BCT BIPOC PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL – AUG. 22-23RD

Haunting Stories for BCT’s 5th Annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival

From August 20 through 23, 2025, Boise Contemporary Theater (BCT) holds its Fifth Annual BIPOC Playwrights at 854 Fulton Street in Boise. Artists from across the country will arrive in Boise soon to workshop two new works: Jesa or the Realm of Possibility by Jeena Yi and The Wetlands by AriDy Nox. Tickets for individual readings are $10, a Festival Pass for all events is $25, and both are available at bctheater.org/bipoc or by calling the BCT box office at 208-331-9224.

This anniversary Festival’s selections are about balance and new beginnings. Meet the playwrights on Wednesday, 8/20 at 7 PM during our Playwrights’ Panel discussion moderated by Festival Director Lily Yasuda. AriDy Nox and Jeena Yi will discuss their plays, the Festival process, and answer audience questions. This is a free event, open to the public, but please reserve a ticket online: https://bctheater.ludus.com/200491833.

Then join us Friday and Saturday for staged readings of both new works:
FRI, 8/22 at 2 PM: Staged reading of Jesa or the Realm of Possibility by Jeena Yi
FRI, 8/22 at 7 PM: Staged reading of The Wetlands by AriDy Nox
SAT, 8/23 at 2 PM: Staged reading of The Wetlands by AriDy Nox
SAT, 8/23 at 7 PM: Staged reading of Jesa or the Realm of Possibility by Jeena Yi

BCT is thrilled to welcome back one of American Theatre Magazine’s “10 Rising Black Women to Watch,” who directed Clyde’s at BCT in 2024, Chanel Bragg. She will direct The Wetlands by multi-disciplinary black femme storyteller AriDy Nox, who offers the tale of Nita and Tara trapped in a deadly race against time, bravely facing what haunts them to make way for a new beginning.

Making their Boise Contemporary Theater directorial debut, Mei Ann Teo is a seasoned director who has developed new work in places like Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Rep, Goodman Theatre, and Public Theater. Teo will direct Jesa or the Realm of Possibility by Jeena Yi, a Korean American actor, writer, and Los Angeles native who now lives in NYC. Yi’s story begins when four estranged Korean American sisters reunite in Orange County, CA, to perform their parents’ Jesa—a traditional ritual honoring the dead. Old wounds erupt, secrets surface, and ghosts (literal and emotional) refuse to stay buried.

Bringing these stories to life are artists from across the USA and Jamaica! Participants include playwrights AriDy Nox and Jeena Yi, directors Chanel Bragg and Mei Ann Teo, actors Cynnita Agent (TARA), Tina Chilip (TINA), Narea Kang (BRENDA), Sami Ma (GRACE), Racquel McKenzie (NITA), and Laura Sohn (ELIZABETH), and stage managers Elena Maddy and John Wicks.

BCT’s annual festival is funded in part by support from Morrison Center Endowment Foundation, The Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects award, Boise Guest House, and the generosity of donors, especially during Idaho Gives.

For more information, please visit:
Boise Contemporary Theater’s Annual BIPOC Playwrights Festival: bctheater.org/bipoc
Morrison Center Endowment Foundation: https://www.morrisonendowment.org
National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects: arts.gov/news
The Gladys E. Langroise Advised Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation: https://www.idahocf.org/impact/donor-advised-endowed-funds
Boise Guest House: https://boiseguesthouse.com