THE UNFILTERED SISTERHOOD OF ‘MEET ME IN FIVE’
Creative/ Production by Lucy Ivey, Photos by Cynthia Villamil, Makeup by Kyrstan Brandt, Hair by Taylor Rose Beauty, Styled by Meghan Deretchin, Shot at 100 Sutton Studios
Shahadi Wright Joseph and Kaci Walfall on Gen Z identity, and the raw truth of modern theater.
Dresses by Noah K
The moment their boxes clicked open on my screen, Kaci beamed with an instant, gentle warmth while Shahadi cracked a quick joke, immediately dissolving the digital barrier into something that felt like a quiet corner of a green room. The easy, laughing banter between the two co-stars set a cozy, down-to-earth tone, revealing a bond that goes far deeper than a standard press day. Having both spent years navigating the industry across screen and stage, they move through the creative world with a grounded, authentic presence that feels remarkably refreshing.
Set inside the high-pressure, cramped walls of an off-campus apartment near Boston University, Becca Carter Freeman’s new play, Meet Me in Five, captures the messy, hilarious, and deeply moving realities of five college students navigating their third year of school. Rather than relying on tired tropes, the production offers a hyper-authentic look at sisterhood, career anxiety, and self-discovery.
"For me, it was the realism," they told me, reflecting on reading the script. "Becca is such an incredible writer. I tend to stray away from scripts intertwined with Gen Z language because sometimes they’re written by older people who don’t know anyone who is Gen Z—it can come off inauthentic. But this project felt grounded in a very specific place and time."
Connecting with the material happened quickly during a break in a busy school schedule. "I just remember being in the dining hall and laughing out loud by myself because so much of it felt so relatable," Kaci recalled. "When people ask about the play, I tell them it’s genuinely how my friends and I speak." Shahadi adds.
Breaking into the story’s core dynamics required untangling complex emotional threads beneath the surface. Kaci portrays Harper, a fine arts major hiding behind humor and detachment while struggling with accidental TikTok virality from her "bed-rating" series, while Shahadi steps into the shoes of Lucie, a soft-spoken film major exiting a five-year relationship, determined to denounce restriction in every area of her life.
Set by Mess the Store x Delia Wade
"Harper’s strength is her artistry and her grace," Kaci explained when discussing her character. "If someone in the house is sad, they go to Harper first. But internally, she's struggling with purpose while everyone around her gets corporate jobs."
For Shahadi, grounding Lucie's quiet demeanor meant diving into physical animal work during early rehearsals. "I chose an owl for Lucie," Shahadi revealed. "She’s stoic in Act 1, but owls have 360-degree awareness. When the girls are arguing, Lucie’s head is turning to take in the situation. She’s ready to give you the honest truth when you're ready to hear it."
When asked to summarize the production’s energy for prospective audience members in just a few words, the girls answers came without hesitation: Girlhood. Crazy. Dramatic. Fun. and my personal favorite, Cunty.
The production's authenticity is bolstered by deep pre-existing relationships among the ensemble—including long-time bonds between Kaci and Shahadi.
"We spent time talking about Harper and Lucie’s connection," they shared. "We know how it feels to be in a space with a couple of other Black women in a group. There’s an invisible, symbiotic relationship where you find yourselves checking in with each other without even speaking."
Yellow set by Jalyn Young
Off-stage, that ensemble chemistry spilled effortlessly into real life. Kaci laughed, remembering a moment a few weeks into rehearsals: "I accidentally sent a text meant for my real roommates into the Meet Me in Five group chat at 6:45 AM. When I checked my phone later, I panicked, but everyone was just like, 'We ARE your roommates!'"
Navigating quick tonal shifts—from rapid-fire comedy to sudden, unsettling silences—presented a welcome challenge for both screen veterans.
"Theater is outward, film is inward," Shahadi observed.
"There are nuances you catch in my eyes on screen that you can't catch in the back row of a theater. You have to turn your physicality way up," Kaci added. "The stage is really the actor's space because nobody is editing it for you up there. Having time in rehearsal to explore background work lets all those layers come through naturally, making those quiet moments feel earned."
Looking ahead as the show prepares to open, both actors feel a deep pride in bringing such a raw piece of girlhood to life.
That undeniable spark, a blend of quiet reverence and effortless joy, lingers long after the call ends, a testament to two distinct, brilliant talents illuminating the stage in this singular moment together before charting their own bright paths forward.
