SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE BANNED BOOKS FESTIVAL

Bishop Arts Theatre Center in collaboration with The Writer’s Garret is now accepting

submissions for our annual Banned Books One Act Play Festival, an artistic and educational

response to the growing censorship of literature across the country. We are commissioning six

local playwrights to create original one-act plays inspired by So You Want to Talk About Race by

Ijeoma Oluo. The festival will run from February 19th – March 8th, 2026.

About So You Want to Talk About Race

A candid, accessible, and urgent guide to navigating conversations about race in America.

With clarity, empathy, and unflinching honesty, Oluo breaks down topics such as privilege,

police brutality, microaggressions, and systemic inequality, offering readers practical tools

to engage in meaningful dialogue. This powerful book invites audiences of all backgrounds

to confront discomfort, expand understanding, and move toward a more just and equitable

society.

What We’re Looking For:

We are seeking short plays (no longer than 10 minutes) that respond creatively, or are in

conversation with a selected chapter, theme, or idea within So You Want to Talk About Race by

Ijeoma Oluo.

While we encourage you to immerse yourself in the book to help best position you to write a

play in response to the work, you are only required to read and create a play in response to one

chapter in the book. The chapter, theme, or section you respond to is entirely your decision.

Submission Guidelines:

• Eligibility: Playwrights must currently reside and continue to reside in the Dallas-Fort

Worth metroplex through the end of the festival (March 8th, 2026) to be considered.

• Length: Up to 10 minutes

• Cast: Maximum of 4 actors (doubling is encouraged)

• Setting: Minimal set, preferably a single location

• Content: Original, inspired by the themes or specific sections of the selected banned

book

• Identifying Info: We are not conducting blind submissions. There is no need to remove

your name or personal information from your script.

• Staged Reading & Development: Selected playwrights will receive feedback from our

Playwright-in-Residence, participate in a staged reading, and be invited to make final

revisions prior to rehearsals. Selected playwrights must commit to participating in the

staged reading on December 8th, 2025 as part of the development process.

• Limit: Only one submission will be accepted per playwright. Multiple submissions will

result in disqualification.

Compensation:

Playwrights whose work is selected will receive a $1,000 commission fee, disbursed in two

installments:

• $500 upon selection and execution of the contract

• $500 after the staged reading on December 8th, feedback, and submission of final script edits

To Submit:

Please send the following materials to submissions@writersgarret.org:

• Your script as a PDF

• A short bio (100 words or fewer) either as a separate document or in the body of the

email.

• A 75-word synopsis of your play either as a separate document or in the body of the

email.

• A brief message in the body of your email confirming your availability to participate in

the staged reading on December 8th, 2025 at 7:30 pm CST should your play be selected.

Important Dates:

Deadline to Submit: October 17th, 2025

Notification of Selection: November 14th, 2025

Internal Staged Reading: December, 8th, 2025

Final Drafts Due: December 22nd, 2025

Festival: February 19th – March 8th, 2026

Please Note:

Playwrights retain full copyright to their work. If selected, Bishop Arts Theatre Center shall have

non-exclusive rights to present the selected plays as part of the Banned Books One Act Festival.

For any questions, please send a message to our Playwright-in-Residence Franky D. Gonzalez at

franky@bishopartstheatre.org.