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.
American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University has REVEALED Act II guest speakers and associated programming for its upcoming production of Becoming a Man. Adapted from P. Carl’s acclaimed memoir and co-directed by A.R.T. Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and P. Carl, Becoming a Man is a story about the courage—and the community—we need to become ourselves.
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, “When we change, can the people we love come with us?”
“A.R.T. is dedicated to catalyzing dialogue and transformation through the theater we create, and the Act II series for Becoming a Man will give our audiences a vital opportunity for conversation and community building,” said Paulus.
Conceived as an equal part of the experience as the scripted show, Act II events invite audience members to move into dialogue with one another and to deepen their engagement with A.R.T. productions, themes, and essential questions. Act II often highlights A.R.T. community members making an impact in the Boston area and the world. Past A.R.T. productions featuring Act II include Gloria: A Life (2020), The White Card (2018), Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education (2016), and In the Body of the World (2016).
Becoming a Man Act II guests will include:
Senior Pastor of the Historic Myrtle Baptist Church
A.R.T. Staff Member
Director of Trans Health at MGH
Photographer, Are You OK?
Theater maker
Director of Transgender Health at Fenway Health
Director, Office of BGLTQ Student Life at Harvard University
Community Support Advocate
Education and Outreach Coordinator, Transtape
Costume Designer for Becoming a Man
LICSW, Gender Specialist
Former Manager of the Trans Health Program at Fenway and psychologist
Coordinator of Transgender Health at Fenway
Visit AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/BAMActII for an updating list of Act II guests.
Act II Facilitators will include Athena Vaughn (she/her), Chastity Bowick (she/her), Dan Rice (he/they), Dante Gonzalez (he/they), Justice Williams (he/him), and Liam B. Gabel (they/he).
ASSOCIATED PROGRAMMING
A.R.T. leads with inquiry and believes in asking questions in a spirit of brave curiosity in a never-ending journey of learning and growth. For each production, the creative team, company, and Engagement team develop an Essential Question to guide work in the rehearsal room, onstage, and for engaging with audiences. For Becoming a Man, the essential question is, when we change, can the people we love come with us?
Before each performance, a community member will welcome the audience to the A.R.T and share what has brought them to the show.
A trans survival project, Are You OK? by portrait photographer Jesse Freidin documents the experiences and stories of trans and non-binary youth living in the United States. Flanked by their supportive families, these outspoken and deeply loved youth present their strength to the world in a revolt against the country’s attempt to erase them.
“For the past few years I’ve been terrified not only just for myself and my queer community, but for the innocent and sweet young people who are the most directly affected by our nation’s incredibly dangerous anti-trans legislation,” says Freidin. “I started ‘Are You OK?’ as a response to the fear and anger these bills awoke in me, as a way to pass the microphone to the kids and families who find empowerment in sharing their stories, and more importantly as a visual remedy to trans stigmatization.”
The exhibit will feature banner prints with an individual portrait and story, plus a QR code so audience can hear directly from trans youth. Learn more at AreYouOKPortraits.com.
ASL Interpreted*
Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 2PM & Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 7:30PM
Audio Described*
Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2PM and Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Open Captioned*
Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2PM and Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Relaxed Performance*
Sunday, March 3, 2023 at 2PM
*Book Access seats online, by contacting Access@amrep.org, or calling 617.547.8300
The newest A.R.T. world-premiere play is 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, 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).
Becoming a Man is supported, in part, by the Robert Brustein Endowment Fund for New Works, Marybeth and Stephen Bisson, and Emerson College. Act II is supported by The Boston Foundation.
Tickets from $35 are available at AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/BecomingAMan.
Discounts are available to students and ticket-buyers under age 25, Blue Star families, EBT cardholders, seniors, Harvard faculty and staff, and others. More information at AmericanRepertoryTheater.org/PlanYourVisit.
A.R.T.’s 2023/24 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.
Videos
![]() |
The Magic of Ireland: A St. Patrick's Day Concert Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston (3/09-3/10) |
|
![]() |
Evil Dead The Musical HD Boston Center for the Arts (1/25-2/25) |
|
![]() |
The Porch on Windy Hill Merrimack Repertory Theatre (4/03-4/21) |
|
![]() |
Peter and the Starcatcher The Company Theatre (5/03-5/05) |
|
![]() |
Dishwasher Dreams Merrimack Repertory Theatre (2/28-3/17) |
|
![]() |
Giselle Emerson Colonial Theatre (2/23-2/23) |
|
![]() |
My Fair Lady Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts (2/16-2/18) |
|
![]() |
Les Miserables Boston Opera House (8/13-8/25) |
|
![]() |
Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe Huntington Theatre (4/05-4/05) |
|
![]() |
A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder The Company Theatre (3/15-3/30) |
|
VIEW ALL SHOWS ADD A SHOW |
Recommended For You