Howdy, y'all.
Jack of all trades, soon-to-be-Masters in Drama Therapy, I consider myself to be "Everything Barbie"! Substitute teacher & Barista by day, director, dance teacher, and comedian/actress by night, I sometimes can't believe I still find time for myself!
I was born and raised in Texas, and growing up as the weird neurodivergent girl in early childhood, my first friends were the actors I saw on television. I started acting in the fifth grade, and by the time I was in middle school, I dreamed of being a stand-up comedian hosting SNL; I briefly fulfilled the first half of this dream by taking classes at Dallas Comedy Club, where I completed Levels 1 & 2 of their stand-up courses and performed in some open mics (admittedly bombing my last one), grad shows, and even in one of their "Best in Show" showcases. My stand-up career has unfortunately been on hiatus since deciding to focus on finishing my undergraduate degree, working more hours as a personal care attendant to two families with autistic children, participating in occasional productions, and taking other acting classes, such as the Beginner Voice Over class I completed at KD Conservatory.
Since then, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Bachleor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Spanish & Theatre in 2023, left personal care attending, and have since been working with Jasmine's Beat and North Texas Performing Arts to build a resume for graduate school; speaking of which I am pleased to announce my acceptance to Lesley University's Masters program for Mental Clinical Health Counseling with a specialization in Drama Therapy! If all goes according to plan, I will be graduating in Spring 2028.
When I am not barista-ing, subbing, teaching, directing, acting, or student-ing, I enjoy roller skating, playing cozy video games, and cuddling with my cats, Chococat & Kitty Noir.
Recent & Upcoming Projects
Stalk no further, here is what's going on in Lauren's world
(party time, excellent)!
KD Conservatory
Voice Over Class
In this class, I learned booth etiquette and techniques particular to voice work. Pictured above, I am performing a "walla" with classmate Justin Kirby and other students (not pictured). I've included a snippet of Justin & I's recording of a scene from The Lion King in which I read for Simba and he reads for Scar. Thank you to everyone at KD who shared their wisdom with me!
InkSpark Theatre
"An Evening in the Grave"
Craving an event to get you into the spooky spirit? Look no further! InkSpark and Shakespeare Dallas have collaborated to bring you to "An Evening in the Grave," a conglomeration of scenes loosely adapted from Edgar Allen Poe's spookiest poems. Ever wanted to see a burlesque skeleton or an oblong box with a conveniently placed hole? This is the production for you!
Jasmine's Beat
Adaptive Dance Class
Part of my "Everything Barblie" duties includes teaching an adaptive dance class for people of all abilities! This will be my second year with my Murphy dance class, and I am excited to announce that Jasmine's Beat will be performing at a Dallas Mavericks game this December! If you have a student who loves to dance but needs a little extra TLC and support, check out JasminesBeat.com for classes!