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  TARA DEMMY comedian, theatre artist, teacher

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
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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.
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