Chicago actress Alexis J. Rogers once described Lauren as a "glam goof". And that pretty much sums it up.
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.
Having made her professional debut while still at Loyola, 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 David Cromer, American Theatre Company/About Face Theatre), both of which were nominated for Jeff Awards for Best Musical. Since, she has worked with The Hypocrites/The Mercury, Theatre at The Center, Haven Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Pride Films and Plays, Emerald City Theatre, Chicago Cabaret Project, Pastiche Productions, and Big Noise Theatre, among others.
While playing Frances in MELANCHOLY PLAY: A CHAMBER MUSICAL at Piven Theatre Workshop, Lauren and the cast were able to work hands-on with the playwright Sarah Ruhl (multiple Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony nominee). In the fall of 2015 Lauren 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 at The Chopin Theatre, and has reprised her role in workshops and readings since.
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, jazz...she'll sing basically anything you let her. She has performed solo cabarets and private events in Chicago as well as Boston and Seattle. Lauren is also a huge seafood lover, a Beyonce, Barbra, and Bareilles fanatic, and is happiest when she's by/on/or in the water.
