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CRITICAL RACE THEATRE PROJECT
Upcoming Events
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.
2026 VENUE
THE LYNN THEATER
AT BRIGHTPOINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(MIDLOTHIAN CAMPUS)
800 Charter Colony Pkwy Midlothian, VA 23114
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ALWAYS THERE
"Always There" is a funny and heartwarming tale about family, loss, and a haunted house. Jeffery does not know how to connect with his estranged daughter, Brianna. His last resort may be to join her in trying an unusual method. Can Jeffery get past his skepticism and finally open up to his daughter?
WHO IS
ASHTON LEE
PLAYWRIGHT
Ashton Lee (writer, Always There) is a Virginia based writer and performer. He has written numerous short plays and short films, most notably Gotta Have Cookie on YouTube. Ashton thanks the RVA Theatre Festival and the CRT Project for the opportunity to give Always There to a new audience. He would also like to thank his family, his girlfriend, Cherrell and his mentor, Vickie Scallion. And a special thank you to director Rick St. Peter and the wonderful cast for their hard work and dedication.
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DREAMER IN A PARADISE ASYLUM
Dreamer in a Paradise Asylum, is a kaleidoscopic musical theatre experience that reimagines the 1970’s from the perspective of a soldier fighting to survive in Vietnam and his wife, a sensual soul sista, tasting independence back home in America for the first time. Through devised theatre, explosive stage combat, a nostalgic soundtrack, and steamy dance numbers, Joshua D. Harris, and first time directors Raven and Jernelle Banks, deliver a timeless piece of theatre mastery without one spoken word of dialogue. Grab your popcorn you’re in for a treat!
WHO IS
JOSHUA D. HARRIS
PRODUCER, PLAYWRIGHT, PERFORMER
After spending two months on the road on his national musical tour, Mr. Harris returned home to Richmond to kick off the new year and wasted no time reminding audiences why he’s still the heartbeat of the Richmond underground theatre scene. Writing and Directing original works such as Creme de le Creme, starring as John Mitchell Jr. in Our Man Mitchell, launching LOV magazine, and revising his role as artistic director and lead organizer for The RVA Black Theatre Festival. Mr. Harris looks to keep audiences electrified by returning to the RVA Black Theatre Festival stage with his rawest and most jaw dropping performance yet. Dreamer in a Paradise Asylum will hook audiences from start to finish and rip them clean of every emotion they got. That’s a promise!
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LAMENTATIONS
At the end of the Civil War, not 1863, but officially ending slavery on June 19, 1865, destruction ruined the foundations of structures, but mainly the structure of domestic dominance. On June 20, 1865 when formerly enslaved She Moses and He Moses discussed their plans for their future, Missus pleads to change their minds according to her bible. She laments still.
WHO IS
Royal Shirée
PLAYWRIGHT
Royal Shirée is published in Original Works eTens, THEATRE SYMPOSIUM: VOLUME 30 – THEATRE & POLITICS, She Persisted (anthology of monologues and short plays by the Applause Series). Her award-winning collaborative play with Joanne Hudson, Sisters, has been incorporated as part of the Ridgefield, CT middle school curriculum and The Sisters Project is the winner of the 2021 Award of Excellence by the Leadership in History awards, the 2021 American Association for State and Local History Award (AASLH), and the 2021 Connecticut League of History Organizations (CLHO) Award of Merit. Her play, Lamentations is part of the 2026 RVA Black Theatre Festival. Her play, Water Play, has a developmental reading at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture sponsored by Hollins Playwright’s Lab.
Shirée earned a hybrid English M.A. in Scholarship and Creative Writing from University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg College) 2012 and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Hollins University 2013. She is a member of Ghost Light Dramatists and Honor Roll!, an advocacy and action group of women+ playwrights over 40 as well as the former Resident Playwright at Hamner Theatre, a Fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a Dramatists Guild member.
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KILLING KING KARMINE WITH MY CHAOTIC, CARRIONED MIND:
A MANIFESTO
Bee Larchwood (they/them/theirs) is a psychic political whistleblower gone underground in a world that intentionally misunderstands them as a person of multiple marginalized experiences. Some people just aren't who the world wants to hear from. Some people will never be the hero...which is why the assassin-superstar-It-Boy vigilante of our collective dreams must bear the brunt of Bee's telepathic villainy(?)-- It's the only way... [Luigi-Mangione-Inspired Black/LGBTQ Psychic Satire Based on True Events. To unlock the backstory of the true whistleblower case, members of the press and/or public should demand FOIA access to the documentation for U.S. Dept of Justice Corporate Whistleblower Pilot Program 20240822-0001 and Federal Election Commission Matter Under Review 8300.]
WHO IS
CHRIS COURTNEY MARTIN
WRITER
Chris Courtney Martin (they/them/theirs) is a spiritual medium and multidisciplinary artist originally from Philadelphia, PA. Martin's written work has accrued accolades since their youth, placing in contests and receiving honors consistently. The integration of music in Martin's creative practice saw a recent culmination in the release of back-to-back digital albums, currently available through all popular music streamers online. Martin's Freshman and Sophomore monograph collections in poetry and prose are available via Alien Buddha Press, and housed in academic libraries across the nation-- including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This recent return to theatre comes after a years-long stretch of screenwriting in Los Angeles, which culminated in the whistleblower story behind "KILLING KING KARMINE WITH MY CHAOTIC, CARRIONED MIND: A Manifesto."
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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