Bishop Arts Theatre Center (BATC) in collaboration with The Writer’s Garret has announced its 2026 Banned Books Festival. Recognized nationwide for its examination of race in America, So You Want to Talk About Race serves as the foundation for this year’s festival. The No. 1 New York Times bestselling book was the 2018 debut of author and activist Ijeoma Oluo. Directed by Charles Jackson Jr., the festival will run from Feb. 19-March 8.
The Texas-born queer author will also be part of this year’s festival.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, BATC and The Writer’s Garret selected and commissioned six local playwrights from an open call to create original short works in direct response to the themes and questions raised in Oluo’s groundbreaking book. The festival will premiere the following plays: Playing Pretend by Erin Malone Turner; One Last Night by De’Aveyon; One Person Can Make a Difference by Linda Boroughs; Casting Call by Claire Fountain; Lake Caspari by Tayla Underwood; and Showing Up Isn’t Easy by Brandon Jackson.
The company declared in its press release that these productions will examine race, identity, and social justice from multiple perspectives— sometimes with humor, sometimes with raw vulnerability, but always with striking honesty.
“Books are banned because their ideas challenge systems of power,” Teresa Coleman Wash, Executive Artistic Director and Founder of Bishop Arts Theatre Center mentioned in the release. “This festival is about honoring those ideas, amplifying bold voices, and creating space for conversations that are urgent, necessary, and transformative.”
Oluo is a Texas native, born in Denton but is now based in Seattle. Her work has been featured in Bitch, The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post. She was named to the 2021 TIME 100 Next list and has twice been named to the Root 100. Her other titles include Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America and Be A Revolution: How Everyday People are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World – and How You Can, Too. She was featured in the 2016 documentary short Oh, I Get It, that centered on queer stand-up comedians in Seattle that explored oppressive comedy culture.
BATC announced that Oluo will attend the Saturday, Feb. 28 performance, participating in a post-show talkback and book signing with the author.
“I’ve followed Ijeoma Oluo’s work for years and deeply value her incisive commentary,” Aaron Glover, Executive Director of The Writer’s Garret stated. “Allowing audiences to hear directly from her—and to engage in dialogue—has enormous potential to spark meaningful change in our community.”
All events will be held at the BATC in Oak Cliff. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit BishopArtsTheatre.org.
–Rich Lopez