Tari Kelly

Tari Kelly is an American theater actress and singer whose Broadway career has spanned from 1994 to 2025. She is particularly recognized for her portrayal of Countess Lily in the first North American tour of Anastasia.

Kelly grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where she attended Madison East High School and studied dance at the Virginia Davis School of Dance. Her early performance experience came through local community theater, including a production of Annie. A turning point came when she was cast as the lead in her high school musical, The Boyfriend, which solidified her commitment to theater. She went on to study at DePaul University's acting conservatory before transferring to the University of Wisconsin to pursue a broader focus on dance and singing. During her time in Wisconsin, she performed in numerous productions at the regional Fireside Theatre.

Kelly made her Broadway debut in 1994 in Show Boat, where she served as a swing and understudy for the roles of Lottie, Ellie, and Dottie. She subsequently joined the national tours of both Beauty and the Beast and Show Boat. In 2003, she returned to Broadway in The Boy from Oz, performing in the ensemble and as a member of the Trio. Her next major credit came in 2007, when she played Mama Who in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, a production that starred Patrick Page. The following year she took on the role of Sally Bowles in the national tour of Cabaret.

From 2011 to 2012, Kelly was part of the Broadway company of Anything Goes, performing as a passenger and serving as a replacement understudy for various roles. Between 2015 and 2016, she joined the world premiere Broadway production of Something Rotten! as a member of the ensemble. She also starred in Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway, a show she has cited as a personal favorite, having previously played the lead role of Audrey in the production's national tour in 2004. Her most recent Broadway credit included playing Mrs. Cleveland and the Piano Teacher in Groundhog Day. Additional Broadway appearances include Just In Time and the play A Saturday Night.

Beyond Broadway, Kelly opened the Anastasia first North American tour in 2018 as Countess Lily. In 2024, she joined the national tour of Clue: On Stage, portraying Mrs. White, described as the perpetual widow.