-eight

NOTES

1.
   
A slash ( / ) means the character with the next line of dialogue begins their speech.

2.
   
Dialogue in brackets [ ] is expressed nonverbally.

3.
   
The Humans
takes place in one real-time scene—on a two-level, four-room set—with no blackouts. Life continues in all spaces at all times. While this is difficult to render on the page, the noting of “
UPSTAIRS
” v. “
DOWNSTAIRS
” is a reminder of the exposed “dollhouse” view the audience has at all times. Throughout the journey, the audience's focus may wander into whichever room it chooses.