Lauren Elder is a delight. She is also a singer-songwriter, whistler, and Broadway performer.
After an overwhelmingly successful crowdfunding campaign on RocketHub, Lauren assembled a group of incredible musicians and performers to record her first album of original music. Sweet love songs, heart breaking melodies, and world class whistling make this album a fun, unique musical journey.
Hailing from sunny California, Lauren has made NYC her home for the better part of the last 15 years. Pursuing her love of theater and music has put Lauren on Broadway in the revivals of Hair and Side Show. She’s also made guest appearances on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Law & Order SVU, and Louie.
Download her debut album here.
Catch Lauren at The Green Room 42 on December 5th in the 4th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Soiree, too! Tickets available here.
MM: When did you first realize you wanted to be an actress?
LE: I knew I wanted to perform my entire life. There’s literally not a time I can remember not wanting to do this (and my memory is REALLY good)! But I think when I saw Cats at the Pantages in LA when I was 7 (second row, on the aisle!!!) I realized that it was an achievable goal.
MM: Of all the roles you’ve played in your career thus far, which ones are the closest to your heart?
LE: I think the one I’m working on right now. Mary, in the musical Mary and Max by Bobby Cronin and Crystal Skillman. It is an adaptation of the claymation film with the same name. She’s an outcast who just wants a real friend. She is so genuine, and has the biggest heart. I connect so easily with everything she goes through. The show is still in developmental stages, but getting close to a full production, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.
MM: When one walks into your home, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
LE: The Little Prince, The Bell Jar, my pronunciation dictionary, and lots of songbooks!
MM: If you were stranded on a desert island, what television shows and/or movies would you want available to you, (assuming of course you have a television and Internet connection?)
LE: I’d have to say the full series of The State, a sketch comedy show that was on MTV in the 90s. Cast members went on to make and star in Wet Hot American Summer (also on my list) and my favorite movie The Baxter (also on my list). How many am I allowed to bring? Can I bring My So-Called Life and A Very Brady Sequel too?
MM: What’s the best piece of advice you’d want to offer aspiring actors and performers?
LE: To keep going! This business is a waiting game. But don’t just sit around waiting – get out there and audition for everything you can! Eventually people will get to know you and you’ll start booking things. But even then you have to keep hustling, keep moving forward. It’s like a marathon – just keep going!
MM: What sound do you love? What sound do you hate?
LE: I love the sound of the ocean. I hate the sound of jackhammers (they’ve been going outside my window this week)
MM: What literary or musical theatre character is most like your personality? Least like your personality?
LE: Oh, this is tricky….I think that Luisa from the Fantasticks might be closest to me. Youthful, creative, lost in her imagination, full of love, and a bleeding heart romantic. Most unlike me? That’s really hard…I can’t think of a character that I haven’t identified with at all. Even the most horrible characters have something in them that I understand, whether it’s insecurity, or the need to be loved, or understood.
MM: In today’s economic state, arts education programs are being cut. What reasons would you give to a school board or politician for preserving arts education programming in schools?
LE: The arts help us prepare for tricky situations in life. It builds confidence, and the ability to work with and understand others. It also builds confidence. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from the arts. Theater as a child can prepare you for speaking in front of crowds, visual arts can give you design skills, music can calm anxiety and lift depression, not to mention how it strengthens our brains. We cannot afford to not have arts education.
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher? (Can absolutely be more than one)
LE: Oh, there are so many, but I think the title of greatest would have to go to my parents. My mom has taught me how to be an open minded, empathetic, generous, kind person, while having the most fun possible. She also taught me how to harmonize when I was a child, while driving in our car that had no radio. She’d sing, and I’d sing along! My dad taught me responsibility, integrity, the importance of working as hard as you can, while being the best person you can be. He also taught me how to whistle (and I just took 1st Place Overall Female in the Masters of Whistling International Competition)! My parents are both very musical, and have incredible senses of humor, so I luckily got that from both sides!
Thanks, Lauren!
Write Teacher(s) Readers – don’t forget that you can catch Lauren LIVE at The Green Room 42 on December 5th.