Dakota Stage Welcomes Tara Lamey as Executive Director
Dakota Stage is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Lamey as our new Executive Director.
Tara brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in operations, strategic planning, and organizational growth. Throughout her career, she has helped build strong teams, develop sustainable systems, and support organizations through periods of growth and change.
While her professional background is rooted in leadership and operations, Tara’s connection to the arts began much earlier. With experience in acting and modeling, she developed a lifelong appreciation for storytelling, creativity, and performance. In recent years, that passion led her to Dakota Stage, where she became an active volunteer supporting productions behind the scenes. From technical support to working closely with young performers in our educational programs, Tara quickly became a valued member of the Dakota Stage family.
That hands-on experience gave Tara a unique perspective on the organization and deepened her commitment to Dakota Stage’s mission of enriching lives through theatre, arts education, and community engagement.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Tara as Dakota Stage’s Executive Director. As our organization continues to grow, we recognized the need for dedicated leadership focused on strengthening our operations, supporting our volunteers and artists, and helping us build for the future. Tara brings a unique combination of professional expertise, passion for the arts, and a genuine commitment to our community. Having already served Dakota Stage as a volunteer, she understands who we are, what we value, and the important role we play in the lives of so many people. We are excited to partner with her as we continue expanding opportunities for artistic expression, arts education, and community connection throughout the region.
— Brian Nelson, President, Dakota Stage Board of Directors
As Executive Director, Tara will focus on strengthening Dakota Stage’s operational foundation, supporting artists and volunteers, expanding community engagement, and helping ensure the long-term sustainability of both Dakota Stage and Shade Tree Players.
“What I’ve loved most about Dakota Stage is the passion and creativity people bring to everything they do,” said Lamey. “There is so much heart here — from the performers and volunteers to the families, students, staff, board, and everyone who shows up to support live theatre. I’m really grateful to be part of it and excited to help support the people and behind-the-scenes work that make Dakota Stage so special.”
Outside of Dakota Stage, Tara enjoys spending time with her children, planning events and game nights, and caring for her seven animals—most of which are exotic. She is also involved with ND Legend Derby alongside her children in the junior league and enjoys hiking, roller skating, and geocaching.
Please join us in welcoming Tara to her new role. We are excited for this next chapter and look forward to the energy, leadership, and vision she will bring as Dakota Stage continues its mission of creating meaningful artistic experiences for our community.