"The Humans" play performed at Theatre Downtown — “The Humans” play performed at Theatre Downtown (Theatre Downtown)

You won’t want to miss your chance to see this drama-filled, thrilling, Tony Award-winning play brought to life by a talented local cast.

Theatre Downtown in Birmingham will premiere “The Humans” on Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 22, 2026. The play’s Alabama premiere will be directed by Dennis McLernon, a recently-retired theater professor at UAB.

What “The Humans” is all about

Poster for "The Humans" play at Theatre Downtown — Poster for “The Humans” at Theatre Downtown (Delaine Derry Green)

“The Humans,” written by Stephen Karam, has won four Tony Awards, including for Best Play in 2016. There was a movie version released in 2021 starring Richard Jenkins and Amy Schumer. It has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The play will transport viewers to a New York City apartment in 2008, where a family’s Thanksgiving dinner is about to take a dramatic turn.

Throughout the course of the play, the Blake family’s secrets will come to light emphasized by the unsettling sounds and movement of the set.

The play is full of relatable moments of intense emotional struggles, which McLernon says drives an authentic experience for the cast and viewers alike.

“When the play hits home with the actors, as often it does, we will occasionally hear a cry of ‘Meta!’ reverberate through the rehearsal room. This phrase has laughingly become a touchstone for our dealing with something we recognize as profoundly personal in the story.

Dennis McLernon, “The Humans” director, actor + UAB Theatre Professor Emeritus

When + where you can see “The Humans”

The cast at Theatre Downtown in Birmingham is performing “The Humans” on Fridays–Sundays until November 22.

Here’s how you can catch a performance:

When: Friday, Nov. 6–Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026
- Fridays + Saturdays: 7:30PM
- Sundays: 2:30PM
Where: Theatre Downtown, 3004 4th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Cost: $30 for adults, $20 for students with valid ID
- Friday Nov. 13 + Sunday, Nov. 15 are “pay what you can” nights, showing at 7:30PM
Tickets + more details