Our Team
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Our Team ~
Tariq Karriem
Founding Artistic Director & Production Manager
Tariq Karriem is a Richmond-born and raised multidisciplinary artist and "artivist" dedicated to the intersection of performance, education, and social action. As the Founding Artistic Director and Production Manager of the Blk Virginia Theatre Alliance (BVTA), he has led the organization since its inception in 2023, focusing on theatrical accessibility and community-driven storytelling. A professional Equity Stage Manager, Production Manager,Producer, and Designer, Tariq brings extensive experience in operational leadership, producing powerful work, and technical mentorship to the Richmond arts landscape.
Tariq’s creative portfolio spans across stage and screen, with notable credits including Production Stage Manager/Production Manager for Annie (Cadence/Dominion Energy Center),Production Stage Manager/Producer for Once On This Island (Dogwood Dell), Production Stage Manager for Dragons Love Tacos (Virginia Rep), and Production Stage Manager for 5th Wall’s Hitler’s Tasters and Sanctuary City. Highlights of his work with BVTA includes producing the Richmond premiere of Sunset Baby and serving as Costume Designer for BLKS. Additional design and technical credits include Costume Design Which Way To The Stage (Richmond Triangle Players), Wardrobe Technician Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Virginia Rep), and Associate Producer for the Harlem Fashion Show and Awards in NYC.
Beyond the stage, Tariq is an equity specialist and consultant dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression ,elitism and white supremacy within the arts. For the past six years, he has worked with the City of Richmond at the Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center, equipping the next generation of artists through initiatives like the “Technical Titans" mentoring program. A recipient of the Style Weekly 40 Under 40 award in 2026, Tariq is a nationally recognized teaching artist and facilitator. His practice centers on movement and paratheatrical methods, exploring how play, radical imagination, and liberation create "infinity spaces" for artists and audiences alike
Adam Ferguson
Artistic Producer
Adam B. Ferguson is an accomplished director, producer, and creator who is passionate about new works and the collaborative creative process, with a commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices and reimagining existing works. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Rhetoric and Communication Studies from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Public Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. Amongst award nominated productions and various artistic endeavors, Adam currently serves as a Program Manager and Event Producer for WorldStrides, where he oversees the American High School Theatre Festival and the International Collegiate Theatre Festival (producing upwards of 40 shows annually at Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Platinum Club at Xcaret Parks and Hotels in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and the National Performing Arts Festival at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. For more info visit adambferguson.com
Creative Producer & Costumes Supervisor
Elijah Brown
Eli Bio: Elijah Brown (they/them), 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 .They are thankful to the support of their partner, friends, and family. Eli made their directorial debut with BLKS (BVTA). Costume Design Credits Include: Sunset Baby (BVTA X Virginia Repertory Theatre), Lungs (Blk VA Theatre Alliance) and Wardrobe Supervisor for. A Christmas Carol (Virginia Repertory Theatre)
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
― Audre Lorde