Illuminating.
WBUR
Poignant and funny.
Cambridge Day
Experience the world-premiere play about one man’s gender transition amid a pivotal political moment in America. From acclaimed memoirist P. Carl and Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, Becoming a Man is a story about the courage—and the community—we need to become ourselves.
For fifty years, P. Carl lived as a girl and then a queer woman, building a career and a loving marriage while waiting to realize himself in full. When he decides to affirm his gender, his transition puts everything—family, career, friendships—at stake. “This moving narrative illuminates the joy, courage, necessity, and risk-taking of his gender transition” (Kirkus), and poses the question: When we change, can the people we love come with us?
Each performance will begin with a Radical Welcome, where a community member will welcome the audience to the A.R.T and share what has brought them to the show. Each performance of the one-act play will culminate in Act II, a 20-minute facilitated conversation with a local leader, scholar, or activist and a brief audience Q&A exploring the production’s essential question.
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.
Written by P. Carl
Directed by Diane Paulus and P. Carl
Notable dates
Opening Night: 2/21
ASL Interpreted: 3/3 at 2PM & 3/6 at 7:30PM
Audio Described: 3/2 at 2PM & 3/7 at 7:30PM
Open Captioned: 3/2 at 2PM & 3/7 at 7:30PM
Relaxed: 3/3 at 2PM
Production Sponsors
Marybeth and Stephen Bisson
Emerson College
Alison and Bob Murchison
Act II Support
The Boston Foundation
COVID-19 Protocols
Masks are optional but encouraged. Stay informed about our full policies.
Masks are optional but encouraged. Stay informed about our full policies.
Accessibility
Find out about our theater’s accessibility.
Find out about our theater’s accessibility.
Ticketing Policies
Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.
Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.
Content Key
Language 3 out of 5
Violence 1 out of 5
Sexual Content 2 out of 5
Substance Use 1 out of 5
Language 3 out of 5
Violence 1 out of 5
Sexual Content 2 out of 5
Substance Use 1 out of 5
Ticket Offers
Take Five
FEB 16 – MAR 6 11AM
$5 Tickets
Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. These tickets are sold out for Becoming a Man.
More Info
FEB 16 – MAR 6 11AM
$5 Tickets
Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. These tickets are sold out for Becoming a Man.
More Info
Harvard ArtsThursdays
FEB 22 at 7:30PM
Free with RSVP
Free tickets will be available to the performance on February 22 as part of Harvard ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. An RSVP is required for one or two tickets as space is limited. On the day of the performance, tickets will be distributed at the Loeb Drama Center to the RSVP list on a first-come, first-served basis.
More Info and RSVP
FEB 22 at 7:30PM
Free with RSVP
Free tickets will be available to the performance on February 22 as part of Harvard ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. An RSVP is required for one or two tickets as space is limited. On the day of the performance, tickets will be distributed at the Loeb Drama Center to the RSVP list on a first-come, first-served basis.
More Info and RSVP
All Discounts
Standard tickets start at $35, and discounts are available to students and ticket-buyers under the age of 25, Blue Star families, EBT card holders, seniors, Harvard faculty and staff, and others.
Press Coverage
Reviews
Features
Explore
Act II
Each performance of the one-act play will culminate in Act II, a 20-minute facilitated audience conversation begun by a local leader, scholar, medical professional, artist, or activist.
More Info and Guests
Each performance of the one-act play will culminate in Act II, a 20-minute facilitated audience conversation begun by a local leader, scholar, medical professional, artist, or activist.
More Info and Guests
Resources for Healing
Curated by Dr. Charmain Jackman and Sharon Quimbay Nalasco, these resources support audiences to understand gender diversity and mental health.
Learn More
Curated by Dr. Charmain Jackman and Sharon Quimbay Nalasco, these resources support audiences to understand gender diversity and mental health.
Learn More
Credits
Learn about the collaboration of artists who created the show, as well as the staff, supporters, and partners who made it possible.
Creative Team
Written by
P. Carl
Directed by
Diane Paulus
P. Carl
Scenic Design
Emmie Finckel
Costume Design
Qween Jean
Lighting Design
Cha See
Music & Sound Design
Paul James Prendergast
Video Design
Brittany Bland
Fight Director
Ted Hewlett
Intimacy Coordinator
Kayleigh Kane
Casting Director
X Casting / Victor Vazquez, CSA
Associate Director
Lyam B. Gabel
Production Stage Manager
Genevieve Kersh
Cast (in order of appearance)
Carl
Petey Gibson
Carl
Petey Gibson
Eddie & Others
Justiin Davis
Eddie & Others
Justiin Davis
Carl’s Father & Others
Christopher Liam Moore
Carl’s Father & Others
Christopher Liam Moore
Carl’s Mother & Others
Susan Rome
Carl’s Mother & Others
Susan Rome
Polly
Stacey Raymond
Polly
Stacey Raymond
Lynette
Elena Hurst
Lynette
Elena Hurst
Nathan
Cody Sloan
Nathan