~I CAN’T READ MUSIC! Revival, choreographing, teaching, and
very thrilling upcoming gigs for the holiday season and New Year 2013! Read on for the official announcements!~
Happy Summer Guys and Dolls! Hope you are all staying cool and have
a good escape or two in store.
Heck, it even feels good to sit out on my South Philly stoop with my
latest book, watching neighbors load their vans with shovels, pails, towels, and
sunscreen while their little ones prance around in star-shaped sunglasses and
suits at their feet. Beach day
trips are the best. My
neighborhood is a delight that always makes me smile, full of block parties,
the delectable smells of grills, and lots of American songbook classics being
blasted from living rooms to the street.
I fit right in!
Summer is really my favorite, always being a
retreat to do musicals since I was a teen, time to travel, discover new bands
and song artists, meet new kindred spirits, rent a surrey with fringe on the
top down my beloved Jersey shore (seriously it’s a thing I do with my parents),
and make baby doll rompers my fashion statement. Its like a break from the real world- I always take myself
way less seriously and just commit towards having fun. Wonderful things always happen…
I am thrilled to say I will be getting my
first Pacific Ocean taste this August, spending my birthday in California for a
Disneyland Adventure with my sweetie pie!
You don’t even know how excited I am- I’ve been dying to go to
Disneyland since I was a little girl!
But before I can plop on my Mickey ears and hum “It’s a Small World”
under pitch all day long in Patrick (BF)’s ear, I have the Tara Tag July
Project to survive. The sweat
drips down my face just thinking about all that’s been happening and to come…
.the tara tag july project.
Philly Fireworks!!!
1812 Productions Jilline Ringle Solo
Performance Program Summer Residency July 2-8
I could not be more thankful and honored to
have spent a week in the company of 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All Comedy Theatre Company, rehearsing and revamping I CAN’T READ MUSIC! before it makes
its Philly premiere at the end of the month. There are just no words for the beauty of this program,
nabbing my best friend and neighbor Matt Mastronardi to jump on board as my
collaborator and featured piano player.
This phenomenal program was created to honor the memory of the beloved
Jilline Ringle, the self-proclaimed “Six Foot Red Head Amazon from Hell Whom
All Men Desire” cabaret genius of the Philly theatre community. What a tag line to be known by and I
wish I got to meet this foxy lady before she passed.
Through stories told by 1812’s marvelous Artistic Director Jen Childs,
Jilline was a one-of-kind spirit who created solo works as her way to celebrate
and share herself, something I tried to keep in mind and hold onto throughout
the week.
During this kick ass week, I got to hang
with some really cool and hilarious peeps at our shared lunches and most
importantly got the invaluable gift of rehearsal space and time before Matty
and I got consumed by camp and other projects. Though it may be called I CAN’T READ MUSIC!, the poor piano
player for my cabaret has definitely got to read A LOT of music for this score
is a wild beast that craves a big band feel. Matty worked his tushy off and has become an integral piece
of the remount, doing even more than playing the piano and become my playmate
and scene partner throughout. This
week’s time was very essential for us in creating that relationship and for
also taking liberties with some new numbers, one big one even being developed
out of scratch with toy instruments, some cello, and some taps. ALL STOPS ARE OUT! I also added more sugar and spice to my
base script that weaves all my ladies together and have a huge surprise that
I’m 100 percent nervous about and can’t believe I’m doing. Lips sealed.
I was joined by two other stunning women as
residents and their awesome collaborators, all people I have looked up to on stages
across Philly and whom are mentioned below in the press release- CHECK IT OUT. Also, it was just plain old awesome to
be a welcomed part of 1812 the whole week, a company that produces shows that
always leave me in stitches and smiling ear to ear! I thank my Philly educator friends who saw my first cabaret
in NY and pushed me to apply for this program and make the whole sha-bang happen
again in my new home city. Our
concluding showcase, which a chunk of my Philly friends and parents got to see,
was just inspiring and delicious- such a great accomplishment for all three of
us. Check out 1812 (link is above) to see why they are
the bomb for all the great work they do! I’m getting my parents subscriptions
and you should too!
PRESS RELEASE ON STAGE DIRECTIONS AND THEATRE MANIA
PRESS RELEASE ON STAGE DIRECTIONS AND THEATRE MANIA
Bi Jean Ngo, Kaci Fannen, and Me- 2012 Jilline Ringle Residents! These ladies are magnificent powerhouses. You like my big frame dork, hipster wanna be glasses? They are my in-workshop spectacles to make me look serious ;-). Momma Tag Guest Appearance: My parents were beyond supportive at the showcase!
CAMP WALNUT July 9th- August 5th
The Kids and Counselors on the Main Stage...Blow it up and play Where's Waldo? to Find Me!
It’s officially begun! Scratch FAME Jr., I am now the
choreographer for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, JR. (so jazzed!) and THE TEMPEST
(my first Shakespeare!), plus choreographing and assisting on staging for the
discovery and development groups PLUS teaching acting and audition technique
classes, all at CAMP WALNUT at the Walnut Street Theatre this summer.
Wooo! It’s probably the
hardest I’ve ever worked as an educator, and already, the most rewarding. These kids are giving me a workout,
full of creative and brilliant ideas and exceeding my expectations as young
artists. I know how important camp
was to me as a kid, so I am truly giving it my all in thinking on my toes,
doing my own research, and sharing my experiences thus far with
performing. I just love watching
the lights go off in kids’ brains.
I used our Harry Potter day theme the other day to explain objective to
my young acting class, using what Harry wants as the example, and I couldn’t
believe how quickly they understood- magic! I am also so impressed with my Millie Cast in how they
tackled the 1920s style, looking like regular rip-roaring Flappers in the dance
call, and my Tempest Cast for investing immediately into the text and world of
Shakespeare. All the kids in all
the different performance groups are really putting inhibitions aside and its
beautiful to watch and put to use.
I can’t imagine where we will be in three weeks and am excited to watch
the growth!
11TH Hour Theatre Company Summer Class
To keep my own skills sharp, I am taking
Musical Theatre Audition Technique class Thursday nights with Megan O’Brien,
Resident Director of the 11th Hour Theatre Company, which feels more
like audition therapy where there are no limitations or rules in exploring our
song choices. I want to feel ready
for the fall, in which I hope to attend agent seminars and casting director
master classes in NY. Here is the
video of my performance in 11th Hour’s Rock Master Class last March,
having entirely too much fun singing with a live band!
I LIKE YOU SO MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU'RE NAKED!
By Ida Maria
I LIKE YOU SO MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU'RE NAKED!
By Ida Maria
I CAN’T READ MUSIC! Comes to Philadelphia
July 28th at 2pm (ONE MATINEE
ONLY!)
Thanks Jessica Latshaw for the promo card update!
Mazeppa Productions, the first theatre
company in Philly I worked for after my WST apprenticeship ended last year, has
graciously given I CAN’T READ MUSIC! the opportunity to live again in their new
Cabaret Series, which is running alongside their main production of SPRING AWAKENING
this summer. It meant so much to
be asked to be a part of this and to remain involved with their company in
their 2nd season, even helping out in the marketing department. They are just a fantastic group of
people that feel like family.
Also, please go see SPRING AWAKENING- It’s thrilling, haunting,
unnerving, and fresh with a completely new spin on the piece that blew my
mind. I am one hundred percent
proud of Mazeppa- GET ITTTTTT!
BOYFRIEND in FOREVER PLAID
My lovely boyfriend Patrick Roberts also returned to
Philly to rehearse FOREVER PLAID, produced by the Media Theatre and performing
down the Jersey Shore for a brief stint.
Check this out for details if you happen to be vacationing in Cape May County!
.upcoming.
NATIONAL TOUR DEBUT!
“Mama Who” in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
this Holiday Season!
I became a little kid at Christmas jumping
and screaming for joy when I found out I would be spending my favorite holiday
in Whoville this year, traveling with the HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Touring Company from early
November to the end of 2012 on my first ever National Tour! I have been aching to go on tour ever
since I graduated college and could not have hoped for a better show to make that
dream true. Being a big Dr. Seuss
fan with HOP ON POP the first book I ever read and SEUSSICAL the first musical
I got to play a part in outside of school, I literally cannot wait to enter
that zany and whimsical world of Christmas cheer and pointy little noses! Cindy
Lou Who is my kid!!!! I get to
perform at some of our country’s top touring houses!!!! It’s just all too exciting. Check out my tour schedule below to
catch me in a city near you! I
will definitely be blogging about the whole thing and cannot wait to go to New
York in October to start rehearsals!
Merry Christmas to Me, that is for sure!
A PINK LADY FOR 2013
Brush-a, Brush-a, Brush-a!
“Jan” in the Co-production of GREASE at the
Riverside Theatre in Florida and the Walnut Street Theatre
This is seriously a childhood dream come true. I cannot tell you how many nights I would watch my taped off TV sing-a-long version of GREASE in rep with DIRTY DANCING as a kid- it is lucky I did not grow up to be beauty-school dropout. I was obsessed with GREASE, and even GREASE 2 (“Cool Rider” was my MySpace theme song in my teens), quoting the movies and imitating the Pink Lady strut with all the coolness inside of me! This opportunity to be in GREASE now is beyond amazing. Not only am I making my Walnut Main Stage Musical debut in a role that cracks me up PLUS getting to go to Florida (Vero Beach!!!) AND getting to experience all this amazingess with roommate Rachel Camp who is playing “Marty” AND getting to hand jive my spring and summer away, I am pretty much employed as an actor for the entire season next year, hoping to fill my few months off with teaching gigs and cabaret.
I have a challenging year of performing
ahead and I am extremely grateful for it.
I plan to make the most of it!
Vist the Riverside Theatre Home Page
Visit the Walnut Street Theatre Home Page
Vist the Riverside Theatre Home Page
Visit the Walnut Street Theatre Home Page
.highlights from what has happened.
RENT at Bristol Riverside Theatre
An unforgettable experience. I feel like there are certain musicals
I can pin-point to certain years of my life, beginning with Shirley Temple and
then moving into my movie musical craze which included GREASE, anything Gene
Kelley, anything Disney, and anything Rodgers and Hammerstein. Listening to mostly show tunes, jazz,
and country growing up, RENT was really my first taste of rock music as a tween and I was
completely swallowed hole by it.
The RENT characters were also the first I really cared about-they felt
like my friends as I listened to the album- and connected with. So getting to do this show was a party
for me, swinging on poles, thrashing my hair, dancing like a nut on tables, and
coming together in a line with a crazily talented group of people I grew to
love, finding the Bohemian spirit in all of us and living for the moment. I experienced so much during this show,
conquering a lot with the cast, and loved what RENT was ultimately doing for
the Bristol community. We really
challenged their audience members and it was tremendous to hear in talkbacks or
on our Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aid night the impact we were having. This is why I love my job. RENT also gave me my first Playbill.com
cast announcement- linked below- and Bristol Riverside was a fantastic theatre
to work for. We got comps to see
Ben Vereen in STEPPING OUT’, which was performing in their season our first
weekend in rehearsals, and it will go down as being one of my most favorite
evenings in theatre. That man has
the energy and spirit of a 10-year old boy and made me feel full to the brim with life. You better
see Ben Vereen when he’s back on Broadway next season- he’s unmatchable as a
performer with one of the wildest theatrical careers out there. And his arrangements and band are
sick. Thank you Bristol for that!
Mark's Mom and her Boys
La Vie Boheme 90s Dance Workout!
RENT was so magical that I forgot I broke my pinky finger in the process. This is when it was fresh- check out that robot hand!
Watch the RENT trailer below:
“Elphaba” at the Kimmel Center
Fixated on my verdigris?
This is just too funny. As a Broadway Season Greeter during
performances of the WEST SIDE STORY National Tour at Philly’s Academy of Music,
I promoted the Kimmel Center upcoming season, which of course includes our
favorite witches in WICKED. I
initially thought I was going to be a stewardess from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN,
which my beautiful friend Nadia Vynnytsky will be on the road with next
season!, but was changed last minute to Elphie. I took so many photos with patrons- is everyone a WICKED
fan?-and sang “Defying Gravity” parodies all night. I even ate at Chipotle sporting my green face, but let me
say it was no piece of pie to scrub off!
.a summer not doing stock.
Mac-Haydn Theatre Dressing Room Escapade
It is true: this is the first summer since I
was 19 that I’m not going away to do a theatre gig. As much as I miss those serene escapes from city life, I’m
embracing my staying put. I’ve
read a lot of good books including Sheri Sander’s ROCK THE AUDITION and
autobiographies of my I CAN’T READ MUSIC! starlets, seen a lot of amazing shows
about town, and am using the rest of summer into early fall to prepare for my
show schedules of my upcoming year.
I even got to attend my friend Meera’s wedding (check out their site!), which I am calling THE
EVENT OF THE YEAR, go to Hershey Park as a belated birthday gift I got my
boyfriend, visit Montclair with my 2 college besties, and flee to DC to spend
time with my first ever friend Danielle and see my friend Katerina Papacostas go on for "Marion Paroo" usually played by Kate Baldwin (the best unexpected surprise ever!) in Arena Stage's THE MUSIC MAN (also saw Arena's NORMAL HEART and died- FLAWLESS piece of theatre!) As an actor, life can easily become
about work, work, work and finding the next job, but I constantly remind myself
to take time out to enjoy as well.
I plan to get back into yoga, finish Harry Potter, fancy up my bedroom
with new furniture, plan my Prince Edward Island escape for September with
Matty and company, re-do my website and head shots, seek agent representation,
be charmed by California and Disneyland, and turn 25 with a big ole smile on my
face.
24- you began with me raising my razor high
doing SWEENEY TODD then joining the line for a second time as a singular
sensation in New Hampshire, moved me to a stunning new home in South Philly,
got steamy as a merry murderess for the fall, let loose my holiday cheer with
my favorite Dickens Classic on stage, took me to my second wonder of the world
in Arizona with the man I love, got filled with new teaching adventures,
classes, auditions, bus and train rides, and wacky gigs, introduced me to
creating cabaret as my New Year's challenge, gave my boyfriend his first acting
job in Philly and more time to spend with me, found me laughing even harder
and overcoming struggles with my family and beloved friends, had me actually doing my
first ever one woman show, took me back to the 90s rocking out and living a
teenage fantasy in Alphabet City, had me singing my first ever rock song in
public, struck me with choreographing fever, made me fall harder for the Philly
theatre community, and got me completely immersed with this craft and the
stories we tell as performers.
I’ll be 25, in love that’s for sure, and itching to learn and grow into a couple more quarter centuries.
Here’s to the summer winds and to a new age! Never be
afraid of what’s to come and listen to your heart.
<3 Tara
PS: And dance in the rain with a smile on your face!
Don't wind up looking like this when you're caught by a down pour.
and
WATCH THIS!
and
WATCH THIS!
