The Festival in Da Back
Public Presentation
Public Presentation
April 9, 2026 - April 12, 2026
In Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the crawfish capital of the world, they say there’s two festivals: the one out front, and the one in da back. But it’s what happens on the front lawn of 318 Dorset Street that cracks open a family legacy. Ghosts hum through the zydeco, dreams rattle in the cooler, and everyone’s waiting for someone who might never come home. The Festival in da Back is a richly textured, fiercely funny play about who we crown, what we bury, and whether the music that once moved us can still bring us home.
Hosted at The Flea :20 Thomas St, New York, NY 10007
Brian Egland
Playwright
Brian Egland is a Louisiana based Artist from the small town of Breaux Bridge (the crawfish capital of the world). He is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he was honored with the distinction of being the Outstanding Graduate of ULL’s Performing Arts Department. His journey as a playwright began with a facebook message from a local actress and playwright, Nyetta Meaux, who ultimately inspired Brian to write his first play, The Birthday Dinner, for his collegiate senior project, as Meaux had done herself years prior. The Birthday Dinner went on to be honored by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for excellence in Original Playwrighting, and was the first predominantly African American production at UL Lafayette in half a decade at the time. Since the time of his senior project Brian, as a playwright, has had his works become Official Selections of the Atlanta & DC Black Theatre Festivals, he’s received placement in the former Southern Rep Theatre’s 4D program, residency with the Mississippi Center for Cultural Production as one of their RPPL Artists, and in 2021 Brian returned to UL Lafayette where he wrote and directed a piece titled Boxes In The Ground that streamed on Broadway On Demand and received Honorable Mention in their Stage/Screen shorts film festival. Brian’s journey with NBT began in 2020 as a semifinalist for the I AM Soul Playwriting Residency, and he is now proud to be a recipient of the residency in 2022. He knew from the very moment he learned of NBT that it would be his home, and to be welcomed home fuels his soul to grow.
Nic Ashe
Director
Nic Ashe is an accomplished actor, director, and writer. He is best known as “Micah” on Ava DuVernay’s critically-acclaimed series Queen Sugar. Nic began on stage, starring as “Young Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King. His impressive theatrical resume includes: Kill Floor (Lincoln Center Theater), Choir Boy (Manhattan Theater Club), Girls (Yale Repertory Theatre), The Inheritance (Geffen Playhouse), Pretty Perfect Lives, and most recently, the world premiere of We Are Gathered (Arena Stage) by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney. Nic’s original work centers Black, queer experiences and has been featured at film festivals across the country including: Newfest, Outfest, and Urbanworld.
