Shabach Enterprise Houston’s premier minority-led arts nonprofit unites the city’s top arts institutions for a groundbreaking festival celebrating African-American creativity.

?Experience a powerful lineup of film, music, poetry, theatre and visual arts, alongside celebrity masterclasses, screenings, discussions, and performances that amplify diverse Black voices and ignite cultural appreciation.

Schedule:

Sunday, June 8, 2025

12:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: The Hobby Center Presents Fade to Black Arts Festival Community Day and Kickoff Ceremony
5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Kickoff Event Culminates in an Evening Performance! Women to Watch: Houston R&B Storytellers

Monday, June 9, 2025

8:00 a.m - 8:45 a.m: Morning Workout - African Dance at Match Gallery
8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Creative Movement
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Play or Slay: Owning the Stage with Smoke and Mirrors By Norma Jo Thomas at HSPVA
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Mastering Performance, Presence and Influence by Oscar Hines at Match Gallery
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: "So You Wanna Act" by Curtis Von at Matchbox 1
10:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Film Screening and Filmmaker Talk Back at Matchbox 2
10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Jazz (Ages 12-14) 
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Directing New Talent: Maximizing Performance with Inexperienced Actors by Cleo House-Keller at Match Gallery
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Playwright's Workshop:  Creativity, Imagination, and Structure by Thomas Meloncon at Matchbox 1
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Play or Slay: Owning the Stage with Smoke and Mirrors by Norma Jo Thomas at HSPVA
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: In our Bodies, On the Stage (Theatre + Social and Emotional Learning) by Jasmine Thomas at HSPVA
1:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m: Poet Se7en Master Class: "Poetry Chose Me" at Matchbox 1
2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Readings (Playwright Contest Winner): Hell is Empty by TJ Young (Dir. Kelvin Douglas) at Match Gallery
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: House Is Not A Home: A Theatrical Poetry Experience curated by Joseph "Joe P." Palmore at Matchbox 1 at Matchbox 1
3:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Workshops, Symposium at Matchbox 2
3:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Johnnie B. Goode Theatre Production at Matchbox 4
4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Challenging Brown by Cris Eli Blak (Dir.  Jennifer Decker) at Match Gallery
7:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m: Stages Theater Reading: Mud Row by Dominique Morisseau 
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Se7en Entertainment’s Artist Collective at Matchbox 1
8:00 p.m - 10:30 p.m: Opening Night Film at Matchbox 2
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: The Rhythm of Life: A Cabaret in Color at Matchbox 3
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Fade To Black: Best of the Best 10-Minute Plays at Matchbox 4 

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

8:00 a.m - 8:45 a.m: Morning Workout (Zumba) at Match Gallery
8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Creative Movement
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Puppetry for All by Crystal Rae at HPSVA
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Write Your Life: A Playwriting Workshop by Jelisa Robinson at HSPVA
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: The Three P's Of Auditioning Techniques (Auditioning 101) by Vickie L. Evans at Matchbox 1
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Improv Basics With Can't Tell Us Nothing by Amechi Ngwe at Matchbox 3
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Bank of America - Financial Literacy at Matchbox 4
10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Jazz (Ages 12-14) 
10:00 a.m - 11:30 a.m: Film Symposium, Workshop at Matchbox 2
11:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Paula Wilson Arts Administration at Matchbox 3
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: "So You Wanna Act" by Curtis Von at Matchbox 4
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Behind the Scenes: Audio, Digital Scenery, and Lighting in Theatre by Covenant Communications at Gallery
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Puppetry for All by Crystal Rae at HSPVA
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Write Your Life: A Playwriting Workshop by Jelisa Robinson at HSPVA
11:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m: Auditioning for Musical Theater (+18yrs) by Dr. John Cornelius, II at Matchbox 2
1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Aberdeen and Netarine by Sidney Rushing (Dir. Sha’Na Smith) at Matchbox 1
2:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m: Film Screening at Matchbox 2
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: The Rhythm of Life: A Cabaret in Color at Matchbox 3
4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Last Call for Jim Crow by Christina Cottles (Dir. Curtis Von) at Matchbox 1
5:30 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Novi Brown Master Class: Reel Life with Novi Brown: How To Uplift Women As We Climb at Matchbox 2
6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner) - Melda Beaty (Dir. Eileen Morris) at The Ensemble Theatre
7:30 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Jazz Jam Session hosted by Tex Allen and the Sunshine Friends at Matchbox 3
7:30 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Screening and Filmmaker Talkback at Matchbox 2
7:30 p.m - 9:30 p.m: Theatre Production: H Place by Norma Thomas at Matchbox 4 - Click Here for Tickets
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: House Is Not A Home: A Theatrical Poetry Experience curated by Joseph "Joe P." Palmore at Matchbox 1 at Matchbox 1

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

8:00 a.m - 8:45 a.m: Morning Workout (Yoga) at Match Gallery
8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Creative Movement
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Write for Your Life by Ugochi Emenaha at HPSVA
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Acting Through the Lens of African-American Storytelling by Henrietta Hayes (Parent Day) at HSPVA
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: The Amazing Audition: Becoming Your friendly neighborhood hired singer by Errin Hatter at Match Gallery 
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: The South is Poetry By EJ Batiste at Matchbox 1
10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Jazz (Ages 15-17) 
10:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Film Symposium, Workshop at Matchbox 2
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: The Inner Stage: A Theater, Film Workshop on Psychological Aspects of Character Development by EJ Batiste at Match Gallery
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Acting and Writing from a Culturally Safe Place by Andre Minkins at Matchbox 1
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: The Science of Singing by Dr. Jolie Rocke at HSPVA
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: In our Bodies, On the Stage (Theatre + Social and Emotional Learning) by Jasmine Thomas at HSPVA
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Voice production and Interpretation for the Young Singer by Linda Knight Burkley at HSPVA
1:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m: Lauren Anderson Master Class: The Dancer’s Path: Breaking Through in the Entertainment Industry at Matchbox 3
2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Bridge in the Distance by Clarence Holmes, Jr. (Dir. Vincent Victoria) at Match Gallery
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: House Is Not A Home: A Theatrical Poetry Experience curated by Joseph "JoeP." Palmore at Matchbox 1 at Matchbox 1
3:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Film Screening at Matchbox 2
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Fade To Black: Best of the Best 10-Minute Plays at Matchbox 4
3:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Ode To Frank Sinatra: Rickey Davis, The Classic Gentlemen at Matchbox 3
4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Single Raindrop by Zachariah Ezer (Dir. Manning Mott) at Match Gallery
6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: The Tap Dance Kid: First Look at The Ensemble Theatre
7:30 p.m - 9:30 p.m:  Alley Theatre Reading - Whitelisted by Chisa Hutchinson (Dir. Amber D. Gray)
7:30 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Film Screening and Filmmaker Talkback at Matchbox 2
8:00 p.m - 10:30 p.m: Johnnie B. Goode Theatre Production at Matchbox 4
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Se7en Entertainment’s Artist Collective at Matchbox 1
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: MPAC Live! at Matchbox 2
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: The Rhythm of Life: A Cabaret in Color at Matchbox 3

?Thursday, June 12, 2025

8:00 a.m - 8:45 a.m: Morning Workout (Tai Chi) at Match Gallery
8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Creative Movement
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Write for Your Life by Ugochi Emenaha at HPSVA
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Acting Through the Lens of African-American Storytelling by Henrietta Hayes at HSPVA
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: The Three P's Of Auditioning Techniques (Auditioning 101) by Vickie L. Evans at Matchbox 3
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Acting and Writing from a Culturally Safe Place by Andre Minkins at Matchbox 4
10:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Jazz (Ages 15-17) 
10:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Film Symposium, Workshop at Matchbox 2
11:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Brave Little Company - Grandpa’s Garden at Houston Public Library
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM To Present Or To Represent, that Is the Question by Tazeen Zahadi at Matchbox 1
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Voice production and interpretation for the young singer by Linda Knight Burkley at HSPVA
1:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m: Jason Dirden Master Class: From Stage To Screen at Match Gallery
1:30 p.m - 3:30 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Last Call At Libby’s by Rudy Bamenga (Dir. Steven Scott) at Matchbox 1
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Film Screening at Matchbox 2
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Trains, Blue Gardenias, and White Daffodils by Charity Clark-Anderson (Dir. Tazeen Zahadi) at Matchbox 3?
4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): Trial of the Centuries by Darien Mitchell (Dir. Christian Tannous) at Match Gallery 
6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: The Ensemble Theatre Premier Theatre Reading (Playwright Contest Winner): In The Prophet's House by Reginald Edmund (Dir. Rachel Dickson) at The Ensemble Theatre
7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: Film Screening, Filmmaker Talkback and Mixer at Matchbox 2
7:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m: The "I Can Entertain" Concert Presented by I.C.E. Man Productions LLC at Matchbox 3 - Click Here for Tickets
7:30 p.m - 9:30 p.m: Soul Rep Theatre Reading: No Chil' Left: A Farce by Jordan E. Cooper (Dir. Ezekiel Morgan) at Gallery
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: House Is Not A Home: A Theatrical Poetry Experience curated by Joseph "JoeP." Palmore at Matchbox 1 at Matchbox 1
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Fade To Black: Best of the Best 10-Minute Plays at Matchbox 4 
10:30 p.m - 12:00 a.m: Festival Industry Mixer at Warehouse Live - Midtown

Friday, June 13, 2025

8:00 a.m - 8:45 a.m: Morning Workout (Line Dance) at Match Gallery
8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m: Houston Ballet - Possible Presentation
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Black Playwrights Monologue workshop at HPSVA
9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Shakespeare Workshop at HSPVA
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: My First Movie By Joan Montreuil at Match Gallery
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Acting and Writing from a Culturally Safe Place by Andre Minkins at Matchbox 4
10:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Film Symposium, Workshop at Matchbox 2 
10:00 a.m - 11:30 a.m: Building Your Own Table: Power of Producing Musical Theater at Matchbox 3
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Mastering the Business of Acting: BEAZ Talent Agency at Matchbox 1
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Jokes, Drama and A Little Bit of Therapy By Ibukunola Rojugbokan at Matchbox 4
1:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m: Dr. Malik Yoba Master Class: Why Are You On The Planet Unlocking the Power of Personal Story at Matchbox 2 
1:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m: Monologue Competition at HSPVA
2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: A Soulful Journey Concert: Rickey Davis at Matchbox 3
2:30 p.m - 3:30 p.m: Brave Little Company - Grandpa’s Garden at Houston Public Library 
2:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m: Se7en Entertainment’s Artist Collective at Matchbox 1
3:00 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Film Screening at Matchbox 2
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Fade To Black: Best of the Best 10-Minute Plays at Matchbox 4
5:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: FTBAF Panel Discussion: The Entertainment Industry at Matchbox 1
7:00 p.m - 9:30 p.m: City-Wide Mass Gospel Concert at The Historic St. John Church of Houston
7:30 p.m - 9:30 p.m: Se7en Entertainment’s Artist Collective  at Matchbox 1
7:30 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Film Screening and Filmmaker Talkback at Matchbox 2 
8:00 p.m - 10:30 p.m: Johnnie B. Goode Theatre Production at Matchbox 4
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: State of the Union - A Musical Town Hall: Words by Eric Jones at Matchbox 3

Saturday, June 14, 2025

8:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m: Visual, Sculptured Art Showcase at Matchbox Building 
9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m: Passion Meets Profit: Strategies in the Age of AI by Toni Simmons Henson at Matchbox 3
10:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Film Symposium, Workshops at Matchbox 2 
11:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m: Brave Little Company - Grandpa’s Garden at Houston Public Library
11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Stage to Stage: Successfully Navigate the Festival Circuit by Toni Simmons Henson at Matchbox 3
12:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Community Vendor Exhibit Showcase at Match Gallery 
1:00 p.m - 2:30 p.m: Dr. Brély Evans Master Class: Everything They Don't Teach You In Acting Class; Understanding The Business of Show Business. at Matchbox 1
2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m: Houston Arts Alliance Grant Workshop: Houston Arts Alliance Grant Workshop: From Vision to Victory: Mastering the Houston Arts Alliance Grant Process at Matchbox 4 
2:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m: The Rhythm of Life: A Cabaret in Color at Matchbox 3
3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Film Screening at Matchbox 2
5:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m: FTBAF Line Dance Competition at Match Gallery
5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Performing Arts Industry Panel Discussion at Matchbox 4
5:30 p.m - 7:00 p.m: Hip Hop Legends Talkback: Honoring K-Rino at Matchbox 2
7:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Blk Swan Poetry: Poetic Therapy: Evolution of a Grown *** Woman For Every Woman Who’s Had to Break to Become at Matchbox 1
?7:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m: Red Carpet, Awards - Recognition of Honoree (Greg Carter) at Matchbox 4 
8:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m: Macahl Jett: Ultimate Concert Experience: "Left on Read" at Matchbox 3
10:30 p.m - 1:30 a.m: Closing Grand Industry Mixer at Stages

Sunday, June 15, 2025

1:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m: Houston Hollywood Studios: Short Film Festival at Matchbox 2
3:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m: Ebony Opera Guild Concert:  From the Middle Passage to Black Lives Matter: The Journey to Freedom Continues
A Juneteenth Commemorative Concert at Matchbox 4
6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Jazz Artist Spotlight - Jazz Performance at Matchbox 3

Date: June 8 - 14, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Houston, TX 77020

Click here For More Information