We Are Blood by Ryan Bernsten

Is family forever? In this horror/thriller, a recently widowed New Yorker and her son return to rural Missouri to evict her estranged sister 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.

Development/Award History:
ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition (Finalist, 2023)...
Is family forever? In this horror/thriller, a recently widowed New Yorker and her son return to rural Missouri to evict her estranged sister 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.

Development/Award History:
ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition (Finalist, 2023)
Jewish Theatre Project Play Competition (Semifinalist, 2023)
Olathe Civic Theatre Association (Spotlight Series Production, 2023)
Angels Theatre Company (Reading, 2023)
CoverFly RedList (#1 Horror Stage Play, 2022)
Ashland New Play Festival (Semifinalist, 2022)
Kansas City Public Theatre (Theatre Lab, 2021)
Northwestern University (Faculty Reading, 2020)
Austin Film Festival (Semifinalist, 2020)
Rave Theatre Festival (Finalist, 2020)
Kansas City Script Circle (2020)
University of Oxford (Workshop, 2019)

With original dramaturgy by Hunter Nelson.
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We Are Blood

Recommended by

  • Angels Theatre Company:
    1 Oct. 2023
    “ 2023-24 Salon Reading Series selection (October)

    Bernsten's "We Are Blood" delivers what we want to see in a well-wrought drama–a play that is more than the sum of its parts and provides insight into this condition of being human. This is a family struggling to move forward while they also struggle to (re)connect with one another outside of their differences. Reunions are not always welcome, nor mutual. But they can bring insight and provide us with a new perspective that leads to a new choice to be made. Well-paced and well made, this play will frighten and delight.
    ”
  • Mike Rice:
    2 Dec. 2021
    “ Ryan Bernsten's "We Are Blood" is a frightening and engaging tale of a dysfunctional family with dark secrets. The characters are fleshed out and compelling. The conflict is compelling. And the ending satisfies. I too look forward to seeing this play getting staged. ”
  • Jessie Salsbury:
    3 Oct. 2021
    “ Had the privilege of watching this as part of KC PUBLIC’S theatre lab series. The audience was engaged and holding their breath in the final scenes. Ryan is an exceptional story teller and I look forward to a fully realized production of this glorious play. There is a lot for actors and technicians to mine in this script for inspiration. ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

The actress playing Nance may also play Gran.

  • Kathleen
    40s-50s
    a widow. a socialite. a skeptic.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Raymond
    20s
    a graduate. a disappointment. a desperate believer.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Nance
    40s-50s
    a zealot. a freethinker. a host.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Lydia
    20s
    20s, a daughter. a harlot. a conjurer.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gran
    50s-80s
    a secret
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Kansas City Public Theatre
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    Northwestern University
    ,
    2020
  • Workshop
    ,
    University of Oxford
    ,
    2019

Production History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Olathe Civic Theatre Association
    ,
    2023

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Semi-Finalist
,
Ashland New Plays Festival
,
2022
Finalist
,
Rave Theatre Festival
,
2020
Semi-Finalist
,
Corkscrew Theatre Festival
,
2020
Semi-Finalist
,
Austin Film Festival Second Rounder
,
2020