Welcome to the world premiere of Becoming a Man!

Becoming a Man is adapted from the critically acclaimed memoir written by P. Carl, who joins me at the helm of this production as writer and co-director. I first got to know Carl when he founded HowlRound Theatre Commons and came to Boston as co-artistic director of ArtsEmerson. We then worked closely together on Claudia Rankine’s The White Card for which Carl served as dramaturg.

When Carl shared an early draft of his memoir with me many years ago, my immediate question to him was, “What if we made this into a play?” His answer resulted in a commission of this new work for the A.R.T. and a developmental process that has spanned over the last few years.

We are thrilled to be finally producing this new play with such an incredible cast led by Petey Gibson. Our extraordinary creative team includes a number of artists returning to the A.R.T.: costume designer Qween Jean (Macbeth In Stride, What to Send Up When It Goes Down), lighting designer Cha See (What to Send Up When It Goes Down), music and sound designer Paul James Prendergast (All the Way) and video designer Brittany Bland (1776). We are excited to welcome scenic designer Emmie Finckel and associate director Lyam B. Gabel who are making their A.R.T. debut.

Every performance of Becoming a Man includes Act II, a facilitated conversation with the audience about the play and its themes featuring an incredible roster of local leaders, artists, or medical professionals, and activists exploring the production’s Essential Question, “When we change, can the people we love come with us?” We are so grateful to have received funding from The Boston Foundation in support of the community engagement we will be cultivating around this production.

Act II is facilitated by Athena Vaughn (she/her), Chastity Bowick (she/her), Dan Rice (he/they), Dante Gonzalez (he/they), and Lyam B. Gabel (they/he). Please see the updating list of Act II guests.

I am deeply moved by Carl’s courage and desire to share his story with the world. I am honored to be part of the journey in bringing this story to the stage.

Thank you for coming to the theater and joining us!

Diane Paulus
Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director

American Repertory Theater

presents

BECOMING A MAN

First performance at the Loeb Drama Center on February 16, 2024.

Production Support of Becoming a Man is provided by Marybeth and Stephen Bisson, Emerson College, and Alison and Bob Murchison.

Act II is supported in part by The Boston Foundation.

This production is supported, in part, by the Robert Brustein Endowment Fund for New Works.

Media Support of Becoming a Man is provided by WBUR.

A.R.T. Season support is provided by Harvard University, The Barr Foundation, The Bob and Alison Murchison New Work Development Fund, The Shubert Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Barton & Guestier, and Meyer Sound.

The A.R.T. 2023/24 Season is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which receives support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Runtime: 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission, including a 20-minute Act II discussion

This production contains brief physical violence, discussions of suicidal ideation, transphobic language, sounds and images of war, and haze. Recommended for ninth grade and up.

Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.

Access Staff

Director of ASL Elbert Joseph
ASL Interpreters Luke Baer, Jessica Meyer
Open Caption David Chu
Audio Description Mel Watkins
Relaxed Spectrum Theatre Ensemble

A.R.T. Staff

SENIOR STAFF

Public Relations Director: Rebecca Curtiss
General Manager: Connor Davis
Managing Director: Anna Fitzloff
Director of Finance: Julia Goldmacher
Senior Theater and Facilities Manager: Tracy Keene
Producer: Mark Lunsford
Director of Production: Krystin Matsumoto
Director of Artistic Programs & Dramaturg: Ryan McKittrick
Interim Director of Development: Sarah McLellan
Associate Artistic Director: Dayron J. Miles
Chief Marketing Officer: Jennifer Weissman

STAFF

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Wicked Craft Co.
Lynette D’Amico, Edward Tim Carl Jr., Christian Carl, Lee Schere, Lee Pelton, LeAnn Egeto, Lenora Carl, Di Glazer, Robin Elkman, Dr. Cristina Cusin
Every trans person who risks embracing themselves

Rehearsed at the Roundabout Rehearsal Studios and Boston Center for the Arts

Additional lighting equipment provided by Christie Lites
Sound equipment provided by Meyer Sound
Additional Sound and Projections Equipment provided by Sound Associates, Inc.
Automation equipment provided by Creative Connors, Inc.

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The Directors & Fight Director of this production are members of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.