Malvern Theatre Co. Inc.
Author: Stephen Karam
Director: Nicky Neville-Jones
Genre: Drama
Agent: By special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection
Synopsis
The Humans is a poignant, award-winning drama (Tony Awards, Best Play) that, with humour and compassion explores the tensions and bonds in family life today. In Brigid’s run-down New York apartment, with bad wi-fi and strange noises upstairs, the Blake family comes together to celebrate Thanksgiving, bringing with them their anxieties, fears, and hidden struggles. But as they cook and eat, bicker and joke, darkness begins to fall and long buried tensions and secrets start to emerge. Plus, the strange noises upstairs may not be as innocent as they thought!
The Humans is warm, funny, uplifting and unsettling. Malvern Theatre Company is proud to present the Victorian premiere of this modern masterpiece, dubbed “Kind, rich and beautiful” (Chicago Tribune).
Characters
Acting Roles:
Erik Blake: The 60 year old father of the Blake family. He is an active Catholic. He lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Deirdre. Erik has worked maintenance and as an equipment manager at a private Catholic school for the last 28 years, where his daughters also attended school. He and Deirdre have been caring for his mother, Momo, who is suffering from dementia.
This is open to all ethnicities.
Main role.
Genders: Male
Ages: 55-65
Deidre Blake: Erik’s 61 year old wife. She lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania with Erik, where they care for Erik’s mother, Momo. Deirdre, like Erik, is a devout Catholic and wishes her daughters followed suit. She has worked as an office manager in the same office for over 40 years.
This is open to all ethnicities.
Main role.
Genders: Female
Ages: 55-65
Aimee Blake: The daughter of Erik and Deirdre. Amiee is having a hard year: she is going through a breakdown of a relationship with her partner, Carol; she works as a lawyer in a law firm that has recently informed her she is no longer on the partner track (meaning she should look for other employment); and she has developed health issues.
This is open to all ethnicities.
Main role.
Genders: Female
Ages: 30-40
Brigid Blake: The other daughter of Erik and Deirdre. Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, she moved to New York to go to school. She just moved into a new apartment (with a loud upstairs neighbour and an interior courtyard full of cigarette butts) in Chinatown with her boyfriend, Richard. In this new apartment, she and Richard are hosting Thanksgiving for her family (the setting of the play).
This is open to all ethnicities.
Main role.
Genders: Female
Ages: 20-30
Fiona “Momo” Blake: Elderly mother of Erik. She lives with Erik and Deirdre, who are her caretakers, because she has dementia. She is not lucid very often and frequently mumbles under her breath. Before her illness, she was headstrong and independent.
This is open to all ethnicities.
Supporting role.
Genders: Female
Ages: 65+
Richard Saad: 38 year old boyfriend of Brigid. Comes from money, but will not be able to access his trust until he is 40. In school to get his masters in social work.
This is open to all ethnicities.
Main role.
Genders: Male
Ages: 30-40
Precast Characters:
Nil
Audition Venue & Dates
Audition Dates and Times:
7:00pm on:
- Sun 13th Apr 2025
- Mon 14th Apr 2025
Audition Venue Name: Malvern Theatre
Audition Venue Address:
29 Burke Rd, Malvern East, VIC, 3145
Audition Enquiries Contact: Nicky Neville-Jones | nicky.neville-jones@bottledsnail.com
Performances
Season Dates: 22 Aug 2025 - 6 Sep 2025
Showtimes:
2:00pm on:
- Sun 24th Aug 2025
- Sun 31st Aug 2025
- Sat 6th Sep 2025
8:00pm on:
- Fri 22nd Aug 2025
- Sat 23rd Aug 2025
- Wed 27th Aug 2025
- Thu 28th Aug 2025
- Fri 29th Aug 2025
- Sat 30th Aug 2025
- Wed 3rd Sep 2025
- Thu 4th Sep 2025
- Fri 5th Sep 2025
- Sat 6th Sep 2025
More info
Other Information
Other Information:
Auditions are strictly by appointment as arranged by the Director. They will be ‘closed auditions’ in 15 minute segments. A copy of the script will be provided, together with a list of the sections to be read at the audition. It is expected that auditionees will have read the play and have a reasonable understanding of it.
Successful cast members MUST BE available for rehearsals on Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons/ evenings (to be determined) between the beginning of July and 21 August 2025 as well as all production dates.
Please check you are available for all performance dates before booking your audition time. Please also inform the Director at your audition, if there is a possibility of you taking on professional acting work that may conflict with rehearsal and performance dates.
You will be required to submit an online audition form with a headshot, prior to the audition, which will be sent out via email.
If you are successful, you will be required to become a member of the Malvern Theatre Company, if you are not already and abide by our Association Rules & Policies.
