Work samples

  • Black Tea Trailer

    An artist and a collector argue over an antique teacup.  A romantic short film by Be Steadwell.

  • Vow of Silence by Be Steadwell

    After her girlfriend leaves, heartbroken singer takes a vow of silence.  A short film by Be Steadwell

  • The Door

    The Door is from Be's album entitled Queer Love Songs.  A song composed and performed by Be Steadwell.  

  • Sage

    Sage is the first song on Be Steadwell's album Dear Ex :The Musical.  A story of a big breakup.

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About Be

Baltimore City  

Be Steadwell
(They/Them, Be)

Be is a composer, filmmaker and author based in Baltimore. Be's goal as an artist is to write love stories centering Black girlies, introverts and weirdos.

Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University. Be's short films Vow of Silence and Black Tea (2025) screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO OutFest, The Schomburg Center, Inside Out Toronto and The… more

View Be's Resume
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Dear Ex: The Musical

"This musical is a healing ritual. I wrote Dear Ex to grow through my grief and learn how to love myself. Love is where we find our humanity. For queer Black folks, romantic love is often our first and only safe place. When we break up, it feels like we’ve lost our whole world. Dear Ex paints a picture of a world beyond the grief." - Be Steadwell

​Dear Ex: The Musical is all about the big break up. Featuring an all BIPOC, queer and trans cast – Be Steadwell's musical tells the story of heartbreak through a series of letters, scenes and songs.  Dear Ex explores self love, addiction, twerking, sex, life and death through the lens of a heartbroken, queer Black woman.  From 2018 to 2019, workshop productions of Dear Ex (originally titled A Letter to My Ex) were staged at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, MD and Mills College in Oakland, CA.

In 2024 Dear Ex was selected for the NAMT new musicals festival.  Dear Ex The Musical album is available on all streaming platforms.  Thr album features live and studio recordings from the work.  The Album is available on all streaming platforms.

  • Dear Ex: The Musical Clips

    Initially, the musical was called "A Letter to my Ex."  This video features clips from the initial productions of the musical.  

  • Dear Ex: The Musical
    Dear Ex: The Musical

    Saa Aqeel, Michele Prince, Krystle Collins in the DC 2019 production of the musical.

  • Photography from DC production
    Photography from DC production

    Marie Tatti Aqeel and AJ Head in Dear Ex 2019

  • Dear Ex: The Musical, Script Excerpt

    An abbreviation of the full musical script.
  • Dear Ex: The Musical

    Dear Ex: The Musical Album.  This album features live and studio recordings from the 2019 DC and Oakland casts.  

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