Jeff Award winning Chicago actress Alexis J. Rogers once described Lauren as a "glam goof". That pretty much sums it up.
Most recently seen in a critically acclaimed performance as Percy in THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Refuge Theatre Company), other favorite roles include Yitzhak in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Haven Theatre), Mary Magdalene in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Jo March in LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL, Diva in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Pride Films and Plays), and understudying The Witch in INTO THE WOODS (The Hypocrites). Lauren spent her first year out of college in the first Chicago productions of SPRING AWAKENING (directed by Jonathan Berry, Griffin Theatre Company) and RENT (directed by Tony Award Winner David Cromer, American Theatre Company/About Face Theatre), both of which were nominated for Jeff Awards for Best Musical. Lauren had the opportunity to play Frances in MELANCHOLY PLAY: A CHAMBER MUSICAL at Piven Theatre Workshop, and work hands-on with the playwright Sarah Ruhl (multiple Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony Award nominee). Lauren also starred as Maggie in the world premiere of Peter Gwinn (Emmy-winning writer of The Colbert Report) and Jody Shelton's (composer of 50 Shades! A Parody) THE STORY OF A STORY: THE UNTOLD STORY, and has reprised her role in workshops and readings since. Credits also include work with Theatre at The Center, Porchlight Music Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, and Canterbury Summer Theatre, among others.
Lauren was also a semi-finalist at the 2016 NATS Musical Theatre National Conference. She won 1st place in the NATS Chicago chapter's musical theatre graduate division each time she competed: in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Lauren also has a serious passion for cabaret, as well as contemporary singing - pop, rock, folk, the standards ... she'll sing basically anything you let her. She has performed solo cabarets/concerts and private events in Chicago as well as Boston and Seattle.
A Seattle native, Lauren graduated with degrees in theatre and communication studies from Loyola University Chicago, where she received the J. Pat Miller Scholarship (the University's only acting award), which is awarded yearly to the junior theatre major who shows the highest acting potential. Lauren is also a huge seafood lover, a Barbra and Bareilles fanatic, and is happiest throwing back oysters on the half shell at a waterfront locale.
Most recently seen in a critically acclaimed performance as Percy in THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Refuge Theatre Company), other favorite roles include Yitzhak in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Haven Theatre), Mary Magdalene in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Jo March in LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL, Diva in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Pride Films and Plays), and understudying The Witch in INTO THE WOODS (The Hypocrites). Lauren spent her first year out of college in the first Chicago productions of SPRING AWAKENING (directed by Jonathan Berry, Griffin Theatre Company) and RENT (directed by Tony Award Winner David Cromer, American Theatre Company/About Face Theatre), both of which were nominated for Jeff Awards for Best Musical. Lauren had the opportunity to play Frances in MELANCHOLY PLAY: A CHAMBER MUSICAL at Piven Theatre Workshop, and work hands-on with the playwright Sarah Ruhl (multiple Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony Award nominee). Lauren also starred as Maggie in the world premiere of Peter Gwinn (Emmy-winning writer of The Colbert Report) and Jody Shelton's (composer of 50 Shades! A Parody) THE STORY OF A STORY: THE UNTOLD STORY, and has reprised her role in workshops and readings since. Credits also include work with Theatre at The Center, Porchlight Music Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, and Canterbury Summer Theatre, among others.
Lauren was also a semi-finalist at the 2016 NATS Musical Theatre National Conference. She won 1st place in the NATS Chicago chapter's musical theatre graduate division each time she competed: in 2012, 2013, and 2015.
Lauren also has a serious passion for cabaret, as well as contemporary singing - pop, rock, folk, the standards ... she'll sing basically anything you let her. She has performed solo cabarets/concerts and private events in Chicago as well as Boston and Seattle.
A Seattle native, Lauren graduated with degrees in theatre and communication studies from Loyola University Chicago, where she received the J. Pat Miller Scholarship (the University's only acting award), which is awarded yearly to the junior theatre major who shows the highest acting potential. Lauren is also a huge seafood lover, a Barbra and Bareilles fanatic, and is happiest throwing back oysters on the half shell at a waterfront locale.
