We would like to acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional territory of the Shoshone and Bannock Peoples. We honor all who came before us, our own ancestors, and the Indigenous caretakers, named and unnamed, recorded and unrecorded. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work, play, and create here in this community, on this territory, and to carry on the tradition of storytelling.
August 15-24, 2024
(Dates Tentative)
Boise Contemporary Theater’s annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival, founded in 2021 with assistance from the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, seeks to champion emerging and mid-career playwrights by connecting exceptional works with professional actors, directors, and technicians.
The festival gives playwrights of color the chance to workshop their script during the week with a director and full cast. Hearing their words read out loud by professional actors provides valuable feedback. The festival culminates in two nights of staged readings. This experience helps inform their work, building the careers of playwrights of color, so they can keep telling their stories.
2024 also marks the launch of the Young Playwrights Initiative, which will select one unproduced work by a writer between 18 and 25 years old for inclusion in the lineup.
Past BIPOC Festival Playwrights include Juan Jose Alfonso, Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters, Debra Ann Byrd, Jeanne Sakata, Vinecia Coleman, Jason Tseng, Novid Parsi, LaDarrion Williams, and Herb Newsome.
What better way to adhere to our mission to inspire our community to examine our perspectives and better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us by creating thought-provoking stories of the human experience than by bringing new stories penned by artists from all over the country to Boise? We are committed to ensuring that all aspects of the human experience are explored on our stages.
BCT is grateful for the financial support that allows this festival to bring esteemed playwrights, directors, and actors together to present stories and characters not often seen in Boise theater.
Call for Submissions
Now accepting submissions for our fourth annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival! Writers will have four days of rehearsal to workshop their piece with a director and cast, followed by two staged readings of their work on the BCT MainStage.
- Playwrights will arrive on Thursday, August 14th.
- Workshop will take place August 15th – 19th.
- Readings will take place August 20th – 24th.
- Playwrights will depart on Sunday, August 25th.
To apply, please complete our Google form no later than Sunday, May 5, 11:59 pm MST. Learn more about submission requirements.
$25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts approved for Boise Contemporary Theater's 4th Annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival
2023 Digital Program:
Thank you, 3rd Annual Festival Sponsors
Want to see your organization's logo here?
Become a sponsor of our 4th Annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival! For more information, please contact BCT Managing Director Emily Mahon at 208.331.9224 or em@bctheater.org.