Lena Waithe is bringing her storytelling to the stage.
The Emmy-winning writer, producer, and actor will make her playwriting and theatrical acting debut with trinity, a new original play running February 12 through March 8, 2026, at Baltimore Center Stage. Opening night is set for February 21.
Presented in association with Hillman Grad, trinity marks a major creative moment for Waithe, whose work across television and film has consistently centered emotional honesty, interiority, and complex relationships. This production brings that same sensibility into a live, intimate theatrical setting.
The play is directed by Baltimore Center Stage Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb and stars Waithe alongside Courtney Sauls (Dear White People, Legends) and Megalyn Echikunwoke (Weathering, Late Night).
Set entirely in a single room, trinity follows three people as they slip between fantasy and reality, acting out moments they feel unable to live through in real time. What starts as playful role-play gradually deepens into a layered exploration of desire, connection, and the emotional legacies that pass between mothers, friends, and lovers. The work blends romantic comedy rhythms with the emotional weight of an existential drama, creating a piece that is intimate, funny, and quietly unsettling.
The production continues Hillman Grad’s ongoing mission to expand access for underrepresented artists and amplify stories from historically marginalized communities. Founded by Waithe, the company has built an influential slate across film and television, including The Chi—Showtime’s longest-running Black drama series—along with Queen & Slim, Twenties, The 40-Year-Old Version, Dear White People, Beauty, Chang Can Dunk, and the Emmy-nominated documentary Being Mary Tyler Moore.
Hillman Grad has also made a significant impact on the festival circuit. At the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, the company premiered A Thousand and One, which won the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, and Kokomo City, which earned both the NEXT Audience Award and NEXT Innovator Award. In 2024, Waithe further expanded the company’s storytelling footprint with the launch of Legacy Talk, a podcast spotlighting the careers and creative journeys of iconic Black trailblazers in entertainment.
While there is no word yet on future productions of trinity beyond Baltimore, the limited engagement positions the play as a notable milestone—both in Waithe’s artistic evolution and within the current theater landscape.
Tickets for trinity are now available through Baltimore Center Stage, click here for more details.