Shepsu is a founding member of MPAACT and continues his commitment to the company as a playwright, scenic and sound designer, photographer, and musician.
As a Playwright-in-residence Shepsu has developed several critically acclaimed works in the Playwright’s Laboratory. In 2004 he was awarded the prestigious Artistic Fellowship in Scriptworks by the Illinois Arts Council. He is a two-time recipient of the Theodore Ward Prize for Playwrighting for Ten Square (2008-9) and Kiwi Black (2001-2002). Shepsu is a six-time nominee for best Original Stage play by the Black Theater Alliance of Chicago receiving the award in 1999 for The Abesha Conspiracy and 2007 for Trouble the Water. He is also a three-time nominee for the Joseph Jefferson citation in multiple categories. In additon, Shepsu received two Joseph Jefferson citations for original music in 2002 and 2003.