Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater revealed the highly-anticipated title, partial cast, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity attached to Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new play We Are Gathered. A world-premiere production about queer love and forest magic from the screenwriter of Moonlight, We Are Gathered will run May 16 – June 15, 2025, at Arena’s in-the-round Fichandler Stage. For more information and tickets, visit arenastage.org/gathered.
“I write plays about questions that I have,” said McCraney. “Right now, I’m wondering about marriage. Is it for me? Is it even possible?”
McCraney has penned a modern-day twist on classical Shakespearean wedding plays with We Are Gathered. The production follows the wildly funny and irresistibly steamy romance of W. Tre and Free, who met in a shadowy park looking for a good time — only to stumble into love, laughter, and a whole lot more heat than they bargained for. As they approach a milestone anniversary, they wonder if they’ve met Mr. Right or had a long one-night stand with a lovely Mr. Maybe. With a little support and a lot of confusion from family, friends, and a stranger in the dark, the question remains: will Free and W. Tre find their way together, or will they let fear and a secret lead them apart?
Bringing this romantic comedy to life, the cast of We Are Gathered will be led by Kyle Beltran (Netflix’s Inventing Anna) as W. Tre, Nic Ashe (Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar) as Free, and Nikkole Salter (Arena Stage’s Stick Fly) as MS MS/Punkin. Kent Gash (Ford’s Theatre’s The Wiz) takes the helm as director amongst a world-class team of creatives. The full cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.
“My collaboration with Tarell Alvin McCraney is among the most fulfilling and rewarding of my directing career,” said Gash. “I have been challenged, delighted, enthralled, enriched, and uplifted by Tarell’s inspired use of language, his endless reinvention of form, and his commitment to rich and multi-dimensional stories of Black lives.”
Amplifying the celebration is the Love Takes Center Stage immersive experience that will offer couples an extraordinary chance to exchange their own marriage vows under the spotlight — right on stage during select performances of We Are Gathered. Against the backdrop of a powerful story, embraced by the warmth of community, and immersed in the magic of live theater, their love will take the limelight in a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.
“I always thought that my queerness, my black queerness, was too political to think about marriage or the construct of marriage,” continued McCraney. “And then I fell in love, over and over, and quickly realized that there was something…almost indiscernible about wanting to spend your life with someone. A feeling that took root in your heart, and you stopped caring about the political and even the social; suddenly, you could feel a connection on the verge of spiritual. What happens when you run out of excuses? What happens when you look up and see the face of the person you want to spend the rest of your life with staring back at you? Well, you celebrate! You must. This a play about that.”
Love has no boundaries, and this interactive experience is open to all couples who wish to honor their commitment in an extraordinary way. Every love story is worth celebrating, and this is a chance for couples to share theirs under the glistening spotlight. Applications are now open online at arenastage.org/lovestory.
We Are Gathered runs May 16 – June 15, 2025, on the Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. Tickets start at $59 plus applicable fees. Ticket prices and availability are subject to change. Arena Stage’s many savings programs include “pay your age” tickets for those aged 35 and under; military, first responder, and educator discounts; student discounts; and “Southwest Nights” for those living and working in the District’s Southwest neighborhood. To learn more, visit arenastage.org/savings-
About Arena Stage
The first racially integrated theater in our nation’s capital and a pioneer of the regional theater movement, Arena Stage was founded in 1950 in Washington, DC. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep, and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and groundbreaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Consistently contributing to the American theatrical lexicon by commissioning and developing new plays, Arena Stage impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement and serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. arenastage.org
