We want to express our appreciation to Shawana Brooks and Moving the Margins, for the sponsorship and dedication to the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival. Shawana curates the art exhibits at the Corner Gallery in the Jessie Ball duPont Center, and provides logistical, technical, and facility support for events like ours. Like a graceful swan, she manages to look cool and elegant on top of the water, while paddling furiously underneath. Thank you!
Tahirah Whittington is currently cellist for the Dear Evan Hansen National Tour; previously for Hamilton: An American Musical. Television/Film: “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and “Empire”. Her studio recordings: Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift, John Legend’s Big Love and PJ Morton’s Gumbo Unplugged. Tahirah performed the cello solo for Rhiannon Giddens’ “Cry No More.” She is a member of Ritz Chamber Players and D-Composed. She received her BA from New England Conservatory and a MA from Juilliard.
Tahirah composed, and will perform, the original score of Screams Echo on Friday evening, October 28, 2022, as the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival kicks off with a dramatic reading of Featured Playwright Bobbie O’Connor’s wonderful play in the Lecture Hall at the Jessie Ball duPont Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. The play will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., followed by a talkback with the playwright and cast and a discussion led by 904WARD until 8:00 p.m.
Victoria Canady-Anderson holds a BA in fine arts from Florida State University. She has worked as a music teacher at Jacksonville Heights Elementary, where she also led as a teaching artist for the CAP chorus program. She produced and directed four musical performances with the Singing Eagles Chorus there. She is an all-around musician who performs in a band, as well as mixing, mastering, and writing for other artists. She is currently Program Manager for the Cathedral Arts Project.
Victoria will star when, on Friday evening, October 28, 2022, the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival kicks off with a dramatic reading of Featured Playwright Bobbie O’Connor’s “Screams Echo” in the Lecture Hall at the Jessie Ball duPont Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. The play will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., followed by a talkback with the playwright and cast and a discussion led by 904WARD until 8:00 p.m.
Bobbie O’Connor’s 50 years as an advocate for social justice have fostered a deep commitment to create change through writing. She has written and performed Screams Echo as well as pieces for the Florida Times Union about violence against women and her own white privilege. She performed Gender in a Binary World at the Coming Out Monologues to increase understanding and diminish transphobia. She is focusing on women reclaiming their voice and self-authority after sexual abuse.
On Friday evening, October 28, Bobbie’s play, Screams Echo, will be performed as a dramatic reading in the Lecture Hall at 6:00 PM, followed by a round-table discussion led by 904WARD. Bobbie will narrate the play, which includes original music composed and performed by Tahirah Whittington and acting by Victoria Canaday-Anderson.
