Summer in Philly

~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!~

Two lovers a top the Grand Canyon!

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

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!

MORE INFO ON THE JILLINE RINGLE PROGRAM!

CAMP WALNUT July 9^th- August 5^th

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!

11^TH 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 11^th 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 11^th 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 CAN’T READ MUSIC! Comes to Philadelphia

July 28^th 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 2^nd 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!

Click to Purchase Tickets Here!

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!

*TOUR SCHEDULE*

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

.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!

I CAN'T READ MUSIC! DEBUT

Testimonials from My Debut Performance Last Weekend:

Here's a performer to watch. With "I Can't Read Music" Tara Tag has a concept that she carries through with wit, humor and reverence for the women for whom she pays tribute. Her physical comedy was delicious and she had the singing chops to match.

Rosemary Loar

One Woman Cabaret Tour De Force, Broadway Actress

Check out her New Album Sting, Stang, Stung!

http://www.rosemaryloar.com/

*

I expected to be entertained and enjoy every minute of Tara Tagliaferro's cabaret "I Can't Read Music", but somehow it EXCEEDED all of my expectations. It was a delightful, well-constructed and eclectic hour of songs, tied together with personal tidbits and Tara's own unique and charming sense of humor. Tara single-handedly made me laugh until my sides hurt; and just when I least expected, even conjured a tear or two.

I've since been recommending her show to everyone I know, despite the fact that it does not have any more scheduled performances at this time.

Caroline Leipf

Walnut Street Theatre Outreach Program Coordinator

*

Tara Tag embodies the heart and soul of why musical theater will never go far from the stage or our hearts. She is a storyteller, plain and simple. You can't help but be caught up in the pictures she paints through her songs, anecdotes, jokes, and endearing antics, as well as drawn into the light she shares so brilliantly from her own sweet soul.

Jessica Latshaw

Singer, Songwriter, and Subway Car Star!

Download “Ain’t My Friend” on iTunes Now!

http://www.thislifeinwriting.com/

*

Tara Tag has the spirit of someone from another time. A time when Cole Porter was on the radio, Shirley Temple was on the movie screen, and it was perfectly normal to sing and dance your feelings out. Armed with an earnest, if not lanky delivery and some fierce comedic timing, Ms Tag is reminiscent of a young Carol Burnett. While unprepared to do so, I belly laughed for a solid 60 minutes!

Joanna Burns

Singer/Songwriter

Check out her album THE GREEN YEAR!

http://joannaburns.com/

*

Tara Tagliaferro’s “I Can’t Read Music” is saturated with laughter and joy, two things we could use plenty more of in this crazy world. She moved seamlessly from personal life stories to song, and although she made sure to give credit to the iconic women who first gave these melodies life, it was as if each song were written specifically for her.

Brandon Monokian

Budding Director and Man of Many Talents

www.brandonmonokian.com

*

(These quotes crack me up! Marcy pictured herself coming out of I CAN’T READ MUSIC! shooting a commercial of audience responses like Broadways shows do. This is why I love Marcy.)

Full throttle cabaret...charming, witty, hilarious and touching....joyously entertaining..Dont miss the talented Tara Tag in her tour de force solo debut: "I Can't Read Music!"

The evening went by so quickly. Every song was a surprise...and so funny. I had a great time.

Wow! This girl has great timing. She's got a fresh approach: a modern twist on old fashion musical comedy…

I don't know…I just love her face...I kinda want to take her home with me! She's delightful! So entertaining!

Marcy Jellison

My First Ever Voice Teacher in NYC and an Accomplished Artist of Music, Poetry, and Theatre

http://www.marcyjellisonvoicelessons.com

Snap Shots! Brought To You By the Amazing Caroline Leipf

.WoW.

I can’t believe its over! It felt like a wonderful, but nutty whirlwind, the Duplex feeling more and more like my living room as the hour ticked away, riding high on the music of laughter and melodies that I now feel live in me. I tried to keep in mind that cabaret performances are more like visiting a performer’s dressing room than seeing her take the stage; it should be me in every sense, an intimate Tara forgetting perfection, and just living in the moments and pictures I painted. A little stripped down, a little vulnerable, a little flying by the seat of my pants (or crinoline skirt), a little revealing- no secrets allowed!, but A LOT of heart. It was like I staged a love letter to Shirley Temple, Carol Burnett, Betty Hutton, Keely Smith, and Teresa Brewer- my beyond fabulous ladies I saluted- and my ever fantastic theatre community, family, and friends. I could not be happier or more humbled to be in such a business.

I couldn’t believe the feedback I got and now only hope to do the whole cabaret again and eventually create more (Momma Rose like dreams are stirring in my head- don’t worry there isn’t a cow). I want to bring I CAN’T READ MUSIC! to Philly audiences this time around and am excited to start mapping out the path I need to take to do so. I definitely want another shot at it and want to share even more.

I feel blessed to now have a library of musical gems, this treasure chest of medleys and arrangements made specifically for this cabaret, as well as memoirs and biographies of these divine performers I can always flip through stacking my shelves. When I was reading BACKSTAGE, YOU CAN HAVE, the published memoir of Betty Hutton, I once got off at the wrong train stop because I was so invested. In Betty’s book and even in Carol’s first memoir ONE MORE TIME, I saw there was no place happier for them than the stage. They forgot their lives and troubles and just rejoiced in who they were and the beauty of life. And they were addicted to laughter- the roaring and whooping kind that causes tumbling tears. I think I am too.

There is so much one can stress out about on a daily basis, but my cabaret definitely made me forget about all that. My mom killed me after the show, sobbing and saying she got to see her little girl grow up all over again. And it was so nice when my boyfriend came on stage for our surprise duet to celebrate our love, getting lost in our Eskimo kisses! Those are the moments that it’s all about!

Thank you again to all that attended and to the Duplex, especially my director John D. Forslund and accompanist Garrit Guadan. I was so honored and happy to have sprinklings of my family, friends, and mentors from all walks of life- from my best friend in pre-school to my best friend in Philly. You all gave me a night I’ll never forget that was truly magical. I will forever be grateful and inspired by this experience. Whenever I tug my ear just like Miss Burnett at the end of all her shows, it will be for all of you!

My Set List:

*

SHIRLEY TEMPLE:

“On the Good Ship Lollipop” from Bright Eyes (Sidney Clarke and Richard A. Whiting)

Medley:

“On Account I Love You” from Baby, Take a Bow (B. Green and H.S. Stept)

"Come and Get Your Happiness" from Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm (Pokrass and Yellen)

"This is a Happy Little Ditty" from Just Around the Corner (H. Spina and W. Bullock)

"I Love to Walk in the Rain" from SEE ABOVE

"But Definitely" from Poor Little Rich Girl (Mack Gordon and Harry Revel)

Encore:

“Goodnight My Love” from Stowaway (Mack Gordon and Harry Revel)

*

CAROL BURNETT:

“Shy” from Once Upon a Mattress (Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer)

“The Usher from the Mezzanine” from Fade Out, Fade In (Jule Styne and Betty Comden and Adolph Green)

*

BETTY HUTTON:

Medley:

“I Wake Up in the Morning Feeling Fine” from Red, Hot, Blue! (Frank Loesser)

"Can't Stop Talking about Him" (FULL CUT FROM FILM) from Let's Dance (Frank Loesser)

“It’s Oh so Quiet” German Song Translated (Bert Reisfeld and Hans Lang)

“Stuff Like That There” (Jay Livingston and Ray Evans)

“Murder, He Says!” from Happy Go Lucky (Frank Loesser and Jimmy McHugh)

FINALE:

"His Rocking Horse Ran Away" from And the Angels Sing (Jimmy van Heusen)

*

KEELY SMITH:

"It's Magic" (Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn)

*

TERESA BREWER:

"The Glad Song" (Dean Elliot and Jack Scholr)

<3

They Say That I have SPRING FEVER!

Highlights all of Tara Tag’s Upcoming Events Plus Her Understudy Tale in making her

Walnut Street Main Stage Theatre Debut last month!

And a little extra…

.now.

I CAN’T READ MUSIC!

THIS SATURDAY AT 7PM AT THE DUPLEX!

A little spoiler to get you all revved up! Ladies and Gentleman, my ladies who couldn’t read a single note of music:

I have my Mary Jane taps(a few sizes bigger than the last pair I wore!) and a classic 50s style swing dress, being sassed up my first crinoline skirt, ready to spin! I got bows to put in my hair, ditties to tap and sway to, ballads to croon, hoots to holler, and stories to share plus the best director and music director making the Duplex feel like my home for an hour. Here is my bio featured on my director/producer John D. Forslund’s website:

A New Jersey native and an old musical comedy soul since childhood, a young Tara Tagliaferro began her solo cabaret career touring her grandparents’ basements and living rooms, selling out every couch and recliner as she showcased hits from musicals such as Grease, Joseph...Dreamcoat, and West Side Story, plus a spectacular one-woman version of the opening number in A Chorus Line (home videos available). Tara grew up consistently entertaining her family and stuffed animals, singing and tapping alongside Shirley Temple tapes, MGM musicals replayed on TV, and crackly old Broadway records as well as driving with her folks to NY to see her favorite shows live. She found nothing to be more magical. When she began performing in school plays and community theatre, she became instantly addicted to the audience laughter and constantly craved that joyful escape she found theatre to bring to herself and loved ones. Now many summer theatre camps and stocks (even one spent as a singing waitress!) and a BFA in musical theatre later, Tara could not be happier to still be true to the dreams and big imagination she had as a little girl. Landing in Philadelphia right after her graduation to fulfill a season long acting apprenticeship with America’s oldest regional theatre the Walnut Street Theatre, Tara has been blessed to perform in their Main Stage and Studio seasons, Kids Series, and with their Touring Outreach Company as well as with other regional companies in Philly, which she now calls home. She has also began work as a teaching artist through the Walnut’s Education Department, choreographing her first school show for the Walnut Adopt-a-School this spring. Please visit www.taratag.com to see what’s on the horizon next as she bounces between Philly and New York adventures. Tara could not be more thrilled to go out on a whim this New Year and share her story in her NYC one-woman cabaret debut with JD Productions! Always thanks to her beyond amazing family, beyond amazing friends, and beyond amazing boyfriend in which everything would be nothing without. For love!

Click HERE for more information! Get in touch with me if you’d like to make a reservation or click that lovely link. I want you there! I am so excited to be bringing together my friends, family, and mentors from college, summer stock, Philly, my hometown, and the Big Apple all under one roof. It’s insane to me. There will be no happier girl in the world on March 24^th!

11^TH HOUR THEATRE COMPANY ROCK MASTERCLASS

And now for something entirely different…

On Monday March 26^th, I’ll be performing at the Twisted Tail located in Philly’s Queen Village in what I’m calling PHILLY ROCKS JR. brought to you by the 11^th Hour Theatre Company. Before the concert, which starts at 8:30, I’ll be doing a master class with the company artistic director Mike O’Brien and resident rock beltress Alex Keiper on owning our rock songs of choice to be sung with…drum roll please…a LIVE BAND! Since I have a pop/rock spring coming my way (scroll down to see!), I am stoked to be giving myself this challenge. Can’t wait to put on my new heel boots and dive into unchartered Tara Tag rock ‘n roll territory. Who knows what will come out?! May be there is an inner punk queen in there somewhere. HEAD BANG!

CLICK ME TO GO TO 11^TH HOUR’S FACEBOOK PAGE FOR INFO!

TARA TAG AS A BROADWAY SEASON GREETER FOR THE KIMMEL CENTER

On April 1^st, I think you should go see West Side Story at the Academy of Music because someone may just be dressed up like a stewardess from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN promoting the Kimmel Center’s upcoming season….and Panam haha. I’m so excited for this! And you should just go see it to catch my good friend Chris Rice as Baby John!

CLICK ME TO GET INFO ON THE WEST SIDE STORY TOUR IN PHILLY!

.upcoming.

RENT AT BRISTOL RIVERSIDE

My first ever POP/ROCK musical! I am super excited to be making my BRT debut, especially with a musical I use to blast behind closed bedroom doors in my after school hours growing up. RENT was the first vocal selection book I purchased at 12, singing “Seasons of Love” in my first ever musical theatre class all on my lonesome. This was one of the first musicals I gravitated towards as an awkward young teen and I find it so fascinating that almost every one of my musical theatre peers can sing every lyric and note of this score with me. The music was addicting! It was probably my first contemporary musical obsession, seeing it on Broadway twice by the age of 14 (once with Joey Fatone from N*SYNC), and reading up on Jonathon Larson and RENT’s creation and journey. It is such a revolutionary musical that I feel blessed to be a part of. I’ve always wanted to play “Mark’s Mom” and dance on top of tables! Big thanks to Sheri Saunders, the rock audition guru, for giving me the audition material I used! She’s a must.

RENT runs May 8^th-June 3^rd! CLICK THIS LINK TO GO TO THE BRT WEBSITE FOR TICKET INFO!

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES with the 11th Hour Theatre Company

A heavenly slice of doo-wop pie! I am happy to announce that I will be assisting Barrymore Nominated choreographer and hip-hop master Samuel Reyes (my choreographer for Walnut Street’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL the past 2 years) in creating the choreography for this adorable musical review. Every rehearsal is going to feel like a sock hop. I am so thrilled to be working with 11^th Hour Theatre Company for the first time, one of my favorites in town, and to be expanding myself as a choreographer. I’m really enjoying working on Aladdin Jr. and seeing what my imagination can come up with- its completely rewarding to see it all come to life!

I am also ECSTATIC to announce that I will be swinging “Betty Jean” and “Suzy” during the process, and I’m getting to go on in the final weekend for “Suzy!” R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!!! I will have exact dates posted as soon as I know! I could not foresee a better way to kick off my summer.

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES runs in the Skybox at the Adrienne Theatre June 1^st-25^{th !} CLICK THIS LINK TO GO TO THE 11^TH HOUR WEBSITE FOR TICKET INFO!

BOYFRIEND MAKES PHILADELPHIA DEBUT

This isn’t really my news to post, but damn it, I’m proud and jumping for joy to be having my boyfriend live with me while he does SPRING AWAKENING at the Media Theatre this spring. Its going to wonderful and is exactly what we need as it sometimes gets hard getting to and from Astoria and Philly. I also just have such a love for this show- I can’t wait to see him in it! He gets to jump on tables too!

CLICK THIS LINK TO GET TICKETS TO SEE PATRICK ROBERTS IN SPRING AWAKENING

A SUMMER IN THE CITY

I am really looking forward to be spending my first ever summer in a city this year, choreographing CAMP WALNUT’s FAME JR. at the Walnut Street Theatre, and hopefully taking classes up the wazoo between Philadelphia and New York. Oh yeah, and working! I really love it at the National Constitution Center, especially when it’s sunny out because the whole building shines! I have a lot of personal projects I want to get off and running and may be will plan another cabaret to do! You know me- I can’t stand still for too long. I am looking forward to trips to my hometown, the shore, and may be planning some vacations with the boyfriend and best friends. Disney Land and Prince Edward Island have come to bat. Groupon can you do something about that? I also want to head out to the theatres my friends will be at the summer and applaud their performances! There’s nothing I love better.

.what’s been going on.

MY WALNUT STREET THEATRE MAIN STAGE DEBUT!

Tara Tag’s Understudy Tale

Exhausted on Sunday Night after my one-night only MOUSETRAP!

I don’t think there is anything as nerve wrecking and at the same time adrenaline pumping as understudying. It is an actor’s limbo, just looming in the abyss waiting for this no-guarantee ring to call you on. And even if you do get the news that it is going to happen, you don’t usually go right to jumping HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL style into the air. It usually feels more like panic and instead of butterflies delightfully entering your tummy in this excited anticipation, it’s more like horrifying bats flapping around. But you are alive in every sense. It’s like someone just pressed the fast forward button on your life and you trust the theatre magic to catch you up to speed.

The beginning…(Disclaimer this is long, but I promise entertaining!)

The West End Theatre!

I had hopped onboard THE MOUSETRAP, undoubtedly Agatha Christie’s most popular murder mystery written in 1952 being the longest running play EVER on the West End, a few weeks after it opened as an immediate replacement for the Mollie u/s. Other than having been the reader at auditions for a few of the roles way back in June the previous year, I knew then only what Wikipedia had to offer on the show and had already forgotten most of that. Hahaha-Great. So I threw myself into the whole thing pretty blind due to my jam-packed schedule, but knew I could not pass this opportunity up and would make myself find the time. Thank God I could pull a British accent out of my bag of tricks from doing ARCADIA in college and a bigger thank God that the stage manager, the incredible tour de force Debbi Marcucci, could not be any better in introducing a wide-eyed understudy to the character she is going to play in the yummiest way. She made me hungry to act and it instantly felt good to be involved with a play again. I think the most hilarious thing early on is when I was doing the first read through of the script with Debi the day after I had got it. I asked her before we began if “Mollie” was a huge role. I think Debi let our a hearty chuckle and said, “Girl friend, it’s the lead.” Oh- good to know.

I had about a week and a day to get off book as best as I could and three rehearsals with the understudy cast. I was doing everything possible in that little free time I had to make the lines stick, but boy oh boy, was I getting a run for my money. Especially in Act 2, Mollie pretty much never leaves stage nor shuts up. I called the hardest part of Mollie’s track the Trifecta, engaging in these three back to back to back scenes as if I were acting an Olympic marathon. Those scenes were also pivotal in revealing a lot of the show’s key clues with emotions and suspicions brewing high. No biggie, no biggie.

So the final understudy run through happened and I felt good about Act 1, but hobbled through Act 2 as the lines ricocheted around in my brain. It was a little rough with a lot of line calling, but I had done what I could. I did end up finding fun in it though, really enjoying the play’s twist and turns and the role. But never in million years did I think I was going to go on. So I thought that was that…

About two weeks later, I got notice that the actress I was understudying, who just so happens to be my voice teacher, big sister, and favorite Philly director Miss Jennie Eisenhower, was feeling a little under the weather. Thank God I got that warning. I confess THE MOUSETRAP was not really in my every day thoughts, working on the two school shows and Purim Play, taking class, working, and auditioning, so having that advanced little heads up allowed me to get it back into my brain. I did doubt if it ever was really there, but had no choice. I took the warning very seriously that Friday night and treated it as if I was going on for the Saturday matinee. When 1:30 came around Saturday afternoon and I had no text/call, I passed out on my couch, having been buried in the script all morning. I figured no news was good news to Jennie’s health recovering and I went about my day. I headed out to the Mazeppa Fundraiser that night, the company I worked for last summer, to volunteer my help in setting up and to cheer on the cabaret performance. Just as the cabaret was ready to kick off and about three wine glasses in, I got a three part text from the stage manager that I was more than likely going to be doing one or both of the Sunday shows.

Instant heat took over my body. I think the wine helped. I scurried on out of Mazeppa, explaining to them the situation, and fled home, stopping for coffee and water on the way. I enlisted the help of two best friends Leslie Nevon Holden and Matt Mastronardi to come on over and help me run THE MOUSETRAP in my living room. I was so lucky that both of them rushed to my aid.

Leslie and Matty got me through the whole show that night, stopping to fix the trouble lines and making me laugh as they took on all the accents and got into the murder mystery themselves. I had no official notice by the end of the night, only that I was on call. I woke up early the next morning and did a quiet line through with a delicious breakfast in my neighborhood coffee shop and had my roommate Rachel run my Mt. Everest Act 2 moments in her room. I canceled my day and made it all about THE MOUSETRAP. I had found out that morning I was to be at the Walnut by noon to try on costumes and to start doing a mini- put in just in case with only the stage manager. Nothing official yet, but we were playing it safe.

Fortunately Jennie was able to do that matinee- she’s a true blue professional- so I got to watch the show again. I had only gotten through Act 1 with Debi and only did lines for Act 2 with the ASMS in the green room at half hour, so that was really helpful. After the matinee, I waited like a jittery Jill in the green room for my fate. Was I doing the night show? Was this really going to happen? My knees couldn’t stop knocking. Then Debi came out of Jennie’s dressing room and gave me the thumbs up. “You’re going on.”

And now, everything else is a blur. I know I somehow texted Patrick, Matty, Leslie, and Rachel and called my parents, who were both sick and couldn’t make it, before the dinner break put in. The Walnut ordered pizza and we were off- we had 1 hour and half to get me through everything. The biggest thank you to the cast for being beyond supportive and amazing, all such accomplished actors-Philadelphia stars!-some having Broadway credits, MFAs, Barrymores- things that if I thought about, I was like- what am I doing on stage with these people!!?? They all had my back and made me feel very safe, some of them I was even just meeting for the first time! I seriously couldn’t ask to have a better cast to enter into.

We got through the show and by that time, it was half hour. My hands were so jittery that Jennie’s dresser Deb and the wig designer Meg took complete care of me, getting my hair in pin curls, wig on, and even lipstick as I did everything else on my face and drank gulps of water. No pizza for me and so much love to those ladies for settling my nerves. Then before I knew it, I was at places. Mollie is the first character to enter with all this suspicious business, so I stood in the wings feeling like Judy Garland in THE WIZARD OF OZ after getting her Emerald City hair make over with that wig, clutching my hand bag and not really believing this was happening. Patrick was on his way from NY to be in the audience with a nice handful of my friends who had found out last minute through Jennie’s facebook post- CRAZY TOWN- or that I’M GOING ON! Text I had sent out. Then all of a sudden the announcement had started. The stage right ASM was throwing snow on me since Mollie is coming in from a huge snowstorm, and my dresser was fixing this pink Edie Beale like wrap over my head. I was trying to think of my first line and was just blanking. Then I looked up at the cue light and saw it go out. That’s when something just took over. THEATRE MAGIC. Off I went.

I can’t really remember anything else. I did feel very invested and was even starting to have fun with the scenes I had been confident about. It was like it wasn’t me if that makes any sense; I was so focused that it was almost out of body like I was playing chess with myself. I did almost get knocked out with the curtain at the end of the show-yikes!, but I had made it through pretty smoothly. The cast even gave me my own bow at the end, which I’ll never forget- so surreal. It hadn’t even hit me that I had played a lead on the Walnut main stage just yet. I was just trying so hard not to let anyone down or mess up the story the whole time. When it was over as I was exiting Jennie’s star dressing room, I had to pinch myself.

I had a cheese steak celebration that night with Patrick- who ran from the train station in time to catch the end of Act 1 to the end- and Leslie, Matty, and Nate who had dropped what they were doing to see me go on. Matty even ran to an audition on intermission- an audition in which he eventually booked! It was a theatre magic day. Thank you February 27^th!

The Walnut Facebook page wrote up a little post about me that Monday and I went back to normal life the next week. It all had happened so fast and I am so grateful that I got this opportunity and was matched with so much faith and guidance. I could thank that cast and crew forever and my amazing friends for coming together like my family that weekend. Mollie is the biggest role I have ever played haha- I love the Walnut for giving me the chance to continue my growth as a young actress. WOW! I’ll never forget this experience as long as I live.

After curtain call with Judy Garland Oz Curls!

THE BUSY BEE…

The Cabaret Duo MATTY AND ME!

The week before the understudy tale I was in Scranton, performing with Matty the cabaret for my grand parents assistant living home we had thrown together. It was a beautiful weekend, stuffing our face with the best pizza in the world- OLD FORGE pizza is too die for good- and singing our hearts out in the packed lobby before the Sunday Happy Hour and my Pop-Pop and Mom’s joined birthday dinner. So many of my family members I hadn’t seen in forever came out and had the nicest things to say. Matty and I felt like Mickey and Judy and stayed after our finale to continue playing songs on the baby grand at the entertainment director’s request. So many people came over to us to shake our hands and thank us, and assumed we were from Broadway- hilarious! We had this little old man in a wheelchair, Doctor Nick, come over to us and share all his favorite Broadway memories. He had missed our performance because he accidently fell asleep in his room, so Matty and I gladly did our duet numbers again for him and melted at his stunning stories he told about the Broadway Golden Age. He invited us back to his room and gave us some of his old Irving Berlin concerts taped off of TV. He was just too darling, especially when he talked about his love for Julie Andrews! Matty and I just couldn’t get over it!

Now through my mom’s promotion- get it Agent Momma Tag, Matty and I may be doing some more performances at other senior citizen homes and centers down the line. It is definitely a nice outlet that we are excited to continue exploring!

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I have also been taking a lot of classes between the Walnut Street Theatre and New York City. I’ve been working with the Walnut Street Theatre Casting Director Kate Galvin on musical theatre auditions and actress/choreographer Ellie Mooney at tackling dance calls weekly, getting the treat to even work with cast members from SISTER ACT on Broadway and the WHITE CHRISTMAS tour. Auditioning is never easy, so I just feel it is important to always be working on it and this definitely in the most fun way possible! I also took another class with Stage Door Connections, this time learning the HOW TO SUCCEED…Revival Dance call with the Associate Choreographer Chris Bailey (my back is still sore), and with the new Growing Studio in New York meeting and working with Casting Director Benton Whitely from Duncan Stewart Casting. I always learn something new that I can start applying to my audition confidence!

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Aladdin Jr. is also well on its way (I’m excited to get some double-dutch happening in “Friend Like Me”) as well as Annie Jr., both mentioned in my previous blog. The Purim Play I assisted WST teaching artist and actress Heidi Hayes on out in Wynnewood, PA at the Main Line Temple was a major success! Our cast of MY FAIR ESTER (parody of MY FAIR LADY) all rose to the occasion, hamming up their already hilarious characters and committing like pros. They were all just dolls to laugh the Wednesday night rehearsals away with, reminding me always of why I love theatre. I look forward to working with them again in the future!

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This is an exciting spring!

All I need is for my allergies to hold their horses, and my smile will never fade. I can’t wait to embrace this city with my boyfriend in our days off together, throw parties with my amazing roommates, whip out my dresses, and enjoy the warmer weather! Thank you for reading my blog- I love sharing all this and loving reading the blogs of all my friends.

I’ll leave you with my Walnut Street Theatre Adopt a School Performance of “Shy” from ONCE UPON A MATTRESS! Happy Spring and I hope to share it in some way with you!

Love, Tara Tag