Challenging Brown, written by Cris Eli Blak, winner of the 2025 Fade To Black Arts Festival and The Ensemble Theatre’s Premier Theatre Readings, is a powerful story of perseverance, education, and the cost of breaking barriers in a divided America.

Set in 1967 Texas, the play follows Gordon Brown as he becomes the first Black teacher at an all-white high school, stepping into a world shaped by open hostility, quiet resistance, and the daily pressure of proving he belongs. As Gordon confronts racism from both students and faculty, he must lean on his convictions, his dignity, and the support of those closest to him to navigate a system built to reject his presence.

This presentation is the 3rd installment of the Shabach Enterprise Vanguard Series, which spotlights compelling new work and bold contemporary voices.

JULY 17 thru AUGUST 2

MATCHBOX 1

RUNTIME:
90 mintues with no intermission

TICKETS:
General Admission Seating
$40 Regular
$30 Student with ID
$30 Seniors 65+

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN PREVIEW
Friday, July 17 at 7:30 PM
All tickets PWYC!

Groups of 10+ receive a 10% discount by using code FTBGroup2026 at checkout.

Please note that each ticket is subject to a $5 box office support fee at checkout.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Cris Eli Blak is a playwright and screenwriter whose work has been produced Off-Broadway, in regional theatres across the United States, and internationally in London, Australia, Ireland, and Canada. He currently serves as a staff writer on the STARZ hit series Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Blak is the inaugural winner of the Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative and a recipient of the 2024 Charles M. Getchell New Play Award and the Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s Muse of Fire BIPOC Playwriting Festival. His recent honors include the 2025 to 2026 Signpost Fellowship, an artist residency with Abingdon Theatre Company, Core Writer status with The Playwrights Center from 2024 to 2027, and membership in Circle X Theatre Company’s Evolving Playwrights Group. He is an alumnus of the Ojai Playwrights Conference and a fellow of the Black Theatre Coalition.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Alric Davis is a Houston-based director, actor, playwright, and educator, and the Founding Artistic Director of The Sankofa Collective. He holds a BFA from Howard University with concentrations in Musical Theatre and Playwriting. His writing has received national recognition, including selection in the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival for Bashful and the Noize, and his play Buffalo Woman won the Fade To Black Ten-Minute Play Festival. Davis is known for his collaborative, actor-centered process and his strong commitment to developing new work.

EVENT EXPERIENCE

This performance is part of Shabach Enterprise’s ongoing commitment to creating space for African American artists and stories to thrive. Audiences can expect an intimate, engaging theatrical experience. 

Come witness a story that speaks to history, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity through the power of theatre.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO MATCH

🎟️ BOX OFFICE & TICKETING 

• Online sales end 30 minutes prior to curtain. After this time, tickets may be available in person at the MATCH Box Office. 
• The Box Office opens 2 hours prior to curtain for Will Call and walk-up sales. 
• All sales are final. No refunds or cancellations after purchase. 
• Why is there a Box Office Support fee per ticket? Click here to learn more. 
• **Standby/Waiting List: If the performance that you are hoping to attend is SOLD OUT, please CLICK HERE for information on our Standby/Waiting list.

⏱️ BEFORE THE SHOW 

• MATCH Concessions opens 1 hour prior to the start of each event. 
  Enjoy a cocktail, wine, beer, or snack before the show. 
  View concessions menu. 
• Seating typically opens 30 minutes prior to curtain. 
• Please note: Some shows have a no late seating or re-entry after the performance has begun. Arrive early! 

🚗 LOCATION & PARKING: MATCH is located in Midtown Houston. Click here for directions and parking options, including garages and metered street parking.

🍽️ RESTAURANTS & BARS: Make it a night out! Click here for a curated list of nearby restaurants and bars within walking distance of MATCH.

♿ ACCESSIBILITY: MATCH is a fully accessible facility. For accessible seating or special assistance, please contact the box office in advance so we can help accommodate your needs. Click here to email the box office.