Biography

Praised by The Washington Post as "A lithe soprano...especially clean and well modulated", Tami Swartz is a singing actor with a diverse career in theater, opera, new music, jazz and stage direction. Theater credits include Lady Thiang in The King and I with Dallas Summer Musicals, Sacramento Music Circus and Music Theatre of Wichita, Tuptim in The King and I with Allenberry Playhouse, Sharon in Master Class with Caldwell Theatre Company and ZACH Theatre, Mrs. Corn in Gary Adler's musical romp Thanks! at Bucks County Playhouse and as Polly Peachum in Duke Ellington's Beggar's Holiday on Off Broadway with The York Theatre Company. Workshops / Presentations include multiple roles in the final version of the Broadway musical Allegiance starring George Takei, including the Talks at Google broadcast series.

Film and and television credits include the role of Tammy (Helen's Attorney) in the feature film Is It a Crime starring Cameron Giles (Cam'ron), as a Forensics Officer in the film Equal Standard starring Ice-T and The Guest in The Owner Is In - best short film winner at the 2019 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival!

Opera credits include Heloise in the American premiere of Offenbach's Bluebeard with Connecticut, Connecticut Grand, Fort Lauderdale and Long Beach opera companies, Cho-Cho-san in Madama Butterfly with Metro Lyric Opera, Lúthien in the world premiere of Adam Klein's opera Leithian based on the story "Beren and Lúthien" from J.R.R. Tolkien's Silmarilion at the Liederkranz in New York, Musetta in La Bohème with Late Evening Productions / Dallas Opera, Elizabeth Tilton in the world premiere of Mrs. President with The Center for Contemporary Opera in New York City, Gilda in Rigoletto with Harrisburg Opera Association and Anna and Jessie in The Seven Deadly Sins and Mahagonny Songspiel with Liederkranz Opera Theatre.

New music/jazz credits include soloist in Round for a Plague Year by Ted Rosenthal with the BMI New York Jazz Orchestra at Merkin Hall. Additionally she was featured soloist with Randy Sandke and The Bern Festival All Stars in a tribute to Duke Ellington at the Bern Jazz Festival in Bern, Switzerland with arrangements by Scott Robinson.

Directing credits as Artistic Director of Harrisburg Opera Association include their annual educational outreach concert series "Opera in the Park" and mainstage production An Artists' Journey - an evening of original music featuring Still Breathing by Adam C. J. Klein - a song cycle about an artist's lost love and hope, and Mixed Impressions by Tami Swartz - a diversely cast, theatrically staged, orchestrated song cycle featuring multiple genres of music including classical art song, musical theater, jazz, pop, cabaret and rock depicting her experiences as a mixed race human growing up in Harrisburg through her current professional and personal life. Pre artistic directorship HOA productions as producer/director include: "Paris 1959" an original crossover program that Ms. Swartz conceived combining Il tabarro with jazz quartet, An Historically Accurate Madama Butterfly with Adam Klein co-director and a re-imagined version of the The Magic Flute with Adam Klein librettist and co-director.

Additional producing/directing credits include Charleston Chamber Opera's inaugural production Pilot Season - a program Ms. Swartz conceived for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival weaving four one act operas into a script showcasing them as ideas for a major network's pilot season. Additional stage directing credits include Nest Egg Productions, The Hellenic Music Foundation, The Co-OPERAtive Opera Company, NY, NY and The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Children's Concert Series.

She holds Masters and Bachelors degrees from The Juilliard School and Northwestern University respectively and currently resides in New York City. Follow her on Instagram @tamiswartz1, Facebook @tamiswartzpage and on Twitter @t_swartz.


SELECTED REVIEWS AND ACCOLADES

"Her voice is beautiful, and she displays a musicality that is at the highest level."
--Rita Shane

"...a splendid performance...a beautiful voice."
--Roberta Peters for Tami Swartz' performance of Sharon in Master Class

"A lithe soprano...especially clean and well modulated."
--The Washington Post

"In the evocative "Something Wonderful," Tami Swartz imbues Lady Thiang, the king's first wife, with the grandeur of a love that transcends the king's shortcomings and impels her to entreat Anna to help him to achieve goals she doesn't fully understand."
--The Dallas Morning News

"Tami Swartz is the very picture of poise and dignity as Lady Thiang, the King's chief wife and her operatic soprano gives tragic strength to her "Something Wonderful" portrait of her husband."
--The Wichita Eagle

"Other outstanding supporting performances in the Music Circus production included Tami Swartz as the head wife, Lady Thiang, who is both moving and joyful, as she plays the important role of helping Anna accept the King for who he is."
-- The Gold Country Times

"Tami Swartz, who demonstrated her voice talents honed in opera, theater, and jazz, portrayed the regal Lady Thiang."
-- The Sacramento Press

"The strong (acting) ensemble includes Tami Swartz as Lady Thiang, the King's head wife."
-- The Sacramento Bee

"Afterward, a woman in Bermuda shorts rushed to the stage door to greet the cast and, wiping her eyes, told soprano Tami Swartz, who sang the title role: "I'm still crying. It was so beautiful. Thank you!" The praise was well deserved. Swartz sang with an authentic emotional range that transformed Butterfly from a shy child-bride buffeted by fate to a strong-willed woman fiercely navigating her destiny amid unthinkable cultural and emotional upheaval."
--The Star Ledger

"The singing tandem of Adam Klein and Tami Swartz in the lead roles makes "Butterfly" worthy of attendance. Their duet at the end of the first act is particularly sumptuous, Swartz's voice soars beautifully in the second act... Swartz, an experienced opera singer, performs quite creditably in her first turn as Butterfly, Swartz, whose mother is Japanese, brings commitment to her portrayal of a young girl who is betrayed not only by her husband, but also by her own culture. Her tragic end is made all the more poignant by that fact."
--The Patriot News

"Tami Swartz, Klein's fiance in real life, was a compelling Lúthien in her blue mantle, with long brown hair, a clear voice and a pure gaze"
---TheOneRing.net for the world premiere of Leithian, Part 1

"Round For A Plague Year, Featuring Tami Swartz, was the highlight of the evening."
--The Westsider

"Properly motivated Tami Swartz's Sharon gives the most thrilling performance of the show..."
--Boca Raton/Del Rey Beach News

"The final lesson with another soprano, Sharon, reveals a highly talented singer-actress (Tami Swartz) whose voice sends Callas into another dramatic flashback."
--The Sun-Sentinel

"Swartz struck back with real defiance and vocal intensity as Verdi's Lady Macbeth."
--The Patriot News

"Tami Swartz was appealing as Elizabeth Tilton..."
--The SouthHampton Press

"Tami Swartz displays total majesty."
--Delaware County Daily Times

"Swartz is riveting."
--The Daily Item

"A beautiful voice...lilting and coquettish...Tami Swartz sparkled!"
--The Patriot News

"Other standouts include Tami Swartz, whose operatic training is evident as she sings "Something Wonderful."
--The Daily Reflector