Artist

An actor, director and producer, Tara is a founding member and Artistic Director for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Most recently, she was seen in the Rivendell production of Crooked in their brand new Edgewater theater. She performed in the World Premiere, Jeff Nominated production of The Walls and Self Defense, or the Death of Some Salesmen, both productions part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Visiting Theater Initiative. The cast of Self Defense was also honored with a 2005 After Dark award for Best Ensemble. For Rivendell, Tara has both produced and acted in Wrens; My Simple City; Holy Days; The Clink; Faulkner's Bicycle; The Trestle at Popelick Creek; and Indulgences in the Louisville Harem among others. Tara received a Joseph Jefferson award for Best Supporting actress for her portrayal of Gwenyth in Wrens as well as being a part of the Jeff winning ensemble for that production. She was nominated the following year for Best Actress in a Principal Role for her work in My Simple City. Tara has directed the Jeff Nominated Mid West premieres of 26 Miles by Quiara Alegria Hudes, Fighting Words by Sunil Kuruvilla, Psalms of a Questionable Nature by Marisa Wegerzyn, the co-production of Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue with Stageworks/Hudson in Hudson, NT as well as the brief and brilliant Shady Meadows by Lisa Dillman as part of the 2007 Chicago Humanities Festival. Her film and television credits include Stephen Soderbergh’s film Contagion; the STARZ series Boss featuring Kelsey Grammer and the NBC hit series, Chicago Fire. Tara graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA from Brooklyn College.