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CRITICAL RACE THEATRE PROJECT
WHAT IS CRTP
The Critical Race Theatre Project is a black theatre collective formed in 2024 by Richmond, Virginia theater professionals Sharalyn Garrard and Toney Cobb.
The 1st Annual Richmond Black Theatre Festival is an evening of black, creative expression, and excellence. "Too often Black artists are not produced because the producers and decision makers don't know who they are, or where they are. This will be a platform for Black artists to get their work seen and eventually produced. We hope that this festival will grow over the years as we give voice to more and more Black creatives."
WHO IS
SHARALYN GARRARD
Sharalyn Garrard graduated from Hampton University with a B.A. in Speech and Drama. She spent five years in Los Angeles as a Stage Manager. After returning home, she has been seen on several Richmond stages. Some of her favorite roles include Clairee in Steel Magnolias, African American Repertory Theatre; Aunt Missy in Purlie, Dept. of Recreation and Parks; Viney in The Miracle Worker, Swift Creek Mill Theatre; Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun,New Castle Productions; and Sudy in Steal Away and Narrator in Sweet Chocolate and the Seven Christians, The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company. She directed the staged reading, Look What We Did with Love, and directed Tellin’ Tales, both with The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company, where she served as Artistic Director; and she was one of the directors in The BlackList at The Conciliation Lab. She is the Founder of The Critical RaceTheatre Project.
WHO IS
TONEY COBB
Toney Q Cobb is a native of Richmond, and has been involved in theatre/film/TV for 35 years. He's worked at Theatre IV, Sycamore Rouge, Firehouse Theater, and Swift Creek Mill Playhouse and many other groups throughout the region. He is currently serving as Board President for Richmond Community Theater Guild.
2024 VENUE
RICHMOND TRIANGLE PLAYERS
ROBERT B. MOSS THEATRE
1300 Altamont Ave, Richmond, VA 23230
COMING OUT
Coming Out is a show about the struggles of a young black girl, Nile, trying to come out to her mother. In Act 1 we are shown a few different stories of how people have come out and in the end Nile will have to decide if and how she will come out to her mother. Is this the journey she wants to take or will she keep it hidden forever?
WHO IS
AMEESHA BURNS
PLAYWRIGHT
Ameesha Burns is a lover of all things theatre! She fell in love with acting in 2006 when she landed her first role as Grace in 'Amazing Grace'. Entering college she was taken under the wing of Margarette Joyner who gave her the opportunity to explore directing, stage management and light/sound assistance. With this she decided to grow in her first true love writing. 'Coming Out' is the first play that Ameesha has written and it hits close to home as she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She hopes that this play opens the mind of those not a part of the community while also bringing comfort to those in the community.
ALL BOYS WEAR BLUE
All Boys Wear Blue is an original hip hop musical written and performed by Joshua "Dai Dream" Harris with original music compositions from his brother Justin "Flash" Harris. All Boys Wear Blue is a semi autobiographical story about a young teenage boy from the southside of Richmond who searches to find love and respect while navigating through dangerous rival crews.
WHO IS
JOSHUA "DAI DREAM" HARRIS
PLAYWRIGHT, PERFORMER
Nicknamed the internet’s busiest boyfriend. Joshua “Dai Dream” Harris is a songwriter, playwright, and producer from Richmond, VA (Southside). He is the co-founder and current Creative Director of Richmond based performance production company House of Cards VA along with his brother Justin “Flash” Harris. You can catch Joshua’s next event at the 2024 You Art Conference over at Pine Camp August 16-17!
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BELL BLU
Bell Blu is tired of living with her mother who insists that the only way she is ever going to leave home is married to a man who will take care of her. Bell despises the whole idea of a woman needing a man to provide for her. She wants to be free to be herself and she will do anything to get her freedom. This play is set during the 1960s-1970s.
WHO IS
REBEKAH PIERCE
PLAYWRIGHT
Rebekah L. Pierce is here to empower and inspire women to live in their purpose through the arts and advocacy. A retired English teacher, playwright, advocate for women, and veteran, she has worked extensively to empower and uplift women and families who face monumental issues to their spiritual,physical, emotional and financial well-being. She refers to herself as a mindset strategist and speaker in that much of her work revolves around issues that impact the quality of life of women and their families. She has been witness to the power of storytelling whether it is through the pages of a book, public speaking or on the stage; it can bring about healing. “I am an advocate and ally for the often dazzling, blinding reality of truth” says Rebekah.
In February 2019, she released her memoir, I Love Me More; it’s the story of how “I came to understand I cannot ask someone to love me if I don’t love me first. We all deserve to be loved, but true love begins with owning and loving who you are even if the “love of your life” walks away from you, or you walk away from them.”
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Ms. Pierce is also owner of Maggie’s Custom Sweet Treats, a bakery which specializes in creating homemade sweet treats such as cupcakes, Sunday Table Cakes, brownies, pies, and more. Continuing her love of food and the arts, she is the host of the foodie podcast, “Beyond the Plate RVA” on RLP Productions’ Youtube channel.
Ms. Pierce currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with her two children and family. To schedule an interview or to book Rebekah as a guest speaker at your next event, visit www.rebekahlpierce.com, or send an email to info@rlpproductions.com.
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WHO IS
JEREMY MORRIS
DIRECTOR
Jeremy Morris is an award-winning Actor/Playwright/Theatre Artist based in the Richmond area. He is proud to have been involved in bringing Rebekah L. Pierce's powerful play "Bell Blu" back to the stage!
Favorite works include: Topdog/Underdog with TheaterLAB (RTCC nomination: Best Actor), Uncle Tom: Deconstructed with the Conciliation Project.
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THE WATERS OF BABYLON OR PSALM 137 REVISITED
We live in a nation where people who look like me have historically been eradicated by fire (e.g., The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, the KKK/KnightRiders) or water (e.g., Lake Lanier, GA or Lake Martin, AL). This piece is a reflective look at our complicated relationship with water and the ways it can trigger memories: slave ships, oceans, rivers, swimming, baptism. Like water, this work is fluid and evolving, soft yet strong, destructive and yet necessary for life. It comes in many forms, and is never the same twice. .By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy. . .
WHO IS
JULINDA D. LEWIS
WRITER, CHOREOGRAPHER, PERFORMER
Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, writer born in Brooklyn, NY & migrated to Richmond, VA. She taught in public schools in NY and VA for more than 30 years and in "retirement" teaches dance history at VCU, teaches dance fitness for seasoned seniors, performs/collaborates with MK Abadoo/MK Arts and Royal Shiree/The Hamner Theater, and serves as a Minister of Dance & Worship Arts. Julinda is a free-lance writer and publishes the RVArt Review blog (jdldancesrva.com).
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Fun Facts: I have a motorcycle license, I have a fondness for anything lavender or pistachio, and my knees are the youngest part of my body.
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