A Senator Grapples With His Soul at The Obsidian Theatre Festival

Obsidian Returns for a 6th Season with Soul of the Senator June 27-28

The Obsidian Theatre Festival returns for its sixth season with a powerful new mainstage drama, Soul of the Senator, written by Michael Hagins. As part of this summer’s slate of work, GhostLight presents a politically charged play with a timely, all-too-familiar theme: what happens when a Black Republican senator’s ambition collides with the reality of race, power, and party loyalty.

As relationships strain and backroom deals come to light, the senator is forced to decide how much of his “soul” he is willing to trade to maintain power. The result is a taut, conversation-starting drama that feels ripped from today’s headlines, giving audiences a chance to grapple with issues of gun violence, political ideology, and racism.

“What I love about this piece,” says Obsidian Theatre Festival Producing Artistic Director John Sloan III, “is that while it has some heavy themes, it presents them in a way that feels approachable. Is it dramatic? Of course. But it’s also funny."

"It has heart and balance. It doesn’t ask us to vilify anyone for their beliefs, but it gives us an opportunity to hear differing opinions and ask ourselves, ‘What would we do?’ This type of conversation is exactly what theatre is meant to hold." - Sloan continued.

At the center of this production is a tight ensemble of four actors who ground the play’s political stakes in the intimacy of a family drama. Together, they create an onstage dynamic that brings to life the issues and tensions at the heart of the piece, especially the difficult relationships between parents and children when they hold fundamentally different beliefs. Their performances make the clash of ideologies feel like something happening in real time around a kitchen table—messy, personal, and deeply human.

The production features T. Pharaoh Muhammad as Senator Jamie Carver, C.J. Williams as Dorothy Carver, X'ydee Alexander as Corrina Carver, and Nathan Alford-Tate as Benny Tomlinson. Leading this production is long-time actor/director Lynch Travis, back with Obsidian for his 5th season.

CJ Williams and X'ydee Alexander are mother and daughter on stage and in life.

Soul of the Senator is the Main Stage production at the 2026 Obsidian Theatre Festival (OTF). Based on a summerstock model, OTF rotates productions through various venues in the city, creating multiple performance opportunities in one jam-packed weekend.

The festival opens on Thursday, June 25th, with the 2nd Annual GhostLight Gala: Art is Revolution, and concludes on Sunday, June 28th, with Back to Black: An Obsidian Cabaret featuring Detroit singer/songwriter Jynn Cole.

"We're thrilled about our programming this year". says Sloan. "It's great to be producing new work, celebrating Black stories, and providing the opportunity for both local artists and audiences to engage with each other."

Obsidian Theatre Festival tickets are "Pay What You Can" and can be reserved at www.obsidianfest.org/otf-2026-season.

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