THE HUNTINGTON ANNOUNCES THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM OF JOSHUA HARMON’S INTIMATE FAMILY STORY WE HAD A WORLD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Gabrielle Jaques, Associate Director of Publicity
617-273-1520
PHOTOS available for download here
Members of the press, RSVP here
THE HUNTINGTON ANNOUNCES THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM OF JOSHUA HARMON’S INTIMATE FAMILY STORY WE HAD A WORLD
This fresh and heartfelt script from acclaimed playwright Joshua Harmon takes the stage at the Calderwood Pavilion this February 2026
(BOSTON) – The Huntington announces the cast and creative team of We Had a World, a sharp, funny, and deeply personal new story by Joshua Harmon (Prayer for the French Republic, Bad Jews) and directed by Keira Fromm. We Had a World runs at The Huntington from Thursday, February 12 – Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02116).
In We Had a World, a dying woman calls her grandson and asks him to write a play about their family. “But I want you to promise me something,” she says. “Make it as bitter and vitriolic as possible.” In this searing, funny, and deeply personal play, the author of Prayer for the French Republic recreates thirty years of family fights, monstrous behavior, enduring love, and unexpected dishes of home-cooked spaetzle.
The production marks a return to The Huntington for Joshua Harmon, following the success of his play Prayer for the French Republic, which was produced at The Huntington in 2023 and acclaimed by audiences and critics alike; Prayer was subsequently produced on Broadway and nominated for the 2024 Tony Award for Best Play.
“We didn’t want to go another season without a play from our brilliant friend, the playwright Joshua Harmon (Prayer for the French Republic), and it’s our absolute pleasure to produce Josh’s latest, We Had a World – a deeply personal, hilarious, and complicated 30-year slice of his family’s history,” says Huntington Artistic Director Loretta Greco. “For me, it’s a roller coaster ride seen through the voracious appetite of young Joshua, full of laughter, lokshen, truly awful behavior, and enduring love – in other words, it’s just like family! I laughed while I cried throughout the entire thing. You are going to love it.”
“Josh Harmon’s plays always have a profoundly moving effect on me and resonate on a deep cellular level. I see myself in the worlds and characters he creates,” says director Keira Fromm. “He has that rare ability to craft stories that are both incredibly personal and also speak so universally. I am especially taken by We Had a World, a play about the complexity of family life, and the tremendous humor and heartache that comes along with it. In this play, Josh gives us three indelible characters who are messy imperfect people trying their best to understand one another. The play fills me with such love and nostalgia for my own family, and I hope The Huntington audiences will share that experience too. I’m so excited to bring this beautiful play to Boston this winter.”
Called “wildly funny” and “a masterwork” by New York Stage Review and “extremely moving” by Theater Mania, We Had a World premiered Off Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club on in February of 2025. The New York Times hailed it as “Wonderfully textured… a poignant story of family dynamics.” This new, semi-autobiographical story from Harmon promises to resonate as powerfully as his other works, showcasing the power of art to both record and repair.
“When Loretta [Greco] produced the West Coast premiere of Bad Jews, she said she wasn’t just interested in a single play, but in supporting writers over the course of their careers, and she has more than lived up to that commitment,” says playwright Joshua Harmon. “This is the third play of mine she’s producing, in addition to many years of support and development opportunities. I am thrilled We Had a World will start its own journey out in the world at a theatre I so admire, led by one of my favorite people on the planet.”
The cast of We Had a World includes:
Amy Resnick as Renee, Joshua’s grandmother and Ellen’s mother. Credits include: Prayer for the French Republic at The Huntington, Death of Frank and I Think I Like Girls Off Broadway, and the national tour of The Laramie Project.
Eva Kaminsky as Ellen, Joshua’s mother. Credits include: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Lyons on Broadway, Romeo and Juliet at Hartford Stage, and Elsbeth on CBS.
Will Conard as Joshua, son and grandson. Credits include: Rules for Living at Round House Theatre and the film Lapsis.
Understudies include: Jack Greenberg and Joanna Strapp.
The creative team for We Had a World includes scenic design by Courtney O’Neill (Circus Quixote at Lookingglass Theatre), costume design by Izumi Inaba (How to Defend Yourself at New York Theatre Workshop), lighting design by Tyler Micoleau (God Of Carnage at The Huntington), sound design and original music by Melanie Chen Cole (Witch at The Huntington), and wig, hair, and makeup design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt (John Proctor is the Villain at The Huntington). The voice and dialect coach is Lee Nishri-Howitt. The production stage manager is Emily F. McMullen and the stage manager is Ashley Pitchford. NY Casting is by Janet Foster.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Joshua Harmon (Playwright) The Huntington: Prayer for the French Republic. Joshua Harmon’s plays include Bad Jews, Significant Other, Admissions, Skintight, and Prayer for the French Republic. He and Sarah Silverman co-wrote the libretto for The Bedwetter based on her memoir. His plays have been produced on Broadway and the West End; off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theater Club and Atlantic Theater Company; across the country at Geffen Playhouse, Speakeasy, Studio Theatre, Theater Wit, About Face, Actor’s Express, and The Magic, among others; and internationally in a dozen countries. He is a two-time MacDowell fellow and an Associate Artist at Roundabout. Graduate of Juilliard.
Keira Fromm (Director) is a Chicago-based, Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated freelance director. She is an artistic associate at About Face Theatre, where she’s directed the Chicago premieres of The Brightest Thing in the World, Bull in a China Shop, Significant Other, Bright Half Life, and A Kid Like Jake. Other favorite directing credits include: The Liar, The Moors, and A Doll’s House (American Players Theatre); Mary’s Wedding (Peninsula Players Theatre); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); The Last Match (Writers Theatre); Top Girls, hang (Remy Bumppo); and The How and the Why (TimeLine Theatre). Education: Boston University and DePaul University. She is a Lincoln Center Directors Lab alum and a member of SDC, the professional directors union. Upcoming directing projects: the Chicago premiere of Octet at Raven Theatre, and Witch at American Players Theatre. keirafromm.com
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR WE HAD A WORLD
WHEN
Performances: February 12 – March 15, 2026
Evenings: Tues – Thurs at 7pm; Fri and Sat at 7:30pm
Matinees: Select Wed, Sat, and Sun at 2pm
Days and times vary; see complete schedule above.
Press Opening: Wednesday, February 18 at 7pm (RSVP here)
WHERE
Calderwood Pavilion
527 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
TICKETS
Tickets start at $29. Season ticket packages and FlexPasses are also now on sale:
- online at huntingtontheatre.org
- by phone at 617-266-0800;
- or in person at the Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave) or Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street)
Select discounts apply:
- $25 student tickets (valid ID required)
- $30 military tickets (valid ID required)
- $40 “HYPE” tickets (Huntington Young Patron Events) for patrons 40 years-old and younger (valid ID required)
- Limited number of Pay-What-You-Wish tickets (not available online, please call or visit the box office to inquire using the contact info above)
The Huntington asks that any patron experiencing illness stay home and contact ticketing services for more information about exchanges.
ACCESS PERFORMANCES FOR WE HAD A WORLD
Tickets are $20 for each patron and their guests. To reserve tickets please email access@huntingtontheatre.org, call ticketing services at 617-266-0800, or visit in person at the Huntington Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston or the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St, Boston.
Accessible performances are supported in part by the Liberty Mutual Foundation.
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE: Saturday, March 7 at 2pm. The Huntington offers audio description for patrons who are blind or low-vision at designated performances. Please visit huntingtontheatre.org/visit/accessibility for information.
OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE: Tuesday, March 10 at 7pm. The Huntington offers open captioning at designated performances for any patron who benefits from having the text of spoken dialogue visible in time with the play.
ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE: Friday, March 13 at 7:30pm. The Huntington offers American Sign Language interpretation at designated performances for patrons who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Large Print and Braille Programs will also be available for patrons at performances.
WE HAD A WORLD SPECIAL EVENTS
“Stage & Screen” Auntie Mame (1958) at Coolidge Corner: Monday, February 9 at 7pm
The Huntington and Coolidge Corner continue their “Stage & Screen” collaboration with an event on Monday, February 9 at Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA. After a 7pm showing of the 1958 musical hit movie based on Patrick Dennis’ novel about a larger-than-life aunt (Rosalind Russell) raising her young nephew, guests connected The Huntington’s production of We Had a World will host a post-screening discussion.
Tickets to the Stage & Screen film and post-screening discussion can be purchased here: coolidge.org/programs/stage-screen
Actors Forum: Thursday, February 26 at 7pm
The Huntington hosts a moderated, post-show discussion with members of the cast after the 7pm performance on Thursday, February 26 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Hear actors from We Had a World reflect on their roles and nuances of each character.
Student Matinee performance: Friday, February 27 at 10am
The Huntington Education Department hosts a student matinee of We Had a World on Friday, February 27 at 10am at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Student tickets are $20 each, chaperones attend at no cost, and one chaperone is required for every 15 students.
To reserve your school group and learn more information, please email Manager of Education Operations Bec Lowe at education@huntingtontheatre.org.
Humanities Forum: Sunday, March 1 at 2pm
The Huntington hosts a post-show discussion after the 2pm matinee performance on Sunday, March 1 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St).
Student Matinee performance: Thursday, March 5 at 10am
The Huntington Education Department hosts a student matinee of We Had a World on Thursday, March 5 at 10am at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Student tickets are $20 each, chaperones attend at no cost, and one chaperone is required for every 15 students.
To reserve your school group and learn more information, please email Manager of Education Operations Bec Lowe at education@huntingtontheatre.org.
Actors Forum: Wednesday, March 11 at 2pm
The Huntington hosts a moderated, post-show discussion with members of the cast after the 2pm matinee performance on Wednesday, March 11 at the Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont St). Hear actors from We Had a World reflect on their roles and nuances of each character.
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
Any members of the media who are interested in speaking with the artists of We Had a World, please contact Associate Director of Publicity Gabrielle Jaques at gjaques@huntingtontheatre.org or 617-273-1520.
Press night for critics is Wednesday, February 18 at 7pm. Please RSVP here for press night or other available performances.
Production photos will be available for download online, and b-roll footage can be requested.
PHOTOS available for download here
ABOUT THE HUNTINGTON
Celebrating over 40 years of outstanding theatre, The Huntington is Boston’s leading professional theatre company. On our stages and throughout our city, we share enduring and untold stories that spark the imagination of audiences and artists and amplify the wide range of voices in our community.
Under the leadership of Norma Jean Calderwood Artistic Director Loretta Greco and Executive Director Christopher Mannelli, The Huntington is committed to welcoming broad and diverse audiences, provides life-changing opportunities for students through its robust education and community programs, is a national leader in the development of playwrights and new plays, and serves the local arts community through our operation of The Huntington Calderwood/BCA.
The Huntington reopened the historic Huntington Theatre in fall of 2022 after its transformational renovation, and is currently in phase two of the project; the renovation and building project of this storied venue with a bold vision for the future will allow us to innovatively expand our services to audiences, artists, and the community for generations to come. For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.
# # #