I am a comedian, theatre artist, teacher, and scholar. Most of my career has been based in Philadelphia, but I recently moved to the DC area to pursue my PhD at University of Maryland in Theatre and Performance Studies. Download my CV or check out the highlights below.
| Tara's CV |
Education / Training |
Theater:
University of Maryland (College Park, MD), PhD Candidate in Theatre and Performance Studies Villanova University (Villanova, PA), MA in Theatre, 2016-2018 Denison University (Granville, OH), BA in Theatre, 2006-2010 Gaiety School of Acting (National Theatre School of Ireland, Dublin), 2008 Helikos: International School of Theatre Creation (Florence Italy), 2013-2014 Program in movement-based theater under the direction of Giovanni Fusetti. Instructors included Giovanni Fusetti, Elizabeth Baron, Matteo Destro, Sarah Liane Foster, and Norman Taylor. Pedagogic Training in Red Nose Clown under the direction of Giovanni Fusetti, (Boulder, CO), 2016 Workshop with Adam Lazarus (National Theatre School of Canada) in Bouffon. Comedy: Philly Improv Theater Training Center (Graduate, Levels 1-4) 2009-2012 Upright Citizens Brigade NYC Training Center (Levels 1-3) 2012-2015 Second City Chicago Training Center (Level 1 Improv/Sketch Intensive), 2010 Workshops with influential comedians including Jet Eveleth (iO), Armando Diaz (Magnet), Mark Sutton (Annoyance), and Susan Messing (Second City, iO). |
Teaching |
Armed Services Arts Partnership (Improvisation), 2020-Present
American University, Adjunct Faculty, 2021-Present University of Maryland, Instructor of Record, 2019-Present Washington Improv Theater (Long-form improv instructor), 2018-Present Philly Improv Theater (Long-form improv instructor, specialty workshops), 2014-2018 Education Dramaturg, Villanova Theater (create educational study guides, teach workshops and classes to contextualize season shows), 2017-2018 Arden Drama School (teach comedy and theatre to grades 1st-12th), 2010-2018 Wolf Performing Arts Center (teach comedy), 2016 The Franklin Institute (teach/perform solo traveling science shows in NY, NJ, and PA schools), 2015-2016 National High School Institute, Northwestern Univ. (administrator and teacher), 2009, 2010 |
Company Membership |
Company Member of Tribe of Fools (2015-Present), a physical theatre company in Philadelphia and winner of the 2018 Barrymore Award for Evolving Theatre Company. Tribe of Fools is dedicated to creating new plays that blur the lines between theatre, dance, acrobatics and other highly visual and kinetic storytelling techniques. Performed in 6 world-premiere productions and currently do administrative work for the company.
Company Member of Philly Improv Theater (2012-2018), a comedy theatre in downtown Philadelphia, producing over 1,000 shows a year, including stand-up, improv, sketch, and variety shows. Performing since 2012, teaching since 2014. Company Member of ManiPedi Sketch Comedy (2015-2018), A feminist sketch comedy troupe known for defying traditional sketch conventions by incorporating inventive transitions, spoken word, and movement. ManiPedi is one of Philly’s oldest and longest running sketch comedy troupes and has performed in festivals all over the country, including headlining their set at the 2016 Women in Comedy Festival. Writing and performing since 2015. Watch our digital sketches here. |
Credits / Additional Experience |
Select Theatre Shows:
The Behavior of Light by Douglas Carter Beane (Caroline), Villanova Theatre, Staged Reading, 2018 Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Verges), Villanova Theatre, 2018 Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn (Jenny), Villanova Theatre, 2018 Tribe of Fools' Holiday Burlesque (Performer), Tribe of Fools , 2014-2018 Fishtown - a hipster noir (Sarah Lowell), Tribe of Fools, Philly Fringe, 2017 Bedtime stories by Charles Mee (Molly), Villanova Theatre Thesis Project, 2017 We must share everything (Performer/creator), Villanova Theatre Studio Show, 2017 Antihero (Performer), Tribe of Fools, Philly Fringe, 2016 Science After Hours (Performer), The Franklin Institute, 2016 Zombies...with Guns (Female Zombie), Tribe of Fools, Philly Fringe, 2015 FAKE OFF, Season Two (Performer, Tribe of Fools), TruTV, 2015 Paperback Dreadful (Director), Philly Fringe, 2013 At Last! The Play-At-Home Romance Game Show (Not Vanna White), SoLow Fest 2014 SHUT YOUR WORMHOLE (Performer), Tribe of Fools, Philadelphia International Festival for the Arts, 2013 Select Comedy Shows: DGDK: Live Rock Comedy (Performer), Philly Improv Theatre, 2016-2018 Frog Night (Host and Producer), Good Good Comedy, 2016-2017 (Monthly Show of Experimental Comedy) You're Not Special (Creator/Performer), Good Good Comedy Theatre , 2016 Careful Now (Writer/Performer), ManiPedi Sketch, 2016 Stay Dead! An improvised horror comedy (performer), Philly Improv Theater, 2015 Karen's Dream (Writer/Performer), ManiPedi Sketch, 2014-2015 Improv Teams: DUNK TANK (House Team, Philly Improv Theatre), 2017-2018. Dr. Sleepover (House Improv Team, Philly Improv Theater), 2013-2015. The N Crowd (Short Form Improv Ensemble), 2011-2012. Hey Rube (House Improv Team, Philly Improv Theater), 2011-2012. Festivals: Bechtel Test Fest (Philadelphia) Black Friday Comedy Marathon (Philadelphia) Del Close Marathon (NYC) First Person Arts Festival (Philadelphia) Five Dollar Comedy Week (Good Good Comedy, Philadelphia) Philly Fringe / FringeArts Festival (Philadelphia) New Jersey Fringe Festival (Hammonton) Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) SoLow Festival (Philadelphia) Women in Comedy Festival (Boston) Conferences: Theatre Philadelphia Panel (Philadelphia Theatre Company) "Improv is the Future of Theatre," 2018. Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium (Villanova University), 2017, 2018. Gender and Women’s Studies Student Research Conference (Villanova University), 2017. American Society for Theatre Research (Seattle, WA), 2010. Residencies: Greenhouse of Fools (Celebration Barn, ME) Drop Forge & Tool (Hudson, NY) Arts Administration: Capital Fringe (Box Office Associate), Washington, DC, 2018. Tribe of Fools (Marketing, Company Management), Philadelphia, PA, 2015-Present. FringeArts (Development Assistant, Marketing Coordinator, Programming Manager), Philadelphia, PA, 2011-2013. Arden Theatre Company (Professional Apprenticeship), Philadelphia, PA, 2010. Click here for pictures and info on current and past projects. Homepage photo by Kiirstn Pagan. |