Milk and Cookies: Tahira at State Theatre New Jersey

TAHIRA invites families into a warm storytelling space where everyone belongs. Drawing on folktales from the African Diaspora—often featuring animals, humor, and heart—TAHIRA creates a relaxed, participatory experience rooted in call-and-response and gentle sing-alongs with guitar. TAHIRA's welcoming, joyful, and accessible performances are great for first-time theatergoers and multigenerational audiences alike.

TAHIRA is the recipient of the 2021 New Jersey Governor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching Artist, recognizing her excellence in arts education, and a Master Fellow with the Delaware Division of the Arts, the state’s highest honor for individual artists. She is also the founder of TAHIRA Productions, Inc., producing storytelling programs, residencies, and community-based arts projects for schools, theaters, museums, and festivals nationwide.

Milk & Cookies is a lively, interactive storytelling and music series for families. This program, which takes place in our Studio, is the perfect way to introduce children ages 3-8 to live theater. Includes a cookie and a carton of milk for every child after the show.

The 12pm show is a Sensory-Friendly Performance, specially designed to provide a safe, welcoming environment for kids on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities.