We Live Here

By Zoe Kazan

Originally produced at Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY.

September 22, 2011 through October 30, 2011

About the Premiere Production

Allie Bateman’s wedding is Sunday. When Dinah, her precocious younger sister, returns to their parents’ home for the festivities, she brings more than anyone expected: a new boyfriend, whose hidden history resurrects passions and painful memories for the whole family. Over one emotionally charged weekend, The Batemans must acknowledge and accept loss to gain hope for regeneration. Zoe Kazan, one of New York’s most acclaimed young actors, returns to MTC for her New York playwriting debut with this world-premiere, MTC-commissioned play — an incisive and beautifully rendered portrait of a contemporary family coming together through grief and celebration.

Artistic Statement

"MTC’s comprehensive approach to supporting contemporary playwrights attracts the best and brightest working in the industry. Over the past four years we have been building a successful relationship with writer and actress Zoe Kazan. The world premiere production of We Live Here during our 2011-2012 season will be her first play commissioned and produced by MTC, and will mark her New York playwriting debut. It is also her second collaboration with MTC since her Broadway debut as an actress in the company’s 2008 production of Come Back, Little Sheba. Ms. Kazan is an ambitious young writer, tackling challenging subjects in her work such as mental illness, suicide, responsibility, blame, guilt, fidelity and love. Her storytelling is at once traditional and original, with compelling characters, realistic dialogue, and captivating circumstances. With We Live Here, Ms. Kazan shows her talent for writing original characters and stories in traditional frames that continue in the vein of great American playwriting from Tennessee Williams (a collaborator of her grandfather, Elia Kazan) to Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County. We Live Here is a penetrating family drama with naturalistic dialogue and nuanced characters. The play echoes the tone and structure of classic great plays, but Ms. Kazan’s voice is ever-present and original. We are excited to present Ms. Kazan’s fresh new voice, one particularly adept at creating exciting, balanced female characters, and look forward to seeing the play find its place in the American repertoire."

Grant Statement

"MTC is proud to once again partner with the Edgerton Foundation to bring new American Plays to the stage. Our previous collaboration, David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People, enjoyed much success, winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and becoming the most honored new American play of the 2010-2011 season with numerous Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominations. We are excited about Zoe Kazan’s We Live Here and we are honored to have the support of the Edgerton Foundation for the world premiere of this important new work. This grant will allow for much needed additional rehearsal time, giving Ms. Kazan, director Sam Gold, the cast and other members of the creative team more time to refine and ready the play for its premiere audience. We feel incredibly fortunate to have been chosen, once again, for this prestigious award. "

Additional Funders: Commissioned through Bank of America

News

Oscar Isaac, Betty Gilpin & Jeffrey Shamos Join Zoe Kazan's We Live Here at MTC

Broadway.com

August 4, 2011