Soul Rep Theatre Company proudly presents its biennial Ted Shine New Play Festival, a cornerstone of the company’s commitment to nurturing Black playwrights and advancing new work. Presented in honor of the legendary playwright Ted Shine, who called Dallas home and served as a mentor and college professor to several Soul Rep company members, the festival is both a tribute and a call forward.

As part of Soul Rep’s 30th Anniversary Season, this year’s festival embraces the theme of “Sankofa” - a word from the Akan language of Ghana meaning “to go back and get it.” Sankofa reflects Soul Rep’s journey forward by reclaiming, honoring, and learning from its rich artistic past while uplifting the next generation of storytellers.

The festival will showcase a curated selection of favorite original short plays previously produced by Soul Rep, alongside two to three new works by emerging young playwrights attending a Historically Black College or University. Together, these works reflect a vibrant continuum of Black theatrical expression - bridging legacy, innovation, and lived experience.