Artistic Director,
Lookingglass Theatre
Lookingglass Theatre
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For six years, Laura served as the Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre Company of Chicago, which won the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award. While Laura was leading the company, Lookingglass completed a successful eight million dollar capital campaign and opened its theater in Chicago’s historic landmarked Water Tower Water Works. During this time, she also edited the company’s 15-year retrospective book, Looking Forward, Looking Back, Lookingglass to coincide with the theater’s opening.
As Artistic Director, Laura oversaw the development and production of over a dozen world premieres, including three productions by Lookingglass ensemble member and Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman, as well as Heidi Stillman’s adaptation of Dickens’ Hard Times, a Jeff Award winner for Best Production, later published by Northwestern University Press. Laura has also served as Lookingglass’ Co-Director of Artistic Development and Literary Manager, working with artists to develop new plays and adaptations. |
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Theatre Director
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As a director for the stage, Laura's credits include several of her plays at Lookingglass Theatre, including Ethan Frome (pictured left), Around the World in 80 Days (seven Jeff Nominations including Best Production), In the Eye of the Beholder (Jeff Award, New Work) and 28.
Also for Lookingglass, she directed Joy Gregory's Dreaming Lucia, David Catlin's adaptations of Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet, as well as J. Nicole Brooks' adaptation of Racine’s Phedra, entitled FEDRA: Queen of Haiti. Other directing includes Around the World in 80 Days at Baltimore Centerstage and Kansas City Rep. She was also fortunate enough to direct an early workshop of Unknown Soldier by Danny Goldstein and the late Michael Friedman at the O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference. |
Actor
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Laura began her professional career as an actor, originating roles in all of the early work by director Mary Zimmerman (Tony-winner, MacArthur "Genius" and Lookingglass Ensemble member), including The Arabian Nights (Jeff Award, Best Production), The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci and Mystery of the 4th Wall, among others. As an Ensemble Member of Lookingglass, Laura appeared in 15 world premieres, including The Odyssey, the musical La Luna Muda (also co-composer and co-lyricist), and Hard Times (Jeff Award, Best Production).
Her New York acting credits include productions at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and Metamorphoses on Broadway. Regional credits include productions at the Goodman and Steppenwolf Theaters (Chicago), Actor’s Gang (LA), Arden Theatre (PA), Berkeley Rep (CA), Seattle Rep (WA) and McCarter (NJ), among others. She finished her acting career on a high note, playing Emily Webb opposite David Schwimmer's George Gibbs in Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of Our Town, co-directed by Tony-winner Anna D. Shapiro and Jessica Thebus. |
Musician & Composer
Tart Rock Band
Tart Rock Band
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For five years, Laura was a singer, songwriter and bass player for the Chicago power pop band, Tart. Formed with singer, songwriter and guitarist Joy Gregory, the band played such venerable venues as The Empty Bottle, Metro, Double Door and Lounge Ax (RIP).
Tart released two singles on Sweet Pea Records and a self-released CD called Start. Tart’s original lineup was Laura, Joy, and drummer Michael Lenzi. Rick Karr joined the band as lead guitarist, keyboard player and songwriter. When Lenzi left to tour with his band, Number One Cup, drummer Mike “Slam” Sankowski joined and completed Tart’s final lineup. As a composer, Laura wrote/co-wrote music and/or lyrics for the Lookingglass productions of La Luna Muda, Vanishing Twin, Her Name Was Danger, 28, Secret in the Wings, All Souls Day, and Metamorphosis, for which she shared a Jeff Award Nomination for Original Music. |
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Circus
Laura trained with Ringling Bros. veteran and renown circus coach
Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi in circus arts and preformed on the lyra, Spanish web
and trapeze in the Lookingglass productions of Hard Times,
La Luna Muda (pictured below), and The Master and Margarita.
Laura trained with Ringling Bros. veteran and renown circus coach
Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi in circus arts and preformed on the lyra, Spanish web
and trapeze in the Lookingglass productions of Hard Times,
La Luna Muda (pictured below), and The Master and Margarita.
