Tamara Tunie
Most people know Tamara Tunie for her starring roles in films such as FLIGHT with Denzel Washington, in television series like LAW AND ORDER: SVU and most recently THE RED ROAD, and on Broadway in plays such as JULIUS CEASAR and DREAMGIRLS. Despite her renowned visibility in the entertainment world, what they may NOT know is Ms. Tunie is an accomplished singer.
Having studied classically and with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Tunie added Caberet/Jazz several years ago and has performed at the legendary ALLEN ROOM of JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, and FEINSTEIN’S at the REGENCY in New York City, where one critic wrote “She’s a song stylist who’s comfortable singing everything from Chuck Mangione’s “Land of Make Believe” to Victor Young and Jack Elliot’s “A Weaver of Dreams”. There was “Standing Room Only” at the end of the Feinstein’s run, despite New York City being debilitated by hurricane Sandy! Her debut of “Legends from the ‘Burgh” at the premiere Broadway Cabaret Room, 54 BELOW, garnered huge raves and she is thrilled to bring it to her hometown! Ms. Tunie has performed with a plethora of incomparable musicians, such as Mike Renzi, Billy Stritch, and Roger Humphries, to name a few, and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Penn State University Allegheny County’s Student Scholarship Fund, with her performances at ALL THAT’S JAZZ! She has graced the stage at the beautiful state of the art theatre at Malloy College’s MADISON THEATRE. She has also performed for the Mabel Mercer Foundation at TOWN HALL and at SYMPHONY SPACE, bringing down the house with music from Billie “Lady Day” Holiday to Cole Porter. Another critic wrote, “Tunie SWINGS, sings great, looks great!”
Ms. Tunie starred as Medical Examiner, Dr. Melinda Warner, on the hit drama series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her complete list of credits include: Broadway: Julius Caesar (with Denzel Washington), Oh Kay (with Brian Stokes Mitchell), Dreamgirls (20th Anniversary Benefit Concert), Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Regional: American Son (Berkshire theatre Award Best Actress in a Drama), Familiar (Obie Award Best Actress in an Off- Brodway Play), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Les Liasons Dangereuse, Tartuffe, Antony and Cleopatra, All’s Well That Ends Well, Troilus and Cressida (New York Shakespeare Festival, Central Park), Loose Knit. Film: FLIGHT, Devil’s Advocate, City Hall, Snake Eyes, Eve’s Bayou, The Caveman’s Valentine. Television: The RED ROAD, Billions, Alpha House, Survivor’s Remorse, 24 (Season 1), Law and Order, Sex and The City, NYPD Blue, New York Undercover, Chicago Hope, and Jessica Griffin on As The World Turns. Broadway Producer: Tony Award, Spring Awakening, Tony nominated, Radio Golf, MAGIC/BIRD and the “destined for Broadway” FROG KISS: the NEW MUSICAL. Off-Broadway Producer: Dutchman (The Cherry Lane). Directorial Debut: See You in September (available on Amazon.com). You can hear her voice on national commercials, documentaries, radio spots, and PSA’s.
Ms. Tunie is Chair Emerita of the Board of Directors of FIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM, a non-profit organization that teaches education and life skills to young girls in the Harlem community through the art and discipline of Figure Skating. She is President of the Board of Directors of HARLEM STAGE/THE GATEHOUSE and serves on the Board of Directors of GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER. Ms. Tunie resides in Harlem.