Are You Now or Have You Ever Been

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About the Show

Artists face political pressure during the HUAC hearings of the 1940s.

Based entirely on original transcripts, Eric Bentley’s docudrama recreates the House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings of the 1940s, when artists, writers, and performers were called to testify about alleged political affiliations. The play presents the recorded words of figures including Arthur Miller, Jerome Robbins, Paul Robeson, Elia Kazan, Lillian Hellman, Abe Burrows, and Lionel Stander as they confront questions that threaten both their careers and personal convictions.

Structured around the testimony and interrogation of the hearings, the production examines the pressures of public scrutiny, loyalty, and self-preservation during a period of political fear and blacklisting.

Critic Reviews (5)

"It is a slow burn of a show, worthy of your attention."
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"Though the show left me wanting, the top-notch cast impressed"
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"Billy Eugene Jones is electrifying in the role, sending a shock wave through the audience"
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Director Anna D. Shapiro’s mostly absorbing production could do more to contextualize events and people for 2026 audiences. Like the HUAC committee itself, the show tends to spin its wheels while dropping fascinating nuggets of insight, outrage, and hypocrisy. ★★★☆☆
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Eric Bentley’s 1972 play Are You Now or Have You Ever Been revisits the House Un-American Activities Committee’s (HUAC) investigation into Communist influence in the entertainment industry during the mid-20th century. The dialogue is drawn directly from the hearing’s transcripts, making this revival as much a documentary as a drama.
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