Stephem Karam’s Tony Award-winning family drama The Humans, which played its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre July 24 and resumed performances August 9 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, has recouped its entire initial investment of $3.8 million, according to Deadline.com.
Producer Scott Rudin told the industry website that recoupment, which included the $600,000 price tag to move theatres, occurred during the week ending September 4.
As previously reported, the hit play will end its run at the Schoenfeld January 15, 2017; that news followed the recent announcement that the new musical Come From Away will begin previews at that Broadway venue February 18.
Whether the production will reopen at another theatre has yet to be announced. A spokesperson told Playbill.com September 15, "The Humans will continue at the Schoenfeld through January 15. This is a play that has had wildly successful runs at three different New York theatres over the past year. We'll see what happens next.”
The Humans debuted Off-Broadway October 25, 2015, at Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre. It swiftly transferred to Broadway in January and opened to critical acclaim in February. Rudin is lead producer on the production.
The play marks Karam’s Broadway debut. It won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. In addition, cast members Jayne Houdyshell and Reed Birney both earned Tonys for their performances. It also won for Best Scenic Design (David Zinn).
“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,” Rudin said in an earlier statement. “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."
Helmed by Tony winner Joe Mantello, the ensemble cast features Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren Klein, Arian Moayed and Sarah Steele, who were all featured in the acclaimed Off-Broadway staging.
Read More: The Ties That Bond: How The Women Of The Humans Became Family
It is Karam's second commission from Roundabout following Sons of the Prophet (2012 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, 2012 Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel and Hull-Warriner Awards for Best Play; inaugural Sam Norkin Drama Desk Award). Roundabout also produced his 2007 playwriting debut, Speech & Debate, which also starred Steele.
In The Humans, according to production notes, "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."
The creative team includes Zinn (sets), Sarah Laux (costumes), Justin Townsend (lighting) and Fitz Patton (sound).
The Humans is produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Barry Diller, Roundabout Theatre Company, Fox Theatricals, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Roy Furman, Daryl Roth, Jon B. Platt, Eli Bush, Broadway Across America, Jack Lane, Barbara Whitman, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman, Amanda Lipitz, Peter May, Stephanie P. McClelland, Lauren Stein, and The Shubert Organization. Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson serve as executive producers.
Tickets can be purchased via Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.
