Tara Beagan

Tara Beagan (born December 20, 1975) is a Nlakaʼpamux playwright and actress from Calgary, Alberta, Canada,^[1] most noted as the winner of the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre in 2020.^[2]

Tara Beagan
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation(s)	Playright, actress

She won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, Independent Theatre in 2005 for Thy Neighbour's Wife,^[3] for which she was also a nominee for Outstanding Performance by a Female, Independent Theatre.^[4] In 2006 she acted in Dead Dog in the City, Thomas King's revival of his earlier radio comedy series The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour.^[1]

In 2009, she received a Dora nomination for Outstanding New Play, Independent Theatre for Miss Julie: Sheh'mah.^[5] In 2010 she premiered The Woods, a historical play set in 1640 which was part of The Mill series with plays by Damien Atkins, Hannah Moscovitch and Matthew MacFadzean.^[6]

From 2011 to 2013, she served as artistic director of Native Earth Performing Arts.^[1] She subsequently founded the theatre company Article 11 with Andy Moro.^[7]

Her plays have included Jesus Chrysler,^[8] Free As Injuns,^[9] Reckoning,^[10] Dreary and Izzy,^[11] Honour Beat,^[12] Deer Woman^[13] and The Ministry of Grace.^[14]

Personal life

Beagan is of mixed Candian Irish (father) and Nlaka'pamux (mother) descent.^[15]

References

1. Anne Nothof, "Beagan, Tara". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia, May 24, 2022.
2. Robyn Grant-Moran, "Playwright Tara Beagan wins $100,000 Siminovitch Prize for theatre". The Globe and Mail, November 26, 2020.
3. J. Kelly Nestruck, "Urinetown is No. 1 at Doras: Outdoes Hairspray". National Post, June 28, 2005.
4. "2005 Dora Award nominees". Toronto Star, June 9, 2005.
5. Robert Cushman, "The play is the thing, not artificial categories; Dora stipulations make for some odd award nominees". National Post, June 27, 2009.
6. Richard Ouzounian, "This wooden attempt at history puts audience through The Mill". Toronto Star, March 25, 2010.
7. Dan Davidson, "The many voices of Tara Beagan resonate widely". Whitehorse Star, December 30, 2014.
8. Martin Morrow, "Jesus Chrysler: a play in search of a meaning". The Globe and Mail, December 2, 2011.
9. J. Kelly Nestruck, "N for Native, A for American, D-minus for drama". The Globe and Mail, March 3, 2012.
10. "A Reckoning is coming". Now. April 12, 2016.
11. Christine Hinzmann, "Family matters; Theatre North West presents Dreary and Izzy". Prince George Citizen, January 22, 2016.
12. Joe Belanger, "Honour Beat 'powerful, important' Canadian theatre". London Free Press, February 8, 2020.
13. Randall King, "On with the shows: After 18 long months real, live theatre is ready to return – with audiences in the seats". Winnipeg Free Press, October 7, 2021.
14. Louis B. Hobson, "Review: Richly layered characters keep The Ministry of Grace on the right path". Calgary Herald, April 17, 2023.
15. "Tara Beagan Laureate, 2020". Siminovitch Theatre Foundation. 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2024.

External links

• Official website