Tanya Shadley
The Visionary Behind the Stage
Tanya Rollins Shadley is a powerhouse in the performing arts world—a director, producer, performer, and cultural curator whose journey from childhood church solos to sold-out theaters has been nothing short of extraordinary.
With a legacy spanning over three decades, Tanya’s career launched at just 8 years old with “Black Girl” under NSU Players. It evolved through standout roles, such as Addaperle in “The Wiz” and Chef in “Cinderella” with SEVAA. She later graduated with honors from both the Governor’s School for the Arts and Old Dominion University, where she was crowned Miss ODU and performed a captivating one-woman show as Billie Holiday.
In 2006, Tanya boldly launched TRS Productions, creating space for stories often overlooked. Her most notable work, “The Ninth Hour” at the Roper Theater, sold out two nights in a 900-seat venue, cementing her as a force in community theater. In 2020, she expanded her empire with TRS Kids LLC, producing youth-led performances like “The Wiz Jr.”, “Seussical Jr.”, and “Rainbow Fish”.
Her 2025 production “This Joint Is Jumpin’” brought over 500 attendees to the historic Attucks Theater. She has also written and directed original Black History Month performances at Pharrell Williams’ Yellowhab school, where she teaches theater enrichment. In addition to all her phenomenal work, she is currently working on a major project in honor of Juneteenth 2025, called the JFX://757: The Juneteenth Freedom Experience.
From church choirs to the Spirit of Norfolk, from pageant stages to purpose-driven productions, Tanya has turned her life’s calling into a movement. With every curtain call, she reaffirms her mission: to build an empire where the arts are not just seen, but celebrated.
Welcome to the stage, the queen of production and purpose—Tanya Rollins Shadley.