Past roles include Lisa (Dog Days, Montclair Peak Performances); Amy (Where’s Charley?, Encores!); Cunegonde (Candide, NYCO); Lili (Carnival, Goodspeed); Clara (The Light in the Piazza, Weston Playhouse) and Olive (Spelling Bee national tour).
She is co-founder of the music theatre company The Coterie and lead singer for the band Sky-Pony.
Full given name:
Lauren Worsham
Where you were born/where you were raised:
Austin, TX, born and raised
Zodiac Sign:
Aries
What your parents did/do for a living:
College real estate for UT students
Siblings:
One older brother, Parker Worsham (www.parkerainsworth.com)
Current Audition Song:
"The Beauty Is" from The Light in the Piazza
Special skills:
I can stick my tongue in my nose
Something you're REALLY bad at:
Sports or catching any sort of flying object that's hurtling towards my face
Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations when first starting out?
My mother always loved musicals and introduced me to them. My high school choir teacher Ms. Couch convinced me that I could sing soprano. My voice teacher of 8 years Virginia Grasso has been helping me grow my voice steadily. And my former boss and New York Mom, Ruth Hendel, showed me how much work goes into mounting a Broadway production from behind the stage.
First Broadway show you ever saw:
Big
If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be?
Ethel Merman in Gypsy
Current or recent show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:
I haven't had a chance to see anything! But I know that I would want to see A Raisin in the Sun.
Favorite showtune(s) of all time:
"If I Loved You" from Carousel
Favorite musicals of all time:
Gypsy, The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific
Broadway or screen stars of the past or present you would most love to perform with:
Beverly Sills, Ethel Merman, Gene Kelly
You personal vocal idols:
June Anderson, Laura Benanti and Camille
The one performance – attended - that you will never forget:
Meryl Streep in Mother Courage
Music that makes you cry, any genre:
Any time a soprano sustains an effortless high note
MAC or PC?
MAC!
Most played song on your iPod:
These days, Camille's "Ta Douleur"
Most-visited websites:
smittenkitchen.com and thenewyorktimes.com
Must-see TV show(s):
"Grimm," "Mad Men," "Game of Thrones," "Veep"
Some films you consider classics:
"Little Women," "Home Alone," "Labyrinth"
Performer you would drop everything to go see:
Meryl Streep
Pop culture guilty pleasure:
The TV show "Once Upon a Time"
First CD/Tape/LP you owned:
Madonna's "La Isla Bonita"
First stage kiss:
High school. Guys and Dolls. I played Sister Sarah Brown.
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager:
One of the wicked stepsisters in Beauty in the Beast when I was 12 and playing Duffy in Annie when I was 16 (I was the only orphan who could drive).
Favorite pre-/post- show meal:
I don't eat post show. Pre-show I try to have an apple or something light.
Favorite liquid refreshment:
Water
Most challenging role you have ever played:
Lisa in Dog Days by Royce Vavrek and David Little
Who were the first people you called/texted after learning of your nomination? My parents
Any ideas/hints about your Tony night wardrobe?
Not yet!
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap:
Just catching the giggles and not being able to stop. It's the worst/best feeling!
Worst costume ever:
Jonathan Livingston Seagull in the same-titled musical when I was 9.
If you could trade roles with anyone in the cast for a week, who would it be? Catherine Walker!
What has been the most fun or fulfilling aspect of this project?
Playing onstage with such an amazing cast of brilliant people
Craziest audition story:
The first time I auditioned for Darko Tresnjak for his production of Carnival at Goodspeed. I came in late and pretty mussed. I had spent the morning at the hospital with my husband who had injured himself. That one was fun.
Leading lady role you've been dying to play:
Gypsy Rose Lee
Leading man role you wish you could play:
Monty Navarro
Any upcoming or side projects you can talk about?
My band Sky-Pony has a gig at Rockwood in July! And in 2015 I'll be singing Lisa in Dog Days with L.A. Opera and Fort Worth Opera!
Career you would want if not a performer:
Mom and Caterer
Three things you can't live without:
Greek yogurt, cute underwear and a nice big bed
"I'll never understand why…"
… this winter was so long.
Words of advice for aspiring performers:
Never give up!
