I act and make theatre.
Tatiana Pavela is a Chicago-based actress & theatre artist who gravitates towards experimental theatre, devised work and heightened language.
Tatiana and Alex Mallory are the co-founders of JunkHeart, a new artistic collaboration. Their upcoming production of Anatomy of a Suicide is headed to Chicago August 2026.
As a teaching artist, she has worked with students of all ages to guide actors to work through fear, take up space and do the ridiculous. She is currently an instructor at Green Shirt Studio. As a private coach, she specializes in getting actors ready for undergraduate and graduate theatre programs.
Chicago credits include The Targeted at A Red Orchid Theatre (Rhonda U/S), How To Transcend A Happy Marriage at Red Twist Theater, The Cave at A Red Orchid Theatre (Bonnie U/S), DOGS (Jeff Nomination: Best Ensemble) & Hamlet with Red Theater, Hurricane Diane at Theater Wit (U/S Pam & Carol); Film: Lucy Is A Loser, Fortune Tellers (Chicago Short Film Festival Winner: Best Short Film - Jury Award); TV: Chicago Fire. During her time in New York, she has performed at the New Ohio, Chashama, Dixon Place, La Mama ETC, HERE Arts Center, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, CATCH Performance Series, PS 122 and at Juilliard (to name some favorites).
Her original works include Brandi Alexander,El Diablo and Buttercream & Scotch (co-written with Paige Collette). She is a recipient of a 2017 Artist Trust Award for Brandi Alexander. Brandi Alexander was part of the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was a Week 1 Critic's Pick from The List.
MFA from University of Washington PATP; BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Tatiana is happiest when her love of theatre and travel combine to take her to exciting new places, when her work is described as “fearless” and when the food is good.