Founder and Artistic Director

An actor, director and producer, Tara is a founding member and the Artistic Director for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Most recently, she was seen in Rivendell’s Jeff Nominated production of CROOKED in Rivendell's brand new theater in Edgewater.

Tara also performed in the RTE Jeff Nominated productions of THE WALLS and SELF DEFENSE, OR THE DEATH OF SOME SALESMEN (both 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. Also for Rivendell, Tara has both produced and acted in TWENTY-SEVEN WAGONS FULL OF COTTON, TEN TINY FINGERS, NINE TINY TOES, WRENS, MY SIMPLE CITY, HOLY DAYS, MOMMAPALOOZA!, THE CLINK, THE FACTORY GIRLS, FAULKNER’S BICYCLE, THE TRESTLE AT POPELICK CREEK, and INDULGENCES IN THE LOUISVILLE HAREM.

Tara received a Joseph Jefferson award for Best Supporting actress for her portrayal of Gwenyth in WRENS as well as for being a part of the Jeff award 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 Midwest 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, NY) as well as the brief and brilliant SHADY MEADOWS by Lisa Dillman as part of the 2007 Chicago Humanities Festival. She appeared in Stephen Soderbergh’s film CONTAGION, the hit STARZ series BOSS featuring Kelsey Grammer, and in the upcoming NBC drama, CHICAGO FIRE.

Tara graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Theatre Arts from Brooklyn College.