Photo Flash: First Look at THE HUMANS at Geva Theatre Center

Geva Theatre Center presents The Humans, by Stephen Karam and directed by Mark Cuddy, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from February 19 through March 17.

Three generations of the Blake family from Scranton, PA gather for Thanksgiving in a tiny NYC apartment. Over toasts, turkey and tough love, family hopes and myths are shared and shattered. This funny and heart-tugging play was hailed on Broadway two seasons ago.

In addition to The Humans, Stephen Karam's plays include Sons Of The Prophet (Drama Critics' Circle Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist), and Speech & Debate. His adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard premiered on Broadway as part of Roundabout's 2016 season; his film adaptation of The Seagull starring Annette Bening premiered in 2018. Recent honors include two Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Lucille Lortel Award, a Drama League Award, and a Hull-Warriner Award. Stephen is a graduate of Brown University and grew up in Scranton, PA.

The Humans had its world premiere at the American Theatre Company in Chicago in 2014. The Off-Broadway production opened in 2015 and it transferred to Broadway in 2016. The Off-Broadway production won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and an Obie Award for Playwriting. The Broadway production was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize and was the winner of four Tony Awards (including Best New Play), the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play.

This production of The Humans is a co-production with Syracuse Stage where it will run from April 24 to May 12

The ensemble cast is a blend of Geva favorites and actors making their Geva debuts. Toni diBuono (Broadway productions of The Boys from Syracuse; Wonderful Town; and Off-Broadway's Forbidden Broadway, for which she received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards) returns to Geva where she has appeared in Miracle on South Division Street and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Ms. DiBuono appears as Dierdre Blake. Skip Greer (Geva productions of To Kill a Mockingbird, Clybourne Park, You Can't Take it With You and Superior Donuts) is Erik Blake. Madeleine Lambert (How I Learned to Drive at Cleveland Play House and TV's "Empire" and "Chicago PD") returns to Geva as Aimee Blake following her portrayal of Susan B. Anthony in last season's world premiere of The Agitators; and, as "Momo" Blake, Susanne Marley (Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of The Humans, and the Broadway production of August: Osage County) returns to Geva where she appeared in Stepping Out in 1987. Making their Geva Theatre Center debuts are Thamer Jendoubi (New York productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Prophet, Haram! and A Lonely Night in Coney Island) as Richard Saad; and Regan Moro (Off-Broadway's Circle of Friends and American Girls Revue) as Brigid Blake.

The Humans is directed by Mark Cuddy. The creative team includes Tim Mackabee (scenic design), Christina Selian (costume design), Josh Epstein (lighting design), Danny Erdberg (sound design), Becca Poccia Hays (Dramaturg), Jenn Lyons (Stage Manager) and Aubrey Sirtautas (Assistant Stage Manager).

The 2018-2019 Season is sponsored by ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Regional Health. The Honorary Season Producer is Dr. Dawn Lipson. The Humans is produced with support from Co-Producer Tasteful Connections; Associate Producer Chase; and Media Sponsor WXXI.

The Humans begins previews on February 19, opens February 23 and runs through March 17.

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