Biographie
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Tanesha sang in the church choir as a child and had the unique opportunity to perform alongside Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson.
From as early as first grade, Tanesha aspired to be a performer. She nurtured her dreams and refined her skills while studying Theatre and Mass Communications at Western Illinois University. There, she befriended versatile character actor Michael Boatman, with whom she remains in contact. After graduating, her path led her to New York City.
Living with a group of aspiring artists in a Brooklyn townhouse and working as a roller-skating waitress at Ed Debevics, Tanesha received her first major break from casting agent Todd Thaler. She earned her SAG card by playing a "Singing Nurse" in "Mr. Wonderful," starring Matt Dillon and Annabella Sciorra, directed by Anthony Minghella.
Committed to inspiring youth and giving back, Tanesha joined the "City Kids" project in the 1990s, collaborating with fellow alumni and actors such as Malik Yoba, Lisa Nicole Carson, and Donald Faison.
Combining her talents in acting and singing, Tanesha joined the R&B pop girl group "The Earth Gyrlz," signed to Capitol Records. Their album, "Fully Equipped," featured the single "Love of Mine." Although her time with Capitol Records was brief, the group performed on "Soul Train" in Los Angeles with host Don Cornelius.
The roller-coaster nature of a performing career led Tanesha to new opportunities. After her stint with Capitol Records, she toured Europe in the musical revue "Yo, Alice!," a production loosely based on "Alice in Wonderland," developed by tap dancer, choreographer, and director Maurice Hines. Tanesha was featured as a "Fluff Girl" in the show, which ran for a year at Amsterdam's Show Biz City.
Back in New York, Tanesha found steady work in acting and singing, appearing in national and regional commercials for brands like Mr. Clean, TD Bank, Lending Tree, and as a singing angel for Philly Cream Cheese alongside future Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar.
In 2000, Tanesha appeared in Spike Lee's controversial film "Bamboozled," starring Damon Wayans, Savion Glover, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tommy Davidson, where she was nearly unrecognizable in blackface.
Musical theatre has remained a constant in Tanesha's career, with numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions. Her Broadway debut came in 2004 when she was cast in Tony Kushner's Tony-nominated musical "Caroline, or Change," directed by George C. Wolfe.
Recently, Tanesha has contributed to the development of two new musicals: "This One Girl's Story" by Bil Wright, directed by Devanand Janki, and "The Last Word," written by Kevin Ray, Josh Sohn, and Suellen Vance.
Her most recent featured film role is in the award-winning independent short "The Cycle," inspired by a true story and produced and directed by Roy Clovis Jr. for Mundo Loco Films. The film toured the festival circuit and aired on HBO during Black History Month in 2011.
Dedicated to giving back, Tanesha donates her time to the nonprofit organization and Grammy-nominated "Broadway Inspirational Voices," founded and directed since 1999 by Michael McElroy. The group includes a star-studded lineup of Broadway performers such as Phylicia Rashad, Montego Glover, and Adriane Lenox.
