TARA LYNN TAYLOR | PLAYWRIGHT, ACTOR, DIRECTOR
City: Preston Township, NS
Socials: @risentalent
Previous work: “Dreamgirls”; “The Color Purple”; “The Wiz”; “Viola Demond: the Musical”; “Hood Habits: the musical” and “Love, Peace and Hairgrease: the Musical”
Preston, Nova Scotia native, Tara Lynn Taylor, wears many hats. She’s a filmmaker, playwright, actress, multidisciplinary artist, singer and licensed hairstylist.
A member of The AFCOOP, Theatre Nova Scotia, Visual Arts Nova Scotia, PERFORM Nova Scotia and the Bus Stop Theatre, Tas has produced and in some cases starred in Dreamgirls, The Color Purple and The Wiz. She also wrote an original musical about the life of Viola Desmond staged at The Spatz theatre in 2018 and Dartmouth Players Theatre in 2019. She is currently writing her new musicals titled Hood Habits and Love, Peace and Hairgrease in the playwrights Unit under Eastern Front Theatre.
To serve the community, she also holds a few governance positions in the arts. She is currently the vice-chair and Diversity & Inclusive Committee team lead of the Link Performing Arts Society, a new arts, entertainment and production hub in Downtown Halifax. She is also a Board Member for Centre for Art Tapes, Screen Nova Scotia and the Bus Stop Theatre.
Tara has over 19 years of experience film, both in front and behind the camera, eventually co-founding The Emerging Lens Film Festival, serving as its director.
She’s also spent time as CBC Information Morning Cultural Columnist for the “ArtnSoul Report”, Artistic Director of Charles Taylor Theatre & Media Arts, the Inaugural Artist in Residence for the Halifax Public Libraries, Co-Chair of Women in Film & Television – Atlantic.
Her work in musical theatre and film ultimately made her 2021 Recipient of the African Nova Scotian Music Awards Industry Development Award sponsored by the Black Business Initiative (BBI).
More about Tara Lynn Taylor
How were you first introduced to your creative discipline?
“In Grade School, I can remember I would write skits and stories for every assignment I possibly could! My favorite teachers, the iconic Maxine Tynes, Edie Guy-Francois and Mrs. Nancy Sparks, always encouraged my visual art and writing. I had to be that “extra creative ” one during school performances. My first full play I acted in was “The Lottery” while at Saint Mary’s University. I played 2 cast members and I directed it! I came alive on stage and have not looked back. I started writing for public theatre in the Atlantic Fringe Festival. The first play I wrote was called “Crazy In love” (yes I was a Beyoncé fan!!!)”
How has your city, region or places you were raised impacted you artistically/creatively?
“I love my hometown of the Preston Township, the community of East Preston. I often find I write better and with full inspiration when walking or driving through my community. Taking in the beautiful nature and shades of brown skin that surround me. I love spending time with friends and family and their comical nature often works it’s way into my scripts. We have so many untold stories from the Black community and I tell them unapologetically. ”
What’s something people should know about you?
“I love folks to know I have an ancestral way of writing music for theatre and I embrace it fully. I didnt realize I was a composer until the AMP program opened my eyes and heart. My mother, Heather Mae Dorrington (rest her soul) encouraged me to do anything I put my mind to, so in addition to my theatrical art, I am also a professional Cosmetologist for Hairstyling and co-own The Braiding Lounge Salon in Halifax. Braiding, twisting and styling hair is also a form of art!!….I also love to listen to Chamber music!!”
