Parenting a star-wanna-be, by Laura's Mom

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Parenting a star-wanna-be, by Laura's Mom

DEBLMILLER · Newbie

Hi,
I just found this forum last night and like many others thoroughly enjoyed watching the competition and I am also enjoying all of your insights and personal stories.

My niece, 14, picked Laura the first night and I have tickets for us to see the show 7/28 (matinee) and she is so excited she can't wait.

Thanks for writing!!

rachelley · Newbie

Hi Jane,

Thanks so much for all of these lovely notes. The 'friends' on the fansite are enjoying them as well. So please, keep 'em coming! =)

Be well and be blessed,
Rachelle

Mrs N · Senior Member

Jane,

After reading your retelling of Laura's experience with "Wizard of Oz," I can see how much your spirit has contributed to Laura's centeredness. Please continue to write in this forum.

All best,
Pat

Laura4Broadway · Veteran Member

Jane,

wow thanks for posting that story. It's very inspriing and a great life lesson. Since I'm only 17 I like to take all the life lessons I can get. As someone rejected many times in the music business, having that win/lose balence is very difficult.

snickers · Veteran Member

I appreciate your reflections and wisdom very much! As the mom of a couple of theater kids, I value your perspective. My son was in Wizard of Oz with Laura at CTC. There were over 80 shows, and I saw several of them! I remember the way that Laura brought a fresh energy to every performance. She had a natural way of building repor with everyone and making them feel at ease around her. Her singing, acting, and dancing were awesome, but what stood out the most, was her kindness and joy! I also remember how durable her voice was - even during the peak of cold and flu season. :) At age 18, she was already a true professional.

I will be praying for health, endurance, and JOY for Laura during this rehearsal period and the many shows that are ahead. I will also pray for you as her mom - for peace, strength, and trust in this new season. God is faithful!

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Snickers, thank you for posting such a nice note. Laura is at her peak of "aliveness" on the stage it is true. I think the joy she gets out of performing contributes to her usual good health. She's only missed three or four days of performances EVER from being ill and that was about a year ago--when she got strep throat for the very first time. She was at CTC (Children's Theatre Company, Minneapolis) at the time ending her year of being a performing apprentice there. She went right from ending that job into Peter Pan which she both choreographed AND played Peter Pan in. That was gruelling and also took a difficult toll on her. But overall, Laura has been able to perform consistently many shows a week and not lose her health, energy, or love of the show. She still cries during every last show--sad that it is over. It is her signature! Those who have worked with her and know her, sometimes go to her last show just to watch for it! She can't hide it! It's pretty cute--but then again, I'm her Mom and I love her and I know that what's behind it is her love of performing and the pain of that ending again...at least until the next show comes along. And God, please bring another show to audition for soon...She'll be a crow, an apple tree, or ANYTHING...just let her be in it! How many times have I said that prayer!

AZN Danny · Veteran Member

Laura's Mom,

When did you think Laura was going to win the role?

When she left the dinner theater, did they replace her or did the show end?

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Good question--when did I think Laura was going to win the role? I thought she was going to win after the week she sang "Fever." "Jesus Christ Superstar" put her into the game in a serious way but it would not have been enough all by itself. Her duet with Austin was also great but Chad and Allie and Max and Ashley had more exciting upbeat numbers that week and got more lasting attention. Laura got great comments that week from the judges but did not win any "votes" that week. But "Fever" was another knock-em-out-of-the-ballpark homerun for her. After that show I said to many people, "I think Laura might win this thing." Then when she sang "Don't Leave Me This Way," her next performance, I couldn't believe myself what I was seeing. I was at that live show and was absolutely blown away by her confidence and ownership of that stage. I think she'd come to believe too that she was going to win this thing and no one was going to stop her. It was an amazing progression to watch for me. Laura is commonly a "come from behind" type of winner. She is indeed so nice in the beginning and will not demand center stage or try to get all the attention. She is content with a middle row seat, so to speak, and wants to build relationships and not be intimidating. But then she'll start to pull something like a "Jesus Christ Superstar" performance out of her bag and REALLY get noticed. Then she just keeps steadily increasing her momentum. I don't think she consciously plans that strategy but that is what I've seen in her over and over again. This was an ideal forum for Laura. She had the advantage of time to show all that she's got. Recall, the first week David Ian said he hadn't even really noticed her! I don't believe Laura would have gotten this role if this had been a typical auditioning process. I don't think Max would have either. They are both similar in that way. They have a tremendous amount they are capable of but you don't see it all in one effort. Others of the contestants may have made a more striking first impression, but they didn't bring more to the table as the competition went on. Max and Laura kept steadily coming up the pike bringing more and more every week. It was very interesting to watch this whole thing.

As to your second question--yes, Laura did get replaced at the dinner theatre where she was playing Sandy. She left the show at the end of the year last year and it continued to run until Feb. 3. Laura had to be out in Los Angeles on Jan. 12 to start the preliminary work for the competition. The "Grease" show here was so popular they are reprising it this summer at another theatre in the city with most of the original cast returning--except Laura, of course, and a couple others. You might find it interesting to know that they offered the part of Sandy to both Ashley and Allie but both declined it. I don't think either of them wanted to move short term to Minneapolis and both likely have a number of other things they are considering.

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Hello and Happy Saturday to you, Jane!! I love your posts, I love the way you write and I hope you keep us updated on what Laura is up to ,frequently :) I just wanted to write and say that her "Fever" number just blew me away-----we have it on tape, and all I can say is, I could listen to it ALL DAY, it is just phenomenal and the only thing wrong with it is that it is not long enough, ha ha ha ha ha! That was a truly fantastic number, and I just remember saying to my sister, "Her voice is SO pretty"! Just very distinct, and soooo wonderful to listen to!!! She is a true star, and I just can't wait to see her on BROADWAY :) When we were at the Mall Of America a few Saturdays ago, I just HAD to tell Laura what I felt about "Fever"-----to me, that was the song that told me she had the role. Wow, that is interesting that both Ashley and Allie were offered the Chanhassen Sandy part. I love "insider" tidbits like that, keep them coming! Hope you are having a good day, I am off to the Mall :) God bless you and your wonderful family!!! Dana---West St Paul biggrin

Laura4Broadway · Veteran Member

Jane,

I agree 100% with you take on the show. That's exactly what I thought too. JCS was what put her on the map and Fever sealed the deal.. while Don't Leave Me This Way just crushed the competition even more. My personal favorite performance is Don't Leave Me This Way... such energy and stage presence. What's you're favorite performance and do you know Laura's favorite also?

Thanks for your insight

Jen

-- Edited by Laura4Broadway at 20:20, 2007-06-02

-- Edited by Laura4Broadway at 00:43, 2007-06-03

grannygreaser · Senior Member

Jane,

Thanks again for these wonderful stories about Laura. It is great to hear about how she developed as a performer and a person. You have a lovely writing style, so it is very enjoyable reading. (You might have a book in progress here.)

I am curious how Laura began doing theater in the first place at such an early age and when she decided it was what she wanted to do with her life? Were you involved it?

Lily

AZN Danny · Veteran Member

During the "Grease Academy" Show, during the singoff when the 50 contestants sang, "Tears on My Pillow", I saw a shot of Laura holding hands with an Afro American female. Were they friends from Minnesota or just met at the LA auditions?

Janatheart · Member

I love your Wizard of oz stroy. I also was runner up for Dorothy against my friend, and she got it. She did a great job, and I was lucky enough to play the witch because the girl who was chosen to play the witch dropped out. I love that show, and I will always love the part of Dorothy

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Wow, lots of new questions! Are we starting to attract more visitors to this site? That's fun! Someone asked what was my favorite song of Laura's from the show. I have to say overall it is "Jesus Christ, Superstar," but I also just LOVE re-watching "Don't Leave Me This Way." Jesus Christ Superstar so completely staggered me (just like Andrew Lloyd Webber) that it has to go down as the greatest song, in my opinon of the whole show. But "Don't Leave Me this Way" is packed with so much personal enjoyment and vivacity that it is great fun for me to re-watch too. Those two songs carry such different emotions that they "pack different kinds of punches" for me but each is an awesome memory.

Someone asked how Laura began theatre so young etc.... When Laura was two years old she got a Fischer Price tape recorder from a great family friend who was viritually an "uncle" figure to her. Laura LOVED that thing! She took it with her every day to daycare and did not just leave it at the door and forget about it! She carried it from room to room, singing constantly, and even played music on it to go to sleep to. She was a fabulous little singer at even 2 years old--it was obvious very young she had great ability to sing. That same "uncle" friend was a career national guardsmen, and he bought her big packages of "army military green" batteries for that tape recorder for every birthday, Christmas, special occasion etc (or whenever else she ran out of them!). He got such a kick out of seeing how much she liked that little tape recorder that he also just loved buying her batteries too. And the batteries she went through might reach half way to heaven if we still had them and could line them all up! And Laura would grin and cheer every time she opened another birthday present and it was a package of batteries because she knew it meant many more hours of listening and singing along. So THAT started everything. At age 5 Laura started taking dance lessons and of course, with her love of music and good sense of rhythm, that was an instant hit too. Anything music related and she was one happy girl. She was also a very "girly girl" and loved all the costumes of dance, doing her hair, bows on her tap shoes, etc. (I was NOT a girly girl when I grew up and was a lot more tom-boyish so I often was completely baffled where all this came from but found it very funny and fun to watch). Then when she was in second grade we heard about a little community theatre that was going to do The Wizard of Oz and as much as Laura liked music and dance we thought she might really like this too so she tried out for a munchkin. Well, gee, it was a no-brainer! Getting to sing, "dance," wear costumes, act...what could be more pleasing in life! She was hooked! When she cried on the last show and begged for it not to be over...that was the beginning of everything! From that time on, we were on a constant search for the next opportunity. She was so happy when she could be in a play. And as I stated in another forum, she didn't have to have the lead for it to be fun. She was perfectly happy being a crow or an apple tree, or a chorus member. It was music, it was "dancing", it was costumes and make up, and acting, and story telling, and great friends. Theatre shows are a great way to bond with friends and Laura was deeply into that. We always made opening night little gifts for everyone in the cast, Laura wrote sweet notes or poems to many of them, we had many, many cast parties at our home etc. So yes, I was very, very much involved in Laura's life. As she got a little older into middle school she wanted to start auditioning at some of the professional theatres in our city and that was a huge commitment for both her and me. We had to work out special things with school as she would miss up to half of the school days during the run of a show. I even homeschooled her one trimester of 7th grade because it was just too difficult to work out the schedule. Laura had to be extremely disciplined about school work and I made her responsible for always talking to her teachers and finding out what she was going to need to do while she was missing things. I'd go into school too and stay in close touch with her teachers and make sure she was always on task. The teachers actually raved about her school performance in the middle of all the other things she did as she always had things done on time and scored higher on things than many of the kids who sat in class all the time and didn't have other interests. But we did math problems in the car, wrote school papers in the green room, etc. etc...in between singing joyfully at the top of our lungs to some Broadway musical CD we both loved. I also worked at her dance studio to earn her free dance and sewed costumes for her whole dance line to earn her free costumes. I spent many, many hours (years) in the car with her, driving her to rehearsals or shows and sitting in the green room waiting for her to be done so I could drive her back home. But I loved it all! It wasn't drudgery--it was great fun. I learned to love to watch rehearsals and see all it would take to put a show together. I loved watching her dance competitions and sitting with her and trying to figure out what it was that one or two dance members would have that would make them stand out in each song in some special way. We had a great closeness all her years growing up and she NEVER rebelled or had a difficult phase growing up. I loved her dearly and parenting her was great fun. Just so you know, I have a son too who is four years older than Laura. He had different interests than Laura, but he is a wonderful person too. I don't write about him here only because you don't know him!

Also, there was one more question about a brief moment on the "Grease Academy" production where Laura was holding hands with an African American woman for a moment in one scene. I don't know the story behind that moment--in fact I almost thought it looked somewhat contrived and perhaps out-of-context in the way it flashed in that scene, but I do know that Laura did not know that girl from Minneapolis. However, Laura is warm and affectionate and the fact that she would hold hands with someone in a conversation does not surprise me at all. She grew up in a Suburban large school so she also has friends of many ethnic varieties so that is not surprising to me either. I hope that answers everyone's questions.

Argh · Member

I have been reading this forum off & on since it started but it took Janes e-mail about the Eagan 2000 Oz auditions to get me to register & post.

I have been in 5 shows with Laura, starting when she was 10 years and as recently as last summer in Peter Pan. We all have seen that she has talent but we also know that talent alone is not what it takes to succeed the way she has / is. Over the last 35 years I have done hundreds of performances of dozens of shows (both community & professional) Laura is without question, the hardest worker I have ever been associated with.

I had the privilege of being at all of the auditions and multiple callbacks for that production of Oz and Jane is not overstating the combined talent of these three 13/14-year-old actresses. Each brought something unique to the role and all 3 were simply phenomenal. Im not sure but I think this was the first time Laura had a major theater disappointment and to be honest, I believe it was the single most important thing to happen to her that shaped her into the star she has become. It made her more determined to succeed no matter how much work it took. At the same time, there was no bitterness on her part at not getting the role. Laura was as sweet as she had always been & I have proudly displayed her opening night notes & gifts in my den ever since (yes, even before she was famous). She threw herself into the dance / tree / crow roles in that show 150% and excelled at all of them.

Since then I have done several other shows with Laura & she has always been a tireless worker & the consummate professional, regardless of her role in the show.

Also, I have an e-mail from Jane dated Jan 22 where she reminded all of us that Laura is a sneak up from behind winner that never demands attention at the beginning but starts in the back row & just lets things happen. Over the years those of us that are close to her have seen that Laura really knows how to time her move in an audition better than anyone else we know. Once again she did it in Grease, going from being told she would be eaten for breakfast to winning the whole thing was no small feat but she did it with grace and dignity.

I certainly feel privileged to have had the opportunity not only to work with Laura on stage but also to get to know her & her family as people and to watch her grow into the fine young woman she has become. I am confident that she will remain well grounded going forward and will enjoy much success in whatever she chooses.

grannygreaser · Senior Member

Jane,

Thanks so much for answering my question about Laura starting into theater at such an early age. It is a delight to read about her early enthusiasm and commitment to musical theater. I am sure she will be fantastic in everything she does. Thank you for sharing with us.

Lily

Laura Mom · Senior Member

O.K., Argh (Glenn? Kevin?) your note was a testimony to how great our group of "theatre friends" are! Our Eagan Community Theatre group is professional level acting/vocal people--most of whom chose other ways to make a living than theatre--but who still just love the stage. This group of people, comes to rehearsal every night after working all day and on several weekends during the first part of the summer to put on our 3-4 week run of a show. Whole families sometimes get involved and it is just great fun. I buy tickets to almost every show as I am the biggest audience fan and actually don't care for the stage much myself. I'll sew costumes however, cook food and host cast parties, and be there to cheer everyone on almost every show. I was feeling some sadness that this whole summer routine might be over for me now that Laura has left us and is off to Broadway, but the gang reminded me they'll still get hungry and still want our pool to jump into after rehearsals and shows all summer. Ahhhh! So great to be loved! Thanks for the nice note!

AZN Danny · Veteran Member

Jane,

I think you and Laura should consider writing a book from her early life in theater all the way to the Great White Way. It would make a great read.

Laura Mom · Senior Member

You know, AZDanny, I think I would enjoy writing a book. Perhaps I should ponder that.

Laura4Broadway · Veteran Member

... as I'm sure MANY of us would enjoy reading :D

AngelplaysFL · Newbie

Laura Mom wrote:
First, let's all think about the sad side of auditioning--not winning! Your heart can be really disappointed, if not broken when you do not get a part. Perhaps you hoped for this part a long time, you dreamed about it, maybe you really worked on your material for the audition...maybe for weeks! But they chose someone else. This disappointment is really real! In Laura's lifetime she's had several of these disappointments with at least one occasion leveling her to flat out on-the-bed-bawling for a few hours! And I was flat out on-the-bed bawling with her!

Those little glimpses of Laura's spirit that you got to see on the "Grease" TV competition are an accumulation of lessons in grace learned from both being the winner and being the loser. Grace is tremendously endearing to people. It will help you when you win and it will help you win you lose. And those around you will be moved by it's presence when they see it in you as well. God works in strange ways sometimes and you need to know He is interested in developing our character. How you respond in disappointing situations may open or close doors for you down the line! So learn this very valuable lesson of grace. The world needs lots of grace-filled winners and losers. And you know that life will most assuredly give us all opportunities to be both a winner and a loser. So strive to be grace filled in either position--it is a beautiful thing to see.

Love to all,
Laura's Mom, Jane

Jane,

Thank you for those two paragraphs! It's the perfect time to hear something like that as I've been in Minneapolis for almost 2 years and I'm having a difficult time getting the right job for me. After several great interviews that I was so confident about, someone else was chosen. I had those flat out on the bed moments too! You kind words have helped renew my hope in my own future here!

I had the opportunity to briefly meet Laura at the MOA farewell (as well as her grandmother who stood by me during the concert!) and she was so sweet. I gave her a ring box with a four leaf clover on it to keep her precious new ring safe in her dressing room and she was so exicted about it! Being married just a year ago myself (June 11), I know that I want a safe place for my rings when I take them off!

I'm glad everything is going smoothly for her!

Laura Mom · Senior Member

AngelplaysFL, you got married the same day as Laura's brother: June 11, 2006
What is so amazing about that for Laura is that one year later to the day she had her first Broadway rehearsal! If anyone would have told her at her brother's wedding that in one year she would be married, living in New York, and beginning rehearsal to star on Broadway, we all would have thought they were crazy! What an unbelievable year! Congratulations to you on your anniversary. And who can know the mind of God and what things He has planned for each of us? Sometimes closed doors lead us to places we might not have otherwise gone and in hindsight we cam say it was where we were meant to go. Other times closed doors open with more persistence, work, and patience. I confess, it is hard to know and also hard to deal with sometimes. I wish you well.

Jane

reniefran · Senior Member

I wanted to tell you that I enjoyed reading what you wrote about your daughter. I was amazed to watch her come into her own as the weeks rolled by she managed to "own the role. She managed to be sassy and sweet at the same time and she has the voice of an angel. It is so obvious to me as I watch Laura in different interviews that she is humble and sweet. I have been praying for your daughter ever since I heard that she got the role of Laura. She is truly amazing. I really thought that Jesus Christ Superstar was what clinched it for her. I admit that at first I wasn't sure but boy did she change my mind. She always looked so graceful and poised and she showed that she has what it takes. Myself and some other ladies have appointed ourselves as aunts for Laura and Max we call ourselves the Awesome Aunties. I hope to get to see Laura and Max on Broadway but even if I don't I am excited to see what God is going to do through their lives. I know we will see much of them in the near future. You did a good job, your daughter is a sweet wonderful young lady
God Bless
smile

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Reniefran, thank you for the nice note. When our kids were growing up, we had a neighbor and a friend of mine that acted as virtually a "second Mom" to my kids and I was a "second Mom" to her kids too. Our kids played so much together that they were almost as comfortable at the other person's house as their own. It certainly was another place to feel safe and loved. My friend and I always said, "You can never have too many people to love you and help you through life," when we spoke of the benefits of often helping each other with our children and our children feeling loved by another person. So your "autie club" praying for--and loving--Max and Laura can be a continuation of caring adults in their lives. Thanks for the nice comments!

Jane

Jane

reniefran · Senior Member

Any time. God put us here to love each other so yep,glad to do it. I have enjoyed talking to you today. God bless and hope to talk to you again soon

Sunnysideup · Newbie

What a lovely story! :brushing a tear from the corner of my eye: Jane, thanks for sharing your memories with us. Doesn't it seem that whenever God has great things planned for us, He always starts by humbling us first? And who could imagine the great things He had in store for Laura when she lost that first Dorothy role?! I bet even Laura and you couldn't have, not in a million years! This is a story I will want to remember the next time I go through one of those humbling periods in life. So encouraging!

Future_Sandy · Veteran Member

Dear Jane,

I am a 13 year old "star wannabe". I know I'm young, but I also know that performing is simply something I am meant to do. My heart is in it. I am so passionate and determined. Laura is my idol. Ever since I first saw her on TV, I knew she was "the one". Your story inspired me so much. Just to know that I'm not the only crazy girl out there who gets rejected sometimes and also wins sometimes. I have starred in mostly all of my school shows and been in a couple of local theater productions over the summers. Just to know Laura and I have both had the same experiences (as well as other girls out there) gives me hope that I too will be on Broadway someday. I will be going to Grease I think sometime in August and hope to meet Laura at the stage door. She inspires me to shoot for the stars. I will be in the audience, cheering and clapping as hard as I can for her and the rest of the cast. Thank you so much!

Love,
Abby smile

-- Edited by Future_Sandy at 23:04, 2007-06-25

Laura Mom · Senior Member

Abby, your motto "Future Sandy" will likely help to propel you right into your dreams. Imagine if you never even dreamed it was POSSIBLE to someday be on Broadway, how likely do you think you would be to ever make it? You must first have the dream and believe it's possible! On the road, take every opportunity you can to learn as much as possible in singing, dancing, and acting. The triple threat just has that much stronger of a position in auditions. Laura saw it over and over again in musical theatre. Being a great dancer is what often made her that one step stronger than her competition. Even in this Grease show Sandy doesn't dance that much, but they wanted a strong dancer. Laura has lots of friends who didn't stick with the discipline of becoming a strong dancer and I would say it's often been a handicap for them. Also be willing to take small, supporting roles or chorus parts and give those small parts all your commitment and energy. You will stand out. Someone will remember you next audition! And be cooperative, on time, and pleasant to all your cast mates and the theatre staff, and ahead of all scheduled expectations. If you're supposed to be "off book" and know all your lines by two weeks from now--get it done sooner. ANYTHING that shows you're more dedicated, more in love with what you do, more enjoyable to work with--that will be in your favor in a very big way in the future. AND BE REAL AND HAVE FUN! It's a great life!

Jane

AZN Danny · Veteran Member

Laura danced very well in the reality show. I wish the hosts and judges would have pointed that out.

Argh · Member

Just wanted to add to Janes reply to Future Sandy.

As mentioned previously, I have been fortunate enough to work on numerous shows with Laura over the last 11 years, in addition to watching. The things that have always set her apart are:

1) Her incredible work ethic --- if its worth doing, its worth practicing & working hard to do really well

2) Her willingness to take any role just to be on stage. When she has starring roles she shined but she also worked just as hard, and therefore stood out when she was playing supporting roles. Her disappointment 7 years ago in Oz was evident when she didnt get the lead but after a few tears, she was determined to be the best darned crow / tree / poppy / snowflake / dancer / jitterbug ever and by working hard, she definitely succeeded. Through it all she remained upbeat & very helpful & patient with those folks who struggled with some very challenging choreography (like me). Recently I saw what could have been a repeat of this situation when a young lady auditioned for the role of Dorothy in Oz and didnt get it. Unlike Laura, she was offered another significant role in the show and even more unlike Laura, she decided no to do the show if she couldnt be the lead. Needless to say, it left me thinking A singing tree was good enough for a future Broadway star like Laura, perhaps this young lady could benefit from playing lesser roles.

Future Sandy - take whatever comes you way and give it your all & you will be successful whether it is onstage or somewhere else. Good Luck!!

Future_Sandy · Veteran Member

Jane and Argh,

Thank you so so so much for the advice. It made my day. I will take every single thing you said to heart. I have an audition in a couple of weeks for "Alice in Wonderland" and I will use everything you said to make it the best audition possible. I'm really excited! Well, thanks again for the wonderful advice.

Love,
Abby