lauren blair

Lauren is a west coast based director, choreographer, and perfomer who splits her time between Los Angeles and Ashland, Oregon. Originally from Cincinnati, she began dancing at age five and found theatre at twelve when she was cast in Oliver and given one glorious line: "They're stale!" She voraciously studied dance, voice, and acting throughout high school before attending Otterbein University as a Vocal Performance major. Lauren later transferred to the renowned design school (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati to pursue her other love, fashion design. Throughout college, she taught dance at LeDance Studio, The Otto M. Budig Academy of Ballet, and the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music Preparatory Department. Post graduation she moved to LA to pursue a costume design career, and after 2 years working in the film/television industry, her love of theatre brought her back to the stage.

Since 2006, Lauren has choreographed over 60 musicals including the award winning Mary Poppins (StageSceneLA Award for Outstanding Choreography), Seussical, the Musical (StageSceneLA Award for Outstanding Choreography). White Christmas (NYA for Outstanding Choreography), Beauty and the Beast (NYA for Outstanding Choreography), and The Full Monty (StageSceneLA Award for Outstanding Choreography). She has choregraphed pieces for the LA Chamber Orchesta Gala (2017, 2018), Synpase Dance Theatre Contemporary Dance Ensemble (2006-2008), and Cincinnati‘s National Tap Dance Day Festival (2002). She was the resident choreographer at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre from 2013-2017, and has taught jazz and tap dance at Cal State LA, Jilly Jazz Workshop, Belasco Theatre Company, and Santa Monica College. Lauren earned her Masters in Theatre Arts and Dance from Cal State LA in 2013, and was employed as adjunct faculty and costume designer at Santa Monica College from 2009-2018.

In 2016, Lauren made her directorial debut with Peter and the Starcatcher at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, which was awarded Best Director and Best Production by the Santa Monica Theatre Guild. Her recent production of Tuck Everlasting (Collaborative Theatre Project) was awarded Best Local Play 2018 by Medford Sneak Preview, and she directs and choreographs regularly at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre and Collaborative Theatre Project in Southern Oregon.

Lauren continues to perform and has most recently played Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County, Ulla in The Producers, Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde, Wickersham Brother in Seussical, and Nora in Himself and Nora.