Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Love.
Hi Tonya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I wear many hats. Today I will talk about my director’s hat. There has never been a time that I can remember not writing. As a matter of fact, the very first story I wrote was about a talking magic rock so I know I had to be very young. I wrote stories, poems, skits, and when I was in my early 20s, I was over the youth group at church and I would find little skits for the young people to put on during holidays. One day I decided to write my own script in the young people performed it there was a woman who saw it and told me I should take it into the community. My first initial thought was why would I do that? So, skit was performed a couple of times at the church and this lady just kept telling me I should take it into the community. So, she planted a seed she then watered it and it indeed did start to grow. Because I begin to wonder, could I really take this into the community? So, I decided to give it a try I wrote down my plans and goal and got to work. The first thing I had to do was make this kid into a full-size play and then I need to find actors and actresses and then I need to find a venue so there was steps that I took and it was difficult because I did not know what I was doing. I had never put on a production I had never known anyone who had put on a production so I really didn’t know where to start but I got on the Internet and that is where I started. The cast members were my family members and the venue was a local school. Low and behold I pulled it off. I did my first stage play in 2009 and to date, I have 12 original stage plays I created and have Put on a show with them every year from 2009 to 2018. I moved out of Illinois in 2018 so I did not put on a play, instead, I wrote a children book called “The Color of Love With Aj The Cub” and this year Nov 5, 2022, I will be directing my stage play for the first time in Greenville SC,
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Not knowing anything about putting on a production has been a challenge. Getting actors has been a challenge. Getting sponsorship has been a struggle.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a writer, director, producer, and actress. I’m most proud of the way my stage plays impact people and they come to me and tell me how much I have touched their lives through my play…
What sets me apart from others is my work ethic. I may not be the best but I’m a beast. I will give 110%, I will go hard, I will not give up and I will even help you along the way.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
People are always encouraged to audition for an upcoming show when we have them by emailing us at igniteinu2 @gmail.com They can support by purchasing tickets and coming to the show or even do sting yo the show.
Contact Info:
