She was already a producer, a director and a coroner before she decided to become a duchess, a counselor and a widow.
But that’s Tamara Tunie for you. No matter how much she’s doing, she’s always up for doing more.
“People always assume that I don’t need much sleep,” she says, while on a rehearsal break at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. “I actually do; I just get a lot of deferred sleep in big clumps of time.”
But where does she find those clumps? In June, Tunie finished directing “See You in September,” a romantic film scheduled for release next year. Says Tunie: “It deals with women who start a support group because their therapists take off the month of August.”
In July, she donned her lab coat and once again became the coroner for the first four episodes of the new season of the TV series, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
When she wasn’t on the set, however, she was advising the staff of a new musical called “Frog Kiss” that will start performances at the end of the month at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. As the title implies, it deals with all the Mr. Wrongs today’s women must endure before finding the one Mr. Right. “I’d love to produce it,” she says.
That’s hardly a pipe dream. Tunie was one of the producers of the Tony-winning “Spring Awakening” and later the lead producer of August Wilson’s final play, “Radio Golf.”
With all this on her plate, one would think Tunie would need a platter. Yet when director Stephen Fried called and asked if she would consider joining the cast of “All’s Well That Ends Well” in Madison, Tunie said yes.
Shakespeare’s dark comedy deals with Helena, a young woman who is suffering from unrequited love for Bertram. “Women had romantic problems in the 17th century, too,” says Tunie.
While most actresses of her stature would accept only a meaty and dominant role, Tunie was intrigued by Fried’s suggestion that she play a trio of small parts.
“Three different roles in three different locations,” she says with pride. “First, I’m the countess of Rossillion, a French suburb, who’d like to see her son marry this nice Helena. But you know kids: He won’t do it.”
When the king falls ill, Helena, a doctor’s daughter, goes to Paris and cures him. “There I’m a counselor to the king,” says Tunie. “While the countess is corseted, the counselor is someone a little freer.”
Not as free as the Italian widow who comes next. “Because she has her feet on the ground,” says Tunie, “I get to use my real earthy voice with her. But the best thing is that I get to find different physical moves for all three, too.”
Shortly after the play closes, Tunie will return to “Law & Order” in her 11th season as Dr. Melinda Warner.
“The funny thing is that when I was in high school, I was planning to be a doctor,” she says. “It was expected by my whole family. And then senior year, I got the acting bug. When I told my parents I wanted to pursue that and go to Carnegie-Mellon (University), they didn’t bat an eye. My uncle, though, said it was a waste of my brain power, and he railed against it for years — well, until he saw me on TV regularly.”
Tunie likes the irony of how medicine is handled in “All’s Well.”
“One reason Bertram won’t get involved with Helena,” she says, “is that she’s the daughter of a doctor. That was considered a blue-collar occupation back then. My, times have changed, haven’t they?”
All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., Madison
When: Through Oct. 10. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. (except this Saturday, at 7:30 p.m.), Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
How much: $39-$54 ($66-$70 for this Saturday). Call (973) 408-5600 or visit shakespearenj.org.
Peter Filichia: (212) 541-6286 or pfilichia@starledger.com
But that’s Tamara Tunie for you. No matter how much she’s doing, she’s always up for doing more.
“People always assume that I don’t need much sleep,” she says, while on a rehearsal break at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. “I actually do; I just get a lot of deferred sleep in big clumps of time.”
But where does she find those clumps? In June, Tunie finished directing “See You in September,” a romantic film scheduled for release next year. Says Tunie: “It deals with women who start a support group because their therapists take off the month of August.”
In July, she donned her lab coat and once again became the coroner for the first four episodes of the new season of the TV series, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
When she wasn’t on the set, however, she was advising the staff of a new musical called “Frog Kiss” that will start performances at the end of the month at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. As the title implies, it deals with all the Mr. Wrongs today’s women must endure before finding the one Mr. Right. “I’d love to produce it,” she says.
That’s hardly a pipe dream. Tunie was one of the producers of the Tony-winning “Spring Awakening” and later the lead producer of August Wilson’s final play, “Radio Golf.”
With all this on her plate, one would think Tunie would need a platter. Yet when director Stephen Fried called and asked if she would consider joining the cast of “All’s Well That Ends Well” in Madison, Tunie said yes.
Shakespeare’s dark comedy deals with Helena, a young woman who is suffering from unrequited love for Bertram. “Women had romantic problems in the 17th century, too,” says Tunie.
While most actresses of her stature would accept only a meaty and dominant role, Tunie was intrigued by Fried’s suggestion that she play a trio of small parts.
“Three different roles in three different locations,” she says with pride. “First, I’m the countess of Rossillion, a French suburb, who’d like to see her son marry this nice Helena. But you know kids: He won’t do it.”
When the king falls ill, Helena, a doctor’s daughter, goes to Paris and cures him. “There I’m a counselor to the king,” says Tunie. “While the countess is corseted, the counselor is someone a little freer.”
Not as free as the Italian widow who comes next. “Because she has her feet on the ground,” says Tunie, “I get to use my real earthy voice with her. But the best thing is that I get to find different physical moves for all three, too.”
Shortly after the play closes, Tunie will return to “Law & Order” in her 11th season as Dr. Melinda Warner.
“The funny thing is that when I was in high school, I was planning to be a doctor,” she says. “It was expected by my whole family. And then senior year, I got the acting bug. When I told my parents I wanted to pursue that and go to Carnegie-Mellon (University), they didn’t bat an eye. My uncle, though, said it was a waste of my brain power, and he railed against it for years — well, until he saw me on TV regularly.”
Tunie likes the irony of how medicine is handled in “All’s Well.”
“One reason Bertram won’t get involved with Helena,” she says, “is that she’s the daughter of a doctor. That was considered a blue-collar occupation back then. My, times have changed, haven’t they?”
All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., Madison
When: Through Oct. 10. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. (except this Saturday, at 7:30 p.m.), Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
How much: $39-$54 ($66-$70 for this Saturday). Call (973) 408-5600 or visit shakespearenj.org.
Peter Filichia: (212) 541-6286 or pfilichia@starledger.com
'I grew up in a funeral home so I've been around dead people my entire life. Being in a morgue was nothing new to me," notes Tamara Tunie, who plays medical examiner Dr. Melinda Warner, on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.' The daughter of an undertaker adds, 'Let's just say I'm very respectful and careful with my corpses.'
Though most actors find the medical dialogue to be difficult, Tunie embraces the challenge. 'I actually really enjoy the challenge of saying all of those medical terms. It keeps me on my toes and it makes me aware that my brain is still valuable.' Her character certainly has a lot more to say since being bumped up to the status of series regular. 'I thought, 'It's about time!' she says with a laugh. Tunie worked on the show for six years as a guest star. She says her costars are happy for her. In fact, she relates, once when she inadvertently took one of Chris Meloni's lines, he started teasing her by calling her 'Ms. Series Regular.'
Though most actors find the medical dialogue to be difficult, Tunie embraces the challenge. 'I actually really enjoy the challenge of saying all of those medical terms. It keeps me on my toes and it makes me aware that my brain is still valuable.' Her character certainly has a lot more to say since being bumped up to the status of series regular. 'I thought, 'It's about time!' she says with a laugh. Tunie worked on the show for six years as a guest star. She says her costars are happy for her. In fact, she relates, once when she inadvertently took one of Chris Meloni's lines, he started teasing her by calling her 'Ms. Series Regular.'