Want to Join BBRTC?
Empowering Our Community through “For Us By Us Leadership” is exemplified in our unique organizational DNA—disrupting the traditional structure of theatre organizations that historically are built to gate-keep, marginalize, & deny access to performing arts in BIPOC communities.
BBRTC utilizes a network of “Key Artistic Partners, individuals who are the heart beat of BBRTC and continue to work with the company in various capacities not only as artists, but also as arts administrators. Our Artistic Partners are how we source our internal hiring/staffing as well as our contractor pool (teaching artists, talent, creative). BBRTC’s Artistic Partner pool is made up of community partners and affiliates, students, supporters, fans, and organizational staff.
BBRTC is piloted by a central part-time staff of 2 Co-Artistic Directors and 1 Director of Operations, and our Artistic Advisory Board rounds out our organizational leadership model. BBRTC operates in transformative justice framework that includes consensus-based decision making. BBRTC’s leadership prioritizes Black people living with the margins of the margins, that includes Black Queer youth.
Join our Team! BBRTC is always looking for new collaborators to join our fold!
Fill Out Our Artistic Partner Form
*This is not an application, we encourage Black & allied theatre practitioners, educators, students, and lovers to join our ecosystem in some capacity. Once you have completed this form you will be added to all internal communications. We can't wait to see you at our next meeting!
BBRTC Staff
David H. Parker
(they/them) Co-Artistic Director has collaborated with BBRTC as a Director/Producer on Donja R. Love’s “Sugar In Our Wounds” (2019), “is anybody out there” (2020), “Afro Tales” (2023) and “Threads on 4th” (2024). David received The Academia Society Artistic Apprenticeship and BBRTC’s Inaugural Community Leadership Award.
Intersectionality informs the base of David’s work, but the intersection of Blackness and Queerness is always at the top of their priorities. Selected recognitions includes invitations to: the inaugural Cody Renard Richard Scholarship cohort; the inaugural GLAAD Black Queer Creative Summit; the Highlander Research and Education Center. Directing: Fat Ham (Broadway Transfer — Geffen Playhouse), Fairview (UCLA), Patience (2nd Stage), Guess Who's Coming… with Zhailon Levingston (Inheritance Theater Project). David holds an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society
Jada Cato
(she/they/we) Co-Artistic Director is a versatile artist hailing from Ellenwood, Georgia, boasts a rich background in opera, classical music, acting, writing, and dance. She pursued studies at Birmingham Southern College. As a country music artist, she secured a management deal with Peoples Management, GLAAD Rising Star Award Winner, Color Me Country Grant from Rissi Palmer. While making waves in country music, Jada expanded her theatrical repertoire by directing, costume designing, and music directing productions like "The Niceties," "Choir Boy," and more. Additionally, she ventured into intimacy choreography and coordination under esteemed mentors. Jada is passionate about nurturing the next generation of theatre artists.
Kayla Hampton
(she/her) Director of Operations is a valued collaborator of BBRTC, bringing her expertise as a Stage Manager. Currently pursuing her Masters in Business at the University of Montevallo, she has contributed her talents to productions like "Marcus, or The Secret of Sweet" by Tarell Alvin McCraney, showcasing her commitment to the arts.
Artistic Partners
Devin Ty Franklin
(he/they) Artistic Advisory Board is a recent recipient of a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (under the primary tutelage of Valerie Accetta), and is currently pursuing their MFA in Directing at Ohio University. Franklin has been feature in BBRTC productions “is anybody out there…?” (dir. David H. Parker) and co-directed a staged-reading of Donja R. Love’s “one in two” (co-director Carlton V. Bell II).
Member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society
Marc Raby
(he/him) Key Artistic Partner a highly decorated & seasoned actor, director, orator, author and playwright. Founder & Artistic Director of Encore Theatre & Gallery. He has entertained and inspired audiences through his stories of laughter, love, healing and forgiveness. The Southern-born playwright has managed to blend his faith and passion for the stage into a phenomenal brand of urban theatre.
Marva Douglas
(she/her) Artistic Advisory Board is a former writer, elementary school teacher, model, business owner, and primary advocate of transit rights in Birmingham, Alabama. Marva is a legendary actress of stage & screen.
Garrison York
(he/him) Junior Artistic Partner is from Montgomery, Alabama. Garrison a student performer in the College of Visual and Performing Arts program at Alabama State University, a place where he fully understood why theatre deserves to be heard. Along with being a writer, he is a singer, actor, and a strong minded, goal oriented, fashionable, inimitable individual. A multi-talented star in the making for sure. He loves building meaningful connections with bright, creative and talented people.
Taylor Brielle
(she/her) Key Artistic Partner is a talented performer and vocal coach from the Birmingham area. She obtained her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Montevallo. Past credits include “The Merry Widow,” “Once on this Island,” “Chicago,” “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” “Hair,” and “For Colored Girls.” Behind the scenes, she has assistant directed “one in two” at Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Collective, stage managed “Memorial” at Red Mountain Theatre Company, “The Light and His Shadow” at Encore Theatre and Gallery, worked stage crew on “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Mamma Mia” for Red Mountain Theatre Company. Taylor is at home in the theatre, and elated anytime she gets the opportunity to create and collaborate with the Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Collective!
Joshua Rauterkus
(he/him) Junior Artistic Partner is a Musical Theatre student at the University of Alabama. He has collaborated with BBRTC in productions like “Bent”, Theatre Lab, and is the inaugural winner of the Rickey Powell Excellence in Theatre Award and Scholarship.
Elanne Eaton
(she/her) Junior Artistic Partner is a student at Alabama State University. I am a Senior Theatre major on the Performance track. I have a deep passion for theatre, music, writing, directing, and creating all around. I have the privilege of serving as the 2022/2023 President for the Theatre and Dance Guild. I am also a member of Alpha Sorority, Inc. I am a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. I enjoy helping my community and working with creators in my community. When I get a task, I am sure to put my best foot forward.
Rodney Fomby
(he/him) Artistic Partner holds a BFA in Acting from Alabama State University. Dorian is a member of Delta Gamma Phi Theatre Fraternity Inc., Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He is also the 2019 Broadway World, Best Actor In A Musical Winner as “Pharus” in BBRTC’s production of “Choir Boy” by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Taylore Kenty
(she/her) Former Chief Junior Artistic Partner is an actress, dancer, and singer. She was the BBRTC 2022 Collegiate Theatre Lab Award Recipient. She is currently a Theatre major at the University of Montevallo.
Diovanna Labeija
(she/her) Associate Artistic Partner is a transfemme, afrolatina choreographer, artist, poet, and spiritualist. She is an alumni of Marymount Manhattan College and holds a B.A. in Dance Studies. Her choreographic, written, and visual work center themes of Blackness, afro-spirituality, gender, sexuality, and queer thought. Her on-screen debut was in the music video "Altar" for Grammy-nominated recording artist, Kehlani. She has self-directed multiple dance films, and given lectures on Black LGBTQ Ballroom history and culture for workshops and symposiums, nationally and internationally. She is originally from Virginia Beach, VA, now based in Brooklyn and also owns and operates La Botanica Muñequita, an online spiritual boutique.
Jaylon Coleman
(he/him) Former Chief Junior Artistic Partner is a recent freshman at the historic Morehouse College after graduating from the Jefferson County Academy of Theatre of Dance. They once served as SGA President and an active officer of their chapter of the International Thespian Society, in addition to his frequent collaboration with BBRTC as a Stage Manager and Director.
Alexandria Nicole
(she/her) Artistic Partner born and raised in Birmingham, AL got her start in theatre when she was attending high school. She continued her education and received her bachelor degree in Communication and Information Science at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Alexandria has gained experience across multiple platforms; film, tv, and theatre. Most of her background comes from working behind the scenes at places like ABC 33/40, BBRTC, WVUA, and Young Hollywood. When it comes to working on screen, she has had training at First Take Acting Studio in CA, The Professional Acting Studio in GA, and Hollywood Huntsville in AL, that allowed her to book roles in web series, commercials, and music videos. Alexandria credits most of her success to artists and creators here in Birmingham.
Co-Founders
Aija Penix
(she/her) co-founder is an accomplished multidisciplinary artist and creative engineer of Rockford, IL, and raised in Music City, USA. As a professional vocalist, actress, producer and director, Aija intersects her experience as a performing artist with her logistical expertise as a producer and director to tell stories that are heart forward, often dealing with the uncomfortable realities of the human experience across the African Diaspora, with a resume which spans film, urban, classical and musical theatre, as well as vocal arenas.
Carlton V Bell II
(they/them) co-founder is a cultural worker & multi-hyphen theatre professional. Seen most recently in CNN's Docu-series "Blind Angels.” Acclaims include; AL.com’s #2 Entertainer of the Year (2019), Birmingham Black Pride's Entertainer of the Year, & Director of the Decade for 2020 by Broadway World for their "Choir Boy” by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society