Colman Domingo Award-winning playwright Reggie D. White creates a space for Black men to deal with mental health during cutthroat games of spades in the soul stirring world premiere of his dramatic-comedy “Fremont Ave.,” at Arena Stage in Southwest, D.C. now through Nov. 23.
White said he was inspired by memories of his own life as he crafted the play about the Black men of one family who put their cards on the table about masculinity, identity, and the oppressive weight of generational silence.
“History provides superhero moments of people, but we forget that our own folks were involved in those historical episodes, too,” White said. “The legacy about the Black Panthers, Huey Newton, and Bobby Seales is connected to me because some of my family lived in the Oakland area. My uncle, who I greatly admired, was an undergrad in the area while Newton was working on his doctorate.”
White said his curiosity led to a rare opportunity for him to sit down with his uncle and grandfather during a profound moment when they shared rarely reviewed thoughts.
“As Black men, we are taught to keep our emotions to ourselves, but there’s a dignity in the ability to love Black people. I wanted to write a love letter to my family – to the Black men in particular who have loved and shaped me,” he continued.
“Fremont Ave,” directed by Lili-Ann Brown, offered a major realization for the playwright.
“Remember, the seniors in our family were all at one time young and winging it. Yes, there are societal roles, but what happens if you don’t know what they are or what they mean? And who shows Black men how to do that? I guess I wanted to say to my family that while there were times that they disappointed me, I now understand.”
Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif said the play exemplifies the kind of layered, courageous storytelling that defines the theatre’s commitment to new works.
“With humor, tenderness, and unflinching honesty,” she noted, “this story unpacks the silences that echo across generations with power and grace and offers audiences permission to reflect on their own truth.”
White brings an impressive list of achievements, including being chosen as the second recipient of the Colman Domingo Award, given annually to a multi-faceted Black male or male-identifying theatre artist to provide support and resources to create new work.
“It’s a heavy mantle but an honor and I am very grateful for the space that Colman has carved out for artists like me,” the playwright said. “Despite his insane success, he has graciously been a mentor and friend in my life for a very long time. I stand on great shoulders.”
While White appreciates all he’s been able to achieve with “Fremont Ave” — which will travel to Costa Mesa, California’s South Coast Repertory as part of the Pacific Playwrights Festival in Spring 2026 — there is much he hopes to accomplish.
“Writing is deeply gratifying but acting and singing are my first loves. For me, music is my first language. However, I also love directing — being able to take a vision and shape it into something meaningful,” he told The Informer. “My mentors have shown me that it’s possible to do it all, but not all at the same time.”
For information and tickets, got to arenastage.org.