Tanya Rollins Shadley
Tanya Rollins Shadley is a visionary artist, educator, director, and mentor whose passion for the performing arts has impacted the Hampton Roads community for decades. Her journey in theater began at the age of five, and by eight years old, she earned her first role in the production Black Girl at Norfolk State University, performing with the NSU Players under the direction of her mentor, DeShera “Sunshine” Rainey. She continued sharpening her talents through the SEVAA Summer Arts Workshop, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to the arts.
While attending Old Dominion University in 2000, Tanya captivated audiences with a powerful one-woman performance portraying Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill with VJ Enterprise. Throughout high school, she was honored to be a member of the Governor’s School for the Arts Performing Arts Department, where she also secured a guest star role on the television series American Gothic. Tanya graduated with honors from both the Governor’s School for the Arts and Maury High School.
Tanya Rollins Shadley is a visionary artist, educator, director, and mentor whose passion for the performing arts has impacted the Hampton Roads community for decades. Her journey in theater began at the age of five, and by eight years old, she earned her first role in the production Black Girl at Norfolk State University, performing with the NSU Players under the direction of her mentor, DeShera “Sunshine” Rainey. She continued sharpening her talents through the SEVAA Summer Arts Workshop, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to the arts.
While attending Old Dominion University in 2000, Tanya captivated audiences with a powerful one-woman performance portraying Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill with VJ Enterprise. Throughout high school, she was honored to be a member of the Governor’s School for the Arts Performing Arts Department, where she also secured a guest star role on the television series American Gothic. Tanya graduated with honors from both the Governor’s School for the Arts and Maury High School.
As her career evolved, Tanya expanded her artistry beyond the stage into writing, directing, teaching, and stage management. She returned to SEVAA as an instructor and later became a Theatre Director within a local Christian school system, where she taught and inspired students in grades 6–12 through the transformative power of theater education.
In 2006, Tanya founded TRS PRODUCTIONS: Broadway in V-A, a company dedicated to cultivating local talent while delivering high-quality theatrical entertainment to the 757 community. Her commitment to youth empowerment through the arts also led to the creation of the TRS Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on mentoring, training, and providing opportunities for young people to discover their creative voices, develop confidence, and pursue excellence through performing arts education.
Today, Tanya Rollins Shadley continues to serve as a pillar in the artistic community—using theater, education, and mentorship to inspire the next generation of performers, storytellers, and leaders.
Over the years, Tanya expanded her talents into writing, directing, teaching, and stage management. She later served as a Theatre Director for a local Christian school system, teaching students in grades 6–12 and inspiring youth through the arts.
In 2006, Tanya founded TRS PRODUCTIONS: Broadway in V-A, a company dedicated to cultivating local talent while delivering high-quality theatrical entertainment to the 757 community. Her commitment to youth empowerment through the arts also led to the creation of the TRS Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on mentoring, training, and providing opportunities for young people to discover their creative voices, develop confidence, and pursue excellence through performing arts education.
Above all, Tanya is a proud wife to Melvin Shadley and devoted mother to her three children, Malik, Tatiyana, and Micah. Today, she continues to inspire the next generation of performers, storytellers, and creatives through theater, education, and mentorship.