Tari Kelly

Tari Kelly attended Madison East High School in Madison, Wisconsin.[1] She took dance lessons at Virginia Davis School of Dance[2] and began acting in shows in her local community theater, performing in shows, including Annie.[1] She discovered she had a passion for theater when she landed the lead in her high school music, The Boyfriend.[3] After graduating high school, she attended DePaul University's acting conservatory but transferred a year later to the University of Wisconsin to dance and sing as well.[1] While in Wisconsin, Kelly acted in many production at the regional Fireside Theatre.[2]

Kelly made her Broadway debut in 1994 with Show Boat as a swing and understudy for Lottie, Ellie, and Dottie.[4] Following her debut, she joined the national tours of Beauty and the Beast and Show Boat.[5] In 2003, she returned to Broadway to play in the ensemble and a member of the Trio in The Boy from Oz.[4] A year later, she landed the lead role of Audrey in the Little Shop of Horrors national tour, which she calls her favorite role.[3] In 2007, she played Mama Who in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which starred Patrick Page,[6] and played Sally Bowles in the Cabaret national tour a year later.[7] From 2011 to 2012, Kelly join Broadway's Anything Goes as a passenger and a replacement/understudy for various roles,[4] and in 2015 to 2016, she joined the world premiere of Something Rotten! on Broadway as a member of the ensemble.[5] In her most recent Broadway role, Kelly played Mrs. Cleveland and the Piano Teacher in Groundhog Day.[4] In 2018, she opened the Anastasia first North American tour as Countess Lily.[8]