"To succeed in life you need three things-
a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone."
-Reba McEntire
New York Times Critic's Pick
Under one roof lives 3 generations of men that grapple with their intersecting identities. Playwright Mansa Ra returns with a brand new play about Blackness, queerness, and the challenges that come along with uncovering your identity. The story is set on three generations of men living under one roof and is told through the unflinching eyes of fathers and sons. A New York Times Critics’ Pick, reviewers hail …what the end will beas “everything that is meant when we say that Black lives matter.”
…what the end will be contains adult language, sexual content and discussion of end-of-life decisions. Recommended for ages 14+.
What People Are Saying
Praise from previous productions
The New York Times
*Critic's Pick*
“In …what the end will be, facing death really means reckoning with life—what makes it worth living despite its impermanence—and learning how to seize some measure of joy for yourself. It’s everything that is meant when we say that Black lives matter.”
Theatre Mania
"Ra turns this standoff between generations into 90 minutes of provocative (and hilarious) theater...it gets to the heart of some shared human experiences that have little to do with race, sexuality, and gender, such as what it takes to let go of your own pain, and what it means to let someone you love let go of theirs — rules be damned."
The Wall Street Journal
"...there is an undeniable pleasure in watching the tensions in this unusual family surge and subside."
Get Tickets
Advance Purchase Online: $30 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Night of Show at the Door: $35 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Students and Educators: $15 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Discounted pricing available for groups of 10 or more, contact us at info@threebonetheatre.com to learn more
Meet the Artists
*Indicates Three Bone Theatre debut
Mansa Ra
Playwright
Mansa Ra made his debut as a playwright with TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR POCKET, a moving drama about a 1960s college student who shocks his family when he joins the extremely dangerous Freedom Rides.
His latest Off-Broadway production …WHAT THE END WILL BE (NYT Critics’ pick) premiered at the Roundabout Theater in New York City. The New York Times applauds it as “everything that is meant when we say that Black lives matter” while The Wall Street Journal calls it “an undeniable pleasure.”
Mansa Ra was educated at Memphis Central High School, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Emory University, and earned an M.F.A. in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. He credits Sarah Ruhl and Dr. Alison Ligon as the most influential teachers of his academic journey.
Supporting Documents
Digital Program
Download the full program to learn more about the artistic team and our community partner.
Discussion Guide
Keep the conversation going with our show-specific discussion guide developed by our Education Manager.
Learn More
Masa Ra builds multi-generational bridges in ...what the end will be
Theatrely
Theatrely spoke to playwright Mansa Ra about the process for writing a show that spans multiple generations, how to include the most current pop culture references in a script, and even heard a bit of the show’s backstage playlist.