Western Carolina University was moved by an emotional and entertaining telling of Dr. Tiffany Jackson’s own life and hardships through a showcase of her musical talents and expertise. Members of the audience were faced with raw discussions of racial identity and left the show with an earned perspective for what it may have been like to grow up with the struggles Jackson faced throughout her lifetime.
“Rising of the Necessary Diva” debuted a singular showing on Western’s campus at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Bardo Arts Center.
Jackson, Voice professor and director of Western Carolina’s Catamount Singers, moved an audience with a 2-hour interpretation of her personal life and combatted issues like race, sexual assault and personal loss. The show was a solo performance from Jackson, alongside an instrumental jazz quartet.
Formerly recognized as “From the Hood to the Ivy League” with its creation in 2018, the title “Rising of the Necessary Diva” (a moniker often used by Jackson’s close friends) was deemed more fitting with the hiring of director, producer, and close friend of Jackson’s, Rod Gailes. Both Jackson and Gailes saw the title change as a reformatting of an older performance, giving new life to a show that had previously been performed in 2018.
In the wake of Gailes’ death in October 2022, Jackson was determined to put the final touches on her show and dedicate her final work in Gailes’ memory.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster,” said WCU student Maria Gomez. “You sit down and expect to just be entertained, but you leave with this new sense of appreciation and love for life itself. It’s beautiful.”
As the auditorium seated many from the Western Carolina community, Jackson’s own students attended in large numbers, to rally around their professor in a statement of support.
“You sit in class with Dr. Jackson, and listen to her talk about her experiences and how she perceives these social issues, and you are still surprised with how much more she has to say,” said Colin Talero, a voice student of Jackson’s.
The first act of her show detailed comedic memories from her childhood and the beginnings of her career within various genres of music, ranging from classical to hip-hop. Jackson rendered the audience silent in the second act, with depictions of the war on drugs, the #MeToo movement and the historical mistreatment of the African-American community. They were crying out “Where is the justice?” as photos of black historical figures flashed on screens behind her.
Jackson received a 2-minute standing ovation following the end of her performance. Audience members left the auditorium with a newfound perspective and understanding of what they had seen in Jackson’s show.
When asked what has been the most impactful quote from the performance, many replied with a line from the emotional second act of the show, “You’re not what you’ve been through.” Through this performance, Jackson was able to reach out to and impact every audience member in a different way; guiding them to understand that even with life’s hardships, the world is an abundance of opportunity waiting to be taken.
