When meeting Tonya Rollins Shadley, one's first impression is that here is a woman who was born to be on stage. Friendly, confident, and supremely articulate, she exudes a joyous energy that would captivate any audience. Indeed, Tonya's respect and reverence for the profound emotional connection a performer can establish with an audience began when the Norfolk Native was a child.

"I began singing in church at age five," Tonya recalls with a smile. "The choir director put a mike in my hand, and I absolutely loved the feeling I got from the congregation. Then, when I was eight, I auditioned and was cast in my first stage play, 'Black Girl,' at Norfolk State University. I couldn't believe how a person on stage could affect an audience. I loved it! I even loved the nervousness I felt right before going on stage, and I used it to fuel my performance. There is nothing like that feeling! After the experience of being in that show, I told my parents, 'This is what I want to do. Hang up the doctor/lawyer thing. I want to be a performing artist!'"

In summer workshops offered by the Southeastern Virginia Art Association (SEVAA), young Tonya immersed herself in theatre. "At SEVAA, we received quality training about everything that goes into putting on a production, and then at the end of the summer, we put on a show. It was great hands-on training-which I'm super grateful for! I received scholarships with the Hurrah Players when I was nine and ten, but once the scholarships ran out, I no longer had access to that program."
At the tender age of ten, Tonya realized talent wasn't enough. To properly develop that talent, a child needs access to high-quality training and education. Fortunately, by the time the talented teen was ready to begin her freshman year of high school, such training was accessible through the Governors School for the Arts. "I auditioned for the Governors School for the Arts and was accepted on the spot," Tonya says. "I am so grateful for all the training I received there-classes in acting, singing, dancing-and all the chances I was given to perform."

After graduating high school and being accepted by several colleges, Tonya chose to attend ODU. "It's important to get an education," she says. "It's good to have talent, but you need to be smart, too." While a student at ODU, Tonya lived in the international dorm, was chosen as Homecoming Queen, and in 2000, she portrayed legendary Blues singer Billy Holiday in the one-woman show "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill." Earning a BA in Theatre Arts, Tonya graduated with honors in 2002.

"After college, Broadway was my trajectory," Tonya explains, "but then I started working with local youth, and the desire to go to New York City went away." She began teaching SEVAA arts workshops and worked as the theatrical director for a local Christian school system, teaching theater to students in grades six through twelve.

Tonya began to realize theatre's potential to powerfully address societal issues. "I started writing material that I could produce myself," she explains, "plays dealing with issues like domestic violence, addiction, and the struggle of working single mothers."

In 2006, she launched her first company, TRS Productions, to provide quality entertainment featuring local artists. "Our first production was a concert at the old Kempsville Performing Arts & Recreation Center," Tonya recalls with a laugh. "There were only 25 people in the audience, but I thought, 'It can only go up from here.'" Tonya went on to write and produce "The Ninth Hour, "Onward and Upward," and "Lady Shadley's Juke Joint." Looking back on those shows, she notes, "It's amazing to put something on stage and have it move people-amazing and humbling." Recently, TRS productions became a SWaM certified business.

As a Hampton Roads-based producer, Tonya saw a need for local youth to have access to quality and affordable entertainment and theatrical training. "TR Kids was birthed in January 2020 to give students between the ages of 5 and 17 training in the performing arts-especially those in underserved communities," she says. "I started teaching classes in all facets of theatre. To access opportunities, kids have to know those opportunities exist. So, I began writing scholarship applications for kids to get into Hurrah Players and performing arts schools. I let our students know when theatres are auditioning kids for upcoming shows. One of our kids was cast in the musical 'School of Rock' at Virginia Musical Theatre.

"As a Governor's School graduate, it was important that kids who looked like me knew about the school and had access to it," Sonya continues. "So, in 2022, we forged a partnership with the Governor's School that enabled us to have workshops in their building over the summer. I work with redevelopment and housing authorities to take kids in underserved communities to performing arts events."

Students at TRS Kids are also given ample opportunities to perform-in plays and concerts, at local events like Downtown Norfolk's Grand Illumination, Norfolk State University's Homecoming Parade, and Norfolk's annual Juneteenth celebrations.

"Performing builds confidence, so if you know a young person with potential, connect them with us," Tonya says. "I take pride in being able to pull that potential out of people when they may not see it in themselves. My goal is to give our kids the experience and communication skill set they need to walk into any situation with confidence. If some of those kids are talented athletes who go on to have success in sports, I don't want to see them giving an interview on TV and hear a lot of 'uhs' between every other word. Being able to speak in front of people and to communicate effectively with confidence is going to help a person succeed and have a better life no matter who they are or what they choose for a career. We offer quality training in arts, but it's not about creating artists. It's about making well-rounded individuals."