Post by Tamara & Dr. Warner Fanatic on Jun 30, 2007 10:45:27 GMT -5
Tunie adds new title to portfolio: film director
Friday, June 29, 2007
By Monica Haynes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tony-winning producer/screen-and-stage actress/soon-to-be-film director and proud Pittsburgher Tamara Tunie is a multitasker extraordinaire.
Tamara Tunie will be adding film director to her lengthy list of credits.
As one of the producers of the Broadway hit "Spring Awakening," she picked up her first Tony this month. That win translated into a boost at the box office for the musical. However, the other Broadway play for which she served as a producer, August Wilson's "Radio Golf," closes Sunday.
She thinks losing the Tony for Best Play (to "Coast of Utopia") was one of a number of factors in its closing.
"Musicals are always more appealing than dramas," she said. Mounting a heavy drama in the summer also hurt because "straight plays rarely do well in the summer."
Tunie is proud, however, to have been one of only a few African-American producers in all of Broadway.
"My mission in coming on board to produce ['Radio Golf'] was to raise awareness of who August Wilson is, what he has accomplished and where he is from, especially to the African-American community," she said.
Tunie will be among Pittsburgh's African-American theater community tonight when she attends the African American Council of the Arts Annual Onyx Awards as a special guest.
The prime value of awards, she said, is as a marketing tool. "It's twofold with the awards in Pittsburgh. On the one hand, it's wonderful to acknowledge people for their efforts and their work. On the other hand, it also raises awareness of what's going on."
She learned of the Onyx Awards in March while in Pittsburgh to talk about the late Wilson, whose plays are set mostly in the Hill District. She was pleased her shooting schedule allowed her to come for tonight's ceremony.
The versatile actress, who's starred on stage opposite Denzel Washington and on screen opposite Al Pacino, is in her eighth season as medical examiner Melinda Warner on NBC's "Law & Order: SVU." She joined the show with just the possibility of a recurring role. Now, she's in the opening credits.
"It was a real evolution of the role," Tunie said. "As I've stayed we've learned more and more about the character and they've given her a lot more to do."
That's right in keeping with her work ethic. While on hiatus from "L&O" this summer, she'll make her directorial debut with "See You in September," a romantic comedy.
Asked how she keeps so many plates spinning, she replied jokingly, "I'm crazy. I'm just plain crazy."
Seriously, though, she's always been a multitasker. "When I was a kid it was called 'doing too much,'" she said, recalling her mother's term for it.
"So, it's something that's always been part of my nature -- now on a much grander scale. I just feel when you're passionate about something, it's just not a chore, it's just not work. It's just what you love to do."
*Article is courtesy of the Diane Neal Forum*: www.dianeneal.hostbus.com/dneal/index.php
Friday, June 29, 2007
By Monica Haynes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tony-winning producer/screen-and-stage actress/soon-to-be-film director and proud Pittsburgher Tamara Tunie is a multitasker extraordinaire.
Tamara Tunie will be adding film director to her lengthy list of credits.
As one of the producers of the Broadway hit "Spring Awakening," she picked up her first Tony this month. That win translated into a boost at the box office for the musical. However, the other Broadway play for which she served as a producer, August Wilson's "Radio Golf," closes Sunday.
She thinks losing the Tony for Best Play (to "Coast of Utopia") was one of a number of factors in its closing.
"Musicals are always more appealing than dramas," she said. Mounting a heavy drama in the summer also hurt because "straight plays rarely do well in the summer."
Tunie is proud, however, to have been one of only a few African-American producers in all of Broadway.
"My mission in coming on board to produce ['Radio Golf'] was to raise awareness of who August Wilson is, what he has accomplished and where he is from, especially to the African-American community," she said.
Tunie will be among Pittsburgh's African-American theater community tonight when she attends the African American Council of the Arts Annual Onyx Awards as a special guest.
The prime value of awards, she said, is as a marketing tool. "It's twofold with the awards in Pittsburgh. On the one hand, it's wonderful to acknowledge people for their efforts and their work. On the other hand, it also raises awareness of what's going on."
She learned of the Onyx Awards in March while in Pittsburgh to talk about the late Wilson, whose plays are set mostly in the Hill District. She was pleased her shooting schedule allowed her to come for tonight's ceremony.
The versatile actress, who's starred on stage opposite Denzel Washington and on screen opposite Al Pacino, is in her eighth season as medical examiner Melinda Warner on NBC's "Law & Order: SVU." She joined the show with just the possibility of a recurring role. Now, she's in the opening credits.
"It was a real evolution of the role," Tunie said. "As I've stayed we've learned more and more about the character and they've given her a lot more to do."
That's right in keeping with her work ethic. While on hiatus from "L&O" this summer, she'll make her directorial debut with "See You in September," a romantic comedy.
Asked how she keeps so many plates spinning, she replied jokingly, "I'm crazy. I'm just plain crazy."
Seriously, though, she's always been a multitasker. "When I was a kid it was called 'doing too much,'" she said, recalling her mother's term for it.
"So, it's something that's always been part of my nature -- now on a much grander scale. I just feel when you're passionate about something, it's just not a chore, it's just not work. It's just what you love to do."
*Article is courtesy of the Diane Neal Forum*: www.dianeneal.hostbus.com/dneal/index.php