Tonya Holloway is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. She has worked in a variety of jobs in film, commercial and theatre industries as a freelancer for over 20 years. Tonya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts from Prairie View A&M University and Screen Writing course study from Monterey Peninsula College. She is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Soul Rep Theatre Company, the longest running African American theatre company in Dallas (established in 1996).
In 2001, Mrs. Holloway was nominated by the Dallas Theatre League for Best Director of a play (Purlie Victorious) and has won/finalist in several screenwriting competitions such as the Atlanta FF, the Hollywood Black FF, and the NYC African American FF. Completed film projects include two documentaries, one short film, two screenplays (features) and one TV pilot.
In 2006, 2007, and 2010 Mrs. Holloway served as Scriptwriter for the NAACP National ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Awards Ceremony, an academics, visual and performing arts competition for African American high school students. She has volunteered as an ACT-SO mentor since 1990.
In 2019, Tonya served as Writing Consultant on the Amazon Prime series #Washed as well as Casting Director for season two, premiering fall of 2020. She currently freelances as a writer, director, filmmaker, and videographer for various projects throughout the Metroplex.
Her stage adaptation of Virginia Hamilton’s book Her Stories, has not only been produced in Dallas but in Stuttgart, Germany (Kelley Theatre). The show received five nominations at the Topppers Awards (a mini “Tony” Awards ceremony for military installations across Europe), including Best Sound Design, Best Debut Performance, Best Ensemble, Best Play and a Special Judges’ Choice Awards for Best Original Music written by Mrs. Holloway.
She currently resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and four children.