Lily Marcheschi (F) Lily Marcheschi (she/they) is incredibly honored and thankful to be welcomed into the BLK VA THEATRE ALLIANCE space to be a part of their production of LUNGS and make there BVTA Debut. Lily moved to Richmond from California in February this year and has been fortunate enough to be a part of the casts of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (VA REP), Murder on the Orient Express (VA REP), Witchduck (FIREHOUSE), and now LUNGS! Lily is obsessed with vests no matter how much her boyfriend complains about them, and recently has started driving a car with a manual transmission and thinks she deserves a lot more compliments on how impressive that is. She hopes you enjoy the show.(Hi mom)

Emily King Brown (She/Her)(Director) - Emily King Brown was raised on Gospel Roots and Friday Night Lights. A Richmond native, her work as a director, actor, writer and creative producer explores the intersection of performance, design, and human connection. Emily earned the highest honors at Shenandoah Conservatory, graduating with a BFA in Voice and Acting. She also holds an Advanced Acting Certificate from the Moscow Art Theatre, where she trained in classical technique and ensemble-based creation. EKB has spent over two decades performing and creating on stages around the world, from New York experimental mainstays to Italian cathedrals to the Tony Award–winning Arena Stage.

As the founder of Weather System Studios, EKB develops original work for stage and screen, crafting stories that merge cinematic visual language with emotional intimacy and sharp social commentary. Her most recent directing work can be seen in the upcoming series Off Script Shorts and sketches for LibTarts Comedy, a feminist political satire group whose work has garnered millions of views across digital platforms and been highlighted on TikTok, NowThis and X.

Before focusing on directing, EKB curated and managed world-class events for institutions such as the Academy Awards Governors’ Ball, the MET Gala at Lincoln Center, and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships - experiences that shaped her precise, immersive, and visceral storytelling style.

Emily is proud to be making her RVA theatre debut with LUNGS.

www.emilykingbrown.com

Nalo Bickersteth (He/They) (Production Stage Manager) - (Production Stage Manager) is beyond excited to be part of this production! This year, Nalo has worked on Alice by Heart (Brightpoint), Godspell (Amaryllis Studios), Once on This Island (Dogwood Dell), The Waiting Game III (The Wright Penn Company), & Macbeth (Brightpoint). Nalo is pursuing a career in Stage Management and thanks his friends, family, and mentors Kerrigan, Alleigh, and Russell for their constant support. Nalo would also like to give a special thanks to Tariq & The Blk VA Theatre Alliance for not only their trust in his ability but also their willingness to take him under their wing and be a resource.

TJ Washington (She/Her) (Lighting Design) - TJ is a senior at VCU studying theatrical lighting design. Her previous works include Peter and the Starcatcher at Firehouse Theatre as the assistant lighting designer. She is also the lighting supervisor at Kings Dominion and designed several mazes and zones for Halloween Haunt. In the spring, she will be the lighting designer for The Bacchae at VCU. With Lungs, she is excited to be making her Richmond debut as a lighting designer! She wants to thank her family for always believing in her and thank everyone for coming!

Dasia Gregg (She/Her) (Scenic Design) - is a scenic and projection designer based in Richmond, VA.  Some recent and favorite credits include Projection Designer for Misery (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Animator for The Dragon King's Daughter (The Kennedy Center), and Assoc. Projection Designer for Murder on the Orient Express (Flat Rock Playhouse). Upcoming credits include Scenic Designer for Deathtrap (VA Rep) and Assoc. Projection Designer for Pride and Prejudice (Flat Rock Playhouse). Dasia graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in 2018 with a BFA in Theatre and concentration in Scenic Design.

Jonathan Pratt (He/Him) (Sound Design) (he/him) - Jonathan is thrilled to work with BVTA on this important and timely production. He is the A/V Supervisor at Virginia Rep where some of his recent designs include Dial M for Murder, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ken Ludwig's Moriarty, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Satchmo at the Waldorf, On Air, and 9 to 5: The Musical, the latter to winning the RTCC Award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical. At the Rep Family Theatre, Jonathan’s favorite shows designed include The Santa Clues and Grace for President. Previously, he was the resident sound and projection designer for Camelot Theatre in Talent, Oregon where he designed over 40 shows. In addition to design, Jonathan directed Catch Me If You Can and wrote and directed tribute shows to Stephen Sondheim and Motown.

Elijah Brown(They/Them) (Costume Design) - Also known as Eli, is a multidisciplinary art director dedicated to executing visions of the future and past through the experience and perspective of the African American queer diaspora. Eli currently serves as Creative Producer and Director of Costumes for BVTA and is honored to serve as the Costume Designer for the Lungs. This is their first experience playing with eco printing & eco dying - it was a challenge accepted & embraced. Eli is thankful to those who have supported them during the process, and encourages the audience to think before you waste. 

Chris Foote (He/They)(Technical Director) - Chris Foote is a Technical Director and Fabricator based out of Richmond. His work has been featured on national television and stages across the country. He would like to thank his incredible wife and daughter for all their support in his artistic endeavors.

Dorothy D. Miller (She/Her) (Intimacy Coordinator) - Dorothy D. Miller is an award-winning actress, multidisciplinary artist, and Intimacy Director. Her recent Intimacy Directing credits include compelling productions such as Sanctuary City (5th Wall Theatre), Sunset Baby (Blk Va Theatre Alliance), Cyrano De Bergiac (Richmond Shakespeare), and Once On This Island at Dogwood Dell. Dorothy also actively serves on the board of the Black Virginia Theatre Alliance (BVTA) and is thrilled to have a creative hand in this piece. You can next catch her (Dee D!) on stage at Virginia Repertory Theatre as the Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS NOTE:

Black and Indigenous people are the original cultivators of the land. While this deep connection has often been tragically tied to oppression, I believe it is fundamentally rooted in liberation: the ability to gather, connect, and become one with the divine inherent in nature.

As we carry these ancestral ties within our nervous systems, this beautiful play asks a critical question: What does it mean to observe, spectate, and watch a privilege?

Historically, the American theatre device has frequently positioned Black people’s lived experiences and traumas as objects to be observed for external understanding. This production seeks to flip and interrogate that device. It serves as a necessary mechanism to ask: How much of a crisis goes unseen and unheard when viewed through only one lens? The black climate crisis is an urgent matter yet it is not mainstream or receiving national coverage.

We are not dismissing the real, complex lived experiences of these characters. Instead, we are cultivating a space for collective liberation—a dynamic conversation where the intersecting threads of observation, privilege, and historical context lead us toward a shared understanding.