A family drama horror play in the vein of August: Osage County and Hereditary. Is family forever? In this horror/thriller, a recently widowed New Yorker and her son return to rural Missouri to evict their estranged family from their childhood home. Discovering the house in disrepair and the inhabitants experimenting with occult magic, the family is forced to exorcise demons from their past. This play explores themes of loss, family trauma, and if we can ever truly escape our family history.

Written and directed by Ryan Bernsten

Setting:  Yancy Mills, Missouri.  Present day.

Please note We Are Blood will be in one act without intermission. Total run time, approximately 90 minutes.

Special Industry Night, Monday, November 20th. Simply purchase a regular adult ticket online and enter code “INDUSTRY” at checkout to get your ticket at half the regular price ticket for Monday's performance.

There's something about horror that's felt very accessible lately. The past few months and years have been filled with a kind of dread. Feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and isolation. The kind of horror I find particularly compelling is built on real human emotion rather than slashers and monsters – it turns those darker sides of our psyche up to an eleven and gives us permission to be afraid of them. This moment felt particularly right to do this play; Thanksgiving is coming and, for many families, things are not alright at home. The trouble in our country is made up of trouble in states, cities, communities... and families. I wanted to write a play about a family that is forced to reckon with all the things we’re not supposed to talk about – who was who's favorite, who owes whom money, religion, sex, and death. I wanted to put all of that in a pressure cooker and force a family to face all that goes unsaid – all the pain that lies beneath the surface – to summon it, reckon with it, speak the same language and facts and perhaps transform into something new.

There are too few opportunities for new work in Kansas City, a city of some of the most talented artists I’ve ever worked with. It means so much that OCTA would put the faith in this play and open up the conversation with the community. After all, plays just should be the jumping off point. Conversation and community is always the goal. I hope to continue to develop new plays – and even film adaptations – here in Kansas City and build a bridge to showcase the amazing talent here and share these stories on an even wider scale.

Ryan Bernsten, Playwright and Director

About Olathe Civic Theatre Association:

Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) is an all-volunteer 501c3 organization producing theatre in Olathe since 1974. Performing in the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse, OCTA produces five high-quality, engaging, and thought-provoking theatre productions a year.

Through the generosity of volunteers, season ticket holders, donors, city, and community, in addition to a dedicated Board of Directors, OCTA has grown into one of the most progressive community theaters in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Olathe Civic Theatre is located at:
500 E. Loula
Olathe, KS 66061

Private parking is available in the OCTA lot. Street parking is also available. Accessible seating and assistance is available. 

A variety of light concessions are available for a cash or credit card donation and may be taken into the theatre.