How We Got On eScriptAvailable

How We Got On by Idris Goodwin

(2)
Productions (34)
Coming of Age Drama
|
85 - 95 minutes
2 W, 2 M, 
Set: A DJ booth with a mic and an easel.

Hank, Julian, and Luann are three talented, determined suburban teens coming of age in the 1980s. Dreaming of fame and fortune in the new Hip-Hop music scene, they must overcome cultural isolation, familial dysfunction, and ruthless rivalries to make the music that defines their lives. A sultry DJ spins their stories with her own meta-theatrical perspective in this contemporary ode to the roots of rap.

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
eScript Digital Edition $17.5
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
NOTE: This play can also be found in an anthology called Humana Festival 2012: The Complete Plays.

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

eScript Digital editions when purchased as a retail item cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer, or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.). It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices. When an escript is purchased as part of a license, please email [email protected] to receive your printable PDF.

Play Details

Hank, Julian, and Luann are three talented, determined suburban teens coming of age in the 1980s. Dreaming of fame and fortune in the new Hip-Hop music scene, they must overcome cultural isolation, familial dysfunction, and ruthless rivalries to make the music that defines their lives. A sultry DJ spins their stories with her own meta-theatrical perspective in this contemporary ode to the roots of rap.

  • Coming of Age Drama
  • |
  • 85 - 95 minutes
  • 2 W, 2 M, 
  • Set: A DJ booth with a mic and an easel.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-042-6

Published Reviews

"A resonant coming-of-age story for a new generation."

The Sacramento Bee

"Goodwin's play takes a pop cultural phenomenon and shows how it affects and transforms the young people who make it their own."

David Sheward, Backstage

"How We Got On is...something you hear--in the fullest sense of that word--and experience, and feel."

Don Aucoin, The Boston Globe

"The message of how a love for music can transcend racial, economic and gender barriers is an instant crowd-pleaser."

American Theatre Magazine

"Even those deficient in rap lore will find much to root for in Goodwin's smart and warmhearted story of kids who find freedom in freestyling."

Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune

Production History

SEP 11, 2026 - SEP 27, 2026
Definition Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
 Definition Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
MAR 13, 2026 - APR 04, 2026
Open Book Theatre Company
Trenton, MI United States
 Open Book Theatre Company Trenton, MI United States
NOV 14, 2025 - NOV 16, 2025
Spelman College, Theatre and Performance Department
Atlanta, GA United States
 Spelman College, Theatre and Performance Department Atlanta, GA United States
OCT 12, 2023 - OCT 14, 2023
Emerson Stage
Boston, MA United States
 Emerson Stage Boston, MA United States
MAR 31, 2023 - APR 01, 2023
WAVE Productions
Evanston, IL United States
 WAVE Productions Evanston, IL United States
FEB 11, 2023 - FEB 12, 2023
Tufts University
Medford, MA United States
 Tufts University Medford, MA United States
JUL 01, 2022 - JUL 02, 2022
Central Florida Community Arts
Winter Park, FL United States
 Central Florida Community Arts Winter Park, FL United States
JAN 28, 2022 - FEB 20, 2022
Sacred Fools Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
 Sacred Fools Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
JAN 26, 2020 - JAN 26, 2020
Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre (C.A.S.T.)
Makati City, NY Philippines
 Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre (C.A.S.T.) Makati City, NY Philippines
OCT 11, 2019 - OCT 13, 2019
University Of Virginia Paul Robeson Players
Charlottesville, VA United States
 University Of Virginia Paul Robeson Players Charlottesville, VA United States
MAY 03, 2019 - MAY 19, 2019
Brown/Trinity MFA Programs
Providence, RI United States
 Brown/Trinity MFA Programs Providence, RI United States
MAY 03, 2019 - MAY 19, 2019
Brown/Trinity MFA Programs
Providence, RI United States
 Brown/Trinity MFA Programs Providence, RI United States
JUN 15, 2018 - JUN 15, 2018
African American Performing Arts Center
Albuquerque, NM United States
 African American Performing Arts Center Albuquerque, NM United States
MAR 10, 2018 - APR 27, 2018
Hillcrest High School
Country Club Hills, IL United States
 Hillcrest High School Country Club Hills, IL United States
JAN 23, 2018 - JAN 25, 2018
Eastern Hills High School Theatre Department
Fort Worth, TX United States
 Eastern Hills High School Theatre Department Fort Worth, TX United States
DEC 08, 2017 - FEB 02, 2018
Available Light Theatre
Columbus, OH United States
 Available Light Theatre Columbus, OH United States
NOV 10, 2017 - NOV 20, 2017
Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA United States
 Contra Costa College San Pablo, CA United States
NOV 09, 2017 - NOV 12, 2017
Available Light Theatre
Columbus, OH United States
 Available Light Theatre Columbus, OH United States
NOV 09, 2016 - NOV 11, 2016
Prince George's Community College
Largo, MD United States
 Prince George's Community College Largo, MD United States
OCT 10, 2016 - NOV 13, 2016
Haven Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
 Haven Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
SEP 14, 2016 - OCT 02, 2016
Azuka Theatre
Philadelphia, PA United States
 Azuka Theatre Philadelphia, PA United States
APR 21, 2016 - APR 23, 2016
Skydive Productions
Greensboro, NC United States
 Skydive Productions Greensboro, NC United States
APR 07, 2016 - APR 10, 2016
University Of Missouri-St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO United States
 University Of Missouri-St. Louis Saint Louis, MO United States
OCT 15, 2015 - OCT 31, 2015
Radio Free Alabama
Birmingham, AL United States
 Radio Free Alabama Birmingham, AL United States
SEP 30, 2015 - OCT 25, 2015
Portland Playhouse
Portland, OR United States
 Portland Playhouse Portland, OR United States
OCT 30, 2014 - NOV 22, 2014
Forum Theatre
SILVER SPRING , MD United States
 Forum Theatre SILVER SPRING , MD United States
OCT 24, 2014 - NOV 16, 2014
Cleveland Play House
Cleveland, OH United States
 Cleveland Play House Cleveland, OH United States
FEB 26, 2014 - MAR 02, 2014
Coker College Theatre Program
Hartsville, SC United States
 Coker College Theatre Program Hartsville, SC United States
FEB 05, 2014 - FEB 22, 2014
Available Light
Columbus, OH United States
 Available Light Columbus, OH United States
SEP 21, 2013 - OCT 20, 2013
Citadel Theatre
Lake Forest, IL United States
 Citadel Theatre Lake Forest, IL United States
JUL 19, 2013 - AUG 17, 2013
Company One
Boston, MA United States
 Company One Boston, MA United States
MAY 12, 2013 - JUN 23, 2013
B Street Theatre
Sacramento, CA United States
 B Street Theatre Sacramento, CA United States
FEB 22, 2013 - MAR 17, 2013
Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
Charlotte, NC United States
 Carolina Actors Studio Theatre Charlotte, NC United States
MAR 02, 2012 - APR 01, 2012
Actors Theater of Louisville
Louisville, KY United States
 Actors Theater of Louisville Louisville, KY United States
SEP 11, 2026 - SEP 27, 2026
Definition Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
 Definition Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
MAR 13, 2026 - APR 04, 2026
Open Book Theatre Company
Trenton, MI United States
 Open Book Theatre Company Trenton, MI United States
JAN 28, 2022 - FEB 20, 2022
Sacred Fools Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
 Sacred Fools Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
SEP 14, 2016 - OCT 02, 2016
Azuka Theatre
Philadelphia, PA United States
 Azuka Theatre Philadelphia, PA United States
SEP 30, 2015 - OCT 25, 2015
Portland Playhouse
Portland, OR United States
 Portland Playhouse Portland, OR United States
OCT 30, 2014 - NOV 22, 2014
Forum Theatre
SILVER SPRING , MD United States
 Forum Theatre SILVER SPRING , MD United States
OCT 24, 2014 - NOV 16, 2014
Cleveland Play House
Cleveland, OH United States
 Cleveland Play House Cleveland, OH United States
FEB 05, 2014 - FEB 22, 2014
Available Light
Columbus, OH United States
 Available Light Columbus, OH United States
SEP 21, 2013 - OCT 20, 2013
Citadel Theatre
Lake Forest, IL United States
 Citadel Theatre Lake Forest, IL United States
JUL 19, 2013 - AUG 17, 2013
Company One
Boston, MA United States
 Company One Boston, MA United States
MAY 12, 2013 - JUN 23, 2013
B Street Theatre
Sacramento, CA United States
 B Street Theatre Sacramento, CA United States
FEB 22, 2013 - MAR 17, 2013
Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
Charlotte, NC United States
 Carolina Actors Studio Theatre Charlotte, NC United States
MAR 02, 2012 - APR 01, 2012
Actors Theater of Louisville
Louisville, KY United States
 Actors Theater of Louisville Louisville, KY United States

eScript Details

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