This Will Be Our Year

by Ali MacLean

Meet Hugo. Millions of girls want him. He could have any of them. But he wants Gen.
Meet Gen. She’s not a people person. That is, until she meets a certain person. And she wants Hugo.
Hugo and Gen are perfect together, but can’t be together. Year after year they keep trying and it just might kill them.

A rocknroll tragedy by Ali MacLean
Featuring music and lyrics by Craig Finn from The Hold Steady.

Meet Hugo. Millions of girls want him. He could have any of them. But he wants Gen.
Meet Gen. She’s not a people person. That is, until she meets a certain person. And she wants Hugo.
Hugo and Gen are perfect together, but can’t be together. Year after year they keep trying and it just might kill them.

A rocknroll tragedy by Ali MacLean
Featuring music and lyrics by Craig Finn from The Hold Steady.

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This Will Be Our Year

Recommended by

  • Jennifer Berry: This Will Be Our Year by Ali MacLean
    “

    This play packs a punch, breaks your heart, and examines the cost of toxic relationships and how one survives. The characters leap off the page. Any actor would die to play parts like these.

    This play packs a punch, breaks your heart, and examines the cost of toxic relationships and how one survives. The characters leap off the page. Any actor would die to play parts like these.

    ”
  • Lauren Campedelli: This Will Be Our Year by Ali MacLean
    “

    This tragic story of a toxic relationship is compelling and really broke my heart. Two smart, creative, witty, charming, passionate creatures fall "hopelessly" for each other—though I hopefully rooted for them throughout. Gen and Hugo come together again and again; their love does not wane, but the toxicity of their relationship deepens, the pain grows, hope turns to despair. Addiction—to substances, love, destructive habits, toxic people—forms the devastating underbelly of "This Will Be Our Year." The dialogue explodes off the page with wit and depth, exposing the vulnerability and longing in...

    This tragic story of a toxic relationship is compelling and really broke my heart. Two smart, creative, witty, charming, passionate creatures fall "hopelessly" for each other—though I hopefully rooted for them throughout. Gen and Hugo come together again and again; their love does not wane, but the toxicity of their relationship deepens, the pain grows, hope turns to despair. Addiction—to substances, love, destructive habits, toxic people—forms the devastating underbelly of "This Will Be Our Year." The dialogue explodes off the page with wit and depth, exposing the vulnerability and longing in all the characters.

    read more
    ”
  • Peppur Chambers: This Will Be Our Year by Ali MacLean
    “

    I recently experienced "This Will Be Our Year" via a Zoom reading and it really is an 'experience'. The dialogue is fast and keeps you captivated with it's quick-witted allure. Yet, the toxicity of this relationship is so palpable you just want to turn away from it...while also wanting to know what happens next. This push and pull creates a beautiful rollercoaster ride of emotions, of which Ali expertly maneuvers.

    I recently experienced "This Will Be Our Year" via a Zoom reading and it really is an 'experience'. The dialogue is fast and keeps you captivated with it's quick-witted allure. Yet, the toxicity of this relationship is so palpable you just want to turn away from it...while also wanting to know what happens next. This push and pull creates a beautiful rollercoaster ride of emotions, of which Ali expertly maneuvers.

    ”
View all 14 recommendations

Character Information

GEN – LEAD - 30s – Female - A New Yorker. A struggling jewelry designer. Introverted but funny. Hides her shyness with liquid courage. Has had a string of bad boyfriends. In love with Hugo and really wants to believe that Hugo is the one.

HUGO – LEAD - 30s – Male - A reluctant British rock star on the rise who becomes internationally known during the course of the play. Self-destructive. Outwardly rakish. Inwardly depressed. Super charming. Drinks a lot. Falls in love with Gen, though he is already married.

SHANNON –SUPPORTING - 30s-40s – Female - Gen’s friend. A no-nonsense, high-powered music attorney who doesn't take anyone's shit. Shannon is married to Hugo’s manager, Dave, and is the alpha in the relationship.

DAVE –CO-STAR– 30s-40s - Male Seemingly upbeat, yet harried manager of Hugo's band. Used to putting out many fires caused by Hugo's irresponsibility and black moods. He is married to Shannon.

ANDRE – SUPPORTING - 40s – Male - A New York scenester who deals drugs. An unsavory character. Violent. Don't ever laugh at him.

JANE – SUPPORTING - 30s - Female
British - Hugo's wife.

KEVIN - SUPPORTING – 40s – Male – The producer of Hugo’s music video and Gen’s boss. A bit of a misogynist prick.




Shannon/Jane, Dave/Andre/Kevin can be doubled up.
  • GEN
    A New Yorker. Struggling jewelry designer. Introverted but funny. Hides her shyness with liquid courage. Has had a string of bad boyfriends. Really wants to believe that Hugo is the one.
    30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • HUGO
    A reluctant British rock star on the rise who becomes internationally known during the course of the play. Self-destructive. Outwardly rakish. Inwardly depressed. Super charming. Drinks a lot. Falls in love with Gen, though he is already married.
    30s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • SHANNON
    A no-nonsense, high powered music attorney who doesn't take anyone's shit. Shannon is married to Dave and is the alpha in the relationship.
    30s-40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
  • DAVE
    Seemingly upbeat, yet harried manager of Hugo's band. Used to putting out many fires caused by Hugo's irresponsibility and black moods. He is married to Shannon.
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • ANDRE
    A New York scenester who deals drugs. An unsavory character. Violent. Don't ever laugh at him.
    30s-40s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • JANE
    British - Hugo's wife. (not seen on stage)
    30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Residency, Citadel of Playwrights, 2022
  • Reading, Ensemble Studio Theatre Winterfest Festival, 2020

Production History

  • Workshop, She NYC Arts Festival, 2021
  • Workshop, She NYC Arts, 2020

Awards

  • She NYC Arts Summer Theatre Festival
    She NYC Arts
    Selection
    2020
  • She NYC Arts Summer Theatre Festival
    She NYC Arts
    Semi-Finalist
    2020