TAH-JANAY
TAH-JANAY
Actor•Devisor•Director
Raised on the Southside of St. Petersburg, Florida, Tah-Janay considers herself to be a true Southern Belle. Tah-Janay Shayoñe graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a B. F. A in Contemporary Theater. You may have seen her directorial debut, “Clara & Carmilla” at the Fresh Fruits Festival last year or seen her as “Sally” in Speakeasy Stage Company’s virtual production of TJ Loves Sally 4ever for which she was awarded the Thomas Derrah Emerging Artist Award. Tah-Janay now resides in New York City and is Tah-Janay is dedicated to a world that uplifts and highlights the diverse and colorful experiences of black people.
As a writer, I feel that is my task to be a birther of worlds, spirits and connections. A maker and sower of seeds; allowing my essence and my soul— my love, my pain and my joy, to exist within them. I create to illuminate, examine and to become. Truth lives within me and I sing its words through rhythm and style.- Tah-Janay Shayoñe
AEA UNION
248-533-3129
HEIGHT: 5’4”
VOCAL RANGE: MEZZO/BELT (C3-A6)
THEATER
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever Sally Speakeasy Stage Company
For Colored Girls Who (etc) Lady in Blue Samuel-Lancaster Productions
The Balcony Madame Irma Boston Conservatory
The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin Annie Mae American Stage
Good Kids Daphne Boston Conservatory
The Secret in the Wings Ensemble Pinellas County Center for the Arts
The Bluest Eye Claudia Studio@620
Ordinary People Jeannine St. Petersburg City Theater
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Daisy/Sookie Pinellas County Center for the Arts
FILM/TELEVISON
(r)EVOLVE* Sophie Ayana Francois & Shane Mendoza
PLAYWRITING
FRUITS
Correct Me, if I’m Wrong
Schwelle
DIRECTION
Mija. Directing Assistant NAMT Festival of New Musicals
Correct Me, if I’m Wrong Boston Conservatory
I’m Straight* Assistant Director Euphoria Theater Project
Schwelle Boston Conservatory
Memphis The Musical Assistant Director St. Petersburg City Theater
Heart in the Ground Clearwater High School
PRODUCTION
Bel-Air Creative Consultant
Graduation Day Intimacy Coordinator
For Colored Girls Who (etc) Assistant Producer Samuel-Lancaster Productions
Schwelle Boston Conservatory
EDUCATION
Theater of Change by Broadway Advocacy Coalition & The Center for Institutional and Social Change at Columbia Law
B. F. A. in Contemporary Theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music
Pinellas County Center for the Arts
SPECIAL SKILLS
Suzuki, Growotoski, Lecoq, Acrobatics, Devising, Intimacy Trained, Viewpoints Trained, Dialects (Brooklyn/Bronx, South Jersey, North Jersey, RP, Cockney, West African, American Southern, American Country, French,), Lyrical Dance, Driver’s License
AWARDS
Outstanding Ensemble for “Clara & Carmilla” at Fresh Fruits Festival 2024
Thomas Derrah Emerging Artist Award 2021
Critics’ Choice Award for Solo Monologue at Florida State Thespians 2016
*denotes film work
THEATRICAL RESUME
PRESS
“Sally is portrayed by Tah-Janay Shayoñe with a stage-seizing confidence that’s all the more impressive considering she’s still a student at the Conservatory.”
— Don Aucoin @ The Boston Globe
“Shayoñe carries the play/film. She confidently embraces the role of Sally with both arms and legs. It’s clear that she’s put herself into this role but, at the same time, has created enough artistic distance to navigate the many levels in the show. Sally is clearly defined and so is Tah-Janay.”
— Kitty Drexel @ NE Theater Geek
“…Tackles topics related to race that require attention and conversation in today’s America, and Tah-Janay Shayoñe’s performance as Sally makes the discussion of these topics even more effective…Shayoñe’s ability to navigate Sally’s emotional journey throughout the show and successfully portray difficult topics is phenomenal.”
— Kaitlyn Riggio @ Theaterly
“ Shayoñe, provides nuance to Sally’s emotional journey, expressing the strength and resilience at the character’s core. Her performance is one of the highlights of the production.”
— Erik Nikander @ Arts Fuse
“Tah-Janay Shayoñe moves persuasively from defensiveness and uncertainty to strong resolve.”
— Jules Becker @ QueeryMe
MEDIA
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever
The Balcony
The Balcony
The Balcony
The Balcony
The Balcony
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Correct Me If I'm Wrong
Human Art Form - By Tommy Bo Hansana
Human Art Form - By Tommy Bo Hansana