Primary Trust

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D., she/her/we, (Director) Professor of Acting and Directing Pedagogy at Virginia Commonwealth University and Artistic Director & Founder of The Conciliation Project, a non-profit social justice theatre company www.theconciliationproject.org . Dr.T is a playwright, director, actor, poet, and writer. She appeared in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s historic Broadway production of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the rainbow is enuf” performing in both the 1st national and international touring companies. Her television, film, industrial, voice over and commercial credits are extensive. Favorite directing projects include “uncle tom:deconstructed” for The Conciliation, Detroit ’67 and Passing Strange for Firehouse Theatre, and A Raisin in the Sun and Fences for the Virginia Rep. Her work with The Conciliation Project has intentionally engaged communities around issues of race, racism, and historic and systemic oppression since 2001. Fun fact: She’s featured voice talent for the video game HALO and a featured scholar in Black Acting Methods: critical approaches, a bestseller on Amazon.

Daniel Allen, he/him, (Scenic Designer) RVA born and raised, and thrilled to return to Hanover Tavern – fourteen years after making his professional debut there as a teen in Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music. He is now an award-nominated Scenic Designer whose work has been seen Off-Broadway and at leading regional theaters nationwide. Recent RVA credits include Primary Trust (VA Rep), Which Way to the Stage, Torch Song (Richmond Triangle Players), Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Cadence), Radiant Vermin (5th Wall). Recent off-Broadway designs include BEAU: The Musical (OOTB & mid-town transfer), Room 1214 (New Light/59E59), This Is Government (Pendragon & 59E59 Transfer), The Witness Room (AMT). Selected Associate/ Assistant credits: Chicken & Biscuits (Broadway, Circle in the Square), Hadestown (Seoul, Korea), His Story (Dallas, World Premiere), Love Life, Call Me Madam, & High Button Shoes (New York City Center: ENCORES!). Daniel is a proud member of USA Local 829. danielallendesign.com | @danj.allen

Tajma Graham, she/they, (Costume Designer)  is in her senior year at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) , pursuing a B.F.A. in Fashion Design with minors in Costume Design and Fashion Merchandising. Her love for costume design began in high school at Henrico High School Center for the Arts and has only grown stronger since. She has built her experience across numerous theatre settings from wardrobe supervising nine Virginia Repertory productions and working in costume shops at Virginia Repertory, VCU, and Kings Dominion. She served as the assistant costume designer for For Colored Girls… at VCU, as well as working as a costume stitcher, dresser, and wig local for Broadway hits at Altria Theatre, such as Shucked, Moulin Rouge! and MJ: The Musical. She recently costume designed Once on this Island on the Dogwood Dell stage. She has been working so hard for an opportunity like this and is so grateful to be able to show off her hard work, passion, and love for theatre on the Virginia Repertory Theatre stage.

Steven Koehler, he/him, (Lighting Designer) is very excited to return to the Theatre Gym for the first time in more than 20 years. Previous credits in this space include Raised in Captivity, How I Learned to Drive, Heathen Valley, Bash, The Latter Day Plays, and The Syringa Tree. Additional design work through the Midwest and in Idaho, The Syringa Tree, Good People, Chicago, and Grey Gardens. Steven is also the managing director of Swift Creek Mill Theatre and is married to local musician, Shellie Johnson, and proud parent to three mostly grown children.

Kelsey Cordrey, she/her (Sound Design) is an interdisciplinary theatre maker born and raised in Richmond, VA. Kelsey has been nominated four times for the Richmond Theatre Community Circle award for Outstanding Sound Design of a Play: BootyCandy, The Revolutionists, Mother Courage and Her Children (TheatreLAB), and American Buffalo (Quill Theatre). Other favorite designs include Constellations (2025) and Placebo (Yes, And! Theatrical Company); Straight White Men, Topdog/Underdog, An Octoroon, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Constellations (2018), I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard, Grounded (TheatreLAB); Conversations with Mother (Richmond Triangle Players); and Pipeline (Virginia Repertory Theatre). Training: NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. Thanks to Dr. T and Virginia Rep for the opportunity to help tell this story.

Lexi Christie, (she/her) is excited to return to another show with Virginia Rep, following her work stage managing Primary Trust and assistant stage managing A Christmas Carol. Lexi has spent most of her theatre career before moving to Richmond as a production/assistant stage manager and assistant director with Charlottesville Opera. Her production stage manager credits with the opera include Scalia/Ginsburg and assistant stage manager credits include Carmen, The Elixir of Love, and The Merry Widow. Lexi would like to thank her partner, Annie, her friends, and her cats, Hamlet, Cortado, and Brego, for all of their love and support.

Kaela A.C. Wilson, she/her, (Assistant Stage Manager) has received a B.A. in English and Theatre at Old Dominion University. She is excited to expand her Stage Management career at Virginia Repertory Theatre with Primary Trust. Some of the previous productions she’s worked on are Pride & Prejudice (Compass Rose Theatre), The Winter’s Tale (American Shakespeare Center), and Mary’s Wedding (Peninsula Players Theatre). She would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support.