Our Journey:

Shabach Enterprise embarked on its journey to uplift underrepresented playwrights of color in 2007. Initially focused on producing full-length plays, the organization redeveloped its platform in 2012, elected new board members, and formed new partnerships, leading to the creation of the Fade To Black Play Festival. Unveiled in January 2013 through social media and word of mouth, this groundbreaking festival held its first event in June of that year, spotlighting ten African-American playwrights selected through a nationwide search. This community initiative provided emerging African-American writers with a platform to premiere their 10-minute plays at no production cost to them, each receiving script development from our directors, audience feedback and financial honorariums.

Thirty submissions were received in our first year, escalating to over 70 the following year and surpassing 100 by our third. By 2015, Mayor Annise Parker recognized our progress, proclaiming June 11 as Fade To Black Play Festival Day.

As our brand popularity increased, our festival moved from an 80-seat black box theater to a 275-seat venue in 2014 and 2015, selling out each night. By 2016, our organization began offering playwright education workshops, and in 2017, we moved to a 325-seat theater to accommodate the increasing audience demand. By 2018, the number of submissions reached over 200.

From 2019 to 2023, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our organization continued to flourish, thanks to the unwavering support of our community. In 2020, we introduced "The Flow," a performance featuring monologues by African-American playwrights set to song and dance. In 2022, our educational workshops expanded into our "Sundays in July" lecture series, covering the art forms of film, music, poetry, and theater each week. By 2023, we completed the first two years of community touring productions commissioned by African-American playwrights.

In 2024, we celebrated our 7th winter reading series. Our 12th summer festival in June will expand to two performance weekends and introduce the first community vendors exhibit day supporting local business owners. We also started "The Fade" podcast, which educates emerging creatives from the viewpoints of industry experts. To date, Shabach Enterprise has supported the advancement of over 300 aspiring playwrights, produced 150 ten-minute plays, and provided cultural performance opportunities for more than 600 local BIPOC artists, earning national recognition and significantly contributing to Houston's cultural landscape.

Our plans for 2025 are to expand our programming further with the debut of the Fade To Black Arts Festival. This weeklong collaborative celebration of African-American film, music, poetry, and theatre is open to all. It will partner with major downtown arts organizations such as the Alley Theatre, Hobby Center, Houston Symphony (celebrity masterclass sponsor), Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera (kick-off ceremony sponsor), The Ensemble Theatre, MATCH, Main Street Theatre, Buffalo Soldiers Museum (industry mixer sponsor) UH, and TSU to offer an exciting week of live performances, theater readings, film screenings, and youth activities. HCC Central will provide the location for educational workshops.

Fade To Black Arts Festival Industry Mixer at Warehouse Live - Midtown

Industry Mixer After Hours