I’m Tana. I’m a jack of all trades, master of… some. (Well, technically I am about to graduate with a Masters of Science in Creative Arts & Mental Health from Queen Mary University of London, so that’s one in the bag!)

I’ve been working as an actor for 29 years (yes, I started as a child), and directing and producing theatre for 16 (yes, I started as a teenager).

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been involved in creating spaces of attunement that foster creative collaboration. I’m co-artistic director and co-founder of Dirt [contained] Theatre company, which has been making work in the USA and UK since 2010. I am also the associate artistic director of Stripped Scripts. In 2016, I co-founded Culture Lab LIC, which is a non-profit arts and culture center in NYC that is made up of two art galleries, a 90 seat indoor theatre, and an outdoor music venue. I handled all of the live programming which occurred 4-6 days a week, and for the majority of my six years at Culture Lab LIC, we only had three employees — including me.

It feels icky to boast in this way, but the point I am trying to make is that I’ve been finding my way through the indie/low-budget theatre and film scene for nearly three decades, and I truly wouldn’t have it any other way. (Well, I could do with a few less Kickstarters, and a few more generous beneficiaries, but you can’t have it all!) These experiences have brought me joy, creative work I’m proud of, and the best friends on the planet. And somehow, I have never lost money producing indie theatre in NYC (excuse me while I go knock on all of the wood in my apartment!)

I definitely can’t provide the answer to the question “how can I make this project a success?”, but I can offer a space to talk through creative ideas, help you define your goals, navigate creative relationships, develop a realistic actionable plan for your upcoming project, and offer support.

I’m not a therapist. I’m an artist with a Masters degree in mental health & art. I am also a certified life coach through Katie Goodman's "Improvisation For Life Workshop Certification Program." You’re welcome to browse my website to get a better idea of what I do as an artist. What does not appear on my website is my extensive experience writing grants, crowdfunding, budgeting, casting, navigating profit-share agreements / contracts, and pitching projects to film & theatre festivals and venues. I’ve worked as a programming director and tour manager for 8 years, so I know both what venues are looking for, and how to navigate what organizations want to see before supporting a project.

Many life coaches / creativity coaches / mentors charge $200 - $300 an hour in NYC, and I get it — is totally not feasible for most artists. That’s why I’m curious if it would be sustainable to offer this service on a sliding scale between $30 - $75 an hour. I genuinely love helping artists in the development stages of their work, and I love coaching people through times of artistic confusion. We all get confused — it’s part of the job! It’s also useful to remember that periods of deep confusion, disorder and chaos tend to happen just before a burst of creative activity.

If you would like to chat about working together, please get in touch. I’m happy to honor this hourly rate for individuals / partnerships and theatre companies, and happy to book on an as-needed basis with no commitment.