Voted runner-up for Chicago’s Best Stand Up Comedian for The Reader, Tamale is a regular at The Laugh Factory, Zanies Comedy Clubs, and countless local and national showcases. She’s been featured in national Comedy festivals such as Gilda's Laughfest in Grand Rapids, the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival, Chicago Improv Festival, Sketchfest, and Cleveland Comedy Festival, to name a few. Tamale has also been featured internationally, performing at comedy clubs like The Pint and the Comedy Cellar in Dublin, Ireland, and in festivals like the Dublin Lesbian Arts Festival, where she was the International Guest of Honor. She has been extensively trained in long form, short form, and experimental forms of improv, in addition to sketch, and stand up.
A cast member of the groundbreaking R.E.A.C.H. (Risky Eclectic Artist Comedy Hour) at Second City, Tamale is an alumni of the Second City Conservatory Program. She’s also a graduate of I.O. Chicago and Annoyance Theater and created a unique improvised show incorporating the creation, presentation, and performer interpretation of artistic tiny hats called Tiny Hat Time. An interdisciplinary performer, Tamale created and produced the popular comedic variety show, Brass Chuckles Comedy. She also helped to launch and proudly co-produced the popular showcase and open mic, Just Dickin’ Around.
Tamale has been performing comedy since she helped to start The Charles Darwin Experience improv troupe at the University of Arizona in 1997. Curve Magazine featured her when their readership voted her seventh funniest lesbian in America. At the end of grad school, she produced a series called Tamale Presents: LOL that featured both local and national talent including Julie Goldman, Vicky Shaw, Beth Stelling, Cameron Esposito, and many others.
