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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 2nd 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
COFOUNDER, PRESIDENT
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
CO FOUNDER,OPERATING DIRECTOR
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.
WHO IS
JOSHUA D. HARRIS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Joshua D. Harris, co-founder and president of House of Cards VA,
a theater production company located in Richmond VA. He and his brother (Justin “Flash” Harris) have pioneered black theater excellence partnering with youth programs such as Pine Camp's Journey Program to produce annual shows for Black History Month and Juneteenth, as well as partnering with CRTP to oversee production, marketing, and artistic direction for the annual black theatre festival as well as expanding into music and theater touring with their hit show “All Boys Wear Blue” this upcoming fall.
WHO IS
d.l. Hopkins
COMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING CONSULTANT
dl Hopkins is a fixture in the Virginia theatre community. Onstage, he is an award-winning actor, veteran poet, and former Artistic Director of the African American Repertory Theatre of Virginia. He has appeared on film, including in HBO’s “Loving.” He has also appeared on television in many different roles, including in HBO’s “The Wire” and the Fox series “Legends & Lies” as Bass Reeves, The Real Lone Ranger.
Mr. Hopkins was honored with the title of Artist-In-Residence at the University of Richmond, where he performed and taught. As a founding member of Ernie McClintock’s Jazz Actors Theatre, he toured as a fellow repertory artist, and taught Mr. McClintock’s Jazz Actor’s technique.
2025 VENUE
THE LYNN THEATER
AT BRIGHTPOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(MIDLOTHIAN CAMPUS)
800 Charter Colony Pkwy Midlothian, VA 23114
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BUFFALO SOLDIER:
THE CATHAY WILLIAMS STORY
This original play written and directed by Nora Ogunleye, explores the life of Cathay Williams the first black African American female soldier to enlist in the army, and the only known black female member of the buffalo soldiers. Spawned by her need for freedom and independence, Buffalo Soldier: The Cathay Williams Story is a gripping heartfelt tale from beginning to end!
WHO IS
NORA OGUNLEYE
PLAYWRIGHT
“Nora is ecstatic to be making her playwriting debut with support and assistance from everyone at the RVA black theatre festival. Written during the height of the pandemic, it is her honor to continue the story and legacy of Cathay Williams, one of history’s most powerful yet underrated heroes. Nora would like to dedicate this show to her late mother, Collette Grant, who was an ever supportive ear and sounding board during the entire writing process. This one’s for you, mom.
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THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING ZOOM
A family dramedy...for better or worse! Set during the thick of the pandemic, Jill, her fiancé, and their wacky relatives gather under one roof for an impromptu wedding ceremony. Their Eyes Were Watching Zoom is a fast paced comedy with heartfelt moments. Family, Grief, and non-sentient devices walk down the aisle in the Warrenton's living room as the big day draws near. This show is co-produced by Joshua D. Harris and Destiny Howard.
WHO IS
DESTINY HOWARD
PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT, PERFORMER
Destiny Howard loves the art of storytelling and bringing stories to life. Works she has written include The Author, The Gift of Presence, and The Heavenly Window. Productions she has performed in include Bell Blu, Atlantis, Frankenstein or the Modern Epimetheus, Finding Boaz, and Ambitions: It’s A Way Of Life. With her art, Destiny hopes to inspire and empower others.
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PEEING IN A SODA BOTTLE
Chosen for the Staged Reading Category in the 2020 Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, PEEING IN A SODA BOTTLE, celebrates old Southern woman wisdom and front porch storytelling, while conveying intricate life insight through a character with regret, hurt, her definition of faith, strength, and an under current of compassion for others. She is a high-yellow, moonshine drinking, cussing woman who some disregard because she is. The piece is about respecting elders, hard truths and our stories through the lens of certain types of people that many of us disregard.
WHO IS
E. CLAUDETTE FREEMAN
PLAYWRIGHT
Claudette Freeman's honors include being chosen for theatre festival readings in two consecutive years for the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, placing for two consecutive years in the Quest Theatre of West Palm Beach Loften Mitchell New Playwrights' Festival, being chosen for the Pacific Northwest Theatre and Film Festival, being chosen twice for the Reading Series of the National Black Theater Festival.
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LOOKING FOR LEROY
A young theatre intern struggles to comprehend the artistic metamorphoses of his hero, a great playwright at the pinnacle of his powers. While the acolyte assists with play development, his casual observations infuriate his mentor and the two heatedly debate the fundamental questions of theatre, examine the fungible nature of aesthetics, question whether artistic expression is ever nonideological and weight the added responsibility of artists of color.
WHO IS
L. ROI BOYD III
DIRECTOR
L.Roi Boyd, III is a Professor of Speech and Theatre at Virginia State
University. He has taught and directed in educational theatre for more than 30 years in Virginia and North Carolina.
He is also a film director, actor, fashion model, radio personality and an
author with two published books to his credit (Bless His Soul: The Agony, The Ecstasy And The Destiny Of Michael Jackson and The Super FlyTrilogy. Boyd has worked and studied under Robert Wynn-Jackson, Douglas McArthur Johnson, Mark Brokaw and Andre DeShields
He is happy to be a part of the Richmond Black Theatre Festival.
WHAT'S NEW
SOUNDS OF THE FESTIVAL
"OFTEN UNDERREPRESENTED BUT NEVER UNDERAPPRECIATED. THIS ANTHEM IS DEDICATED TO ALL OUR SHEA BUTTER QUEENS WITH THE GLISTENING SKIN." LISTEN TO JOSHUA "DAI DREAM" HARRIS NEWEST RNB SINGLE 'BROADWAY BADDIE' AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS FRIDAY JULY 18TH.
VISUAL ARTS DISPLAY
CRTP IS COMMITED TO SUPPORTING VIRGINIA ARTISTS OF ALL MEDIUMS. THIS YEAR WE INVITED YOU TO COME CHECK OUT OUR UNIQUE VISUAL ARTS DISPLAY LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE THEATER, WHICH WILL FEATURE ORIGINAL WORK CREATED BY LOCAL ARTISTS.
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