About Laura
Family recognized Laura’s talent as she scatted along to “Lullaby of Birdland” before she could speak. Since then she has dazzled on stage and behind the scenes, performed on national and international stages, and led classes and workshops on her craft. She is so versatile – whether she is singing a Mozart aria, teaching vocals for youth musical productions, operating sound design for a production, or taking on dual roles as assistant director and a character role – that she has literally won an “Is There Anything You Can’t Do?” award.
Laura’s early training included performing with North Central Louisiana Masterworks Chorus Young Singers – she auditioned at age eight with an acapella rendition of “Seek Ye First” – and diving into musical theatre at her “childhood home,” Strauss Theatre, under the guidance of Cathy Airhart Webb and Chris Ringham. She took the stage in 20 productions 1996-2004 and worked backstage on six. Laura then shined on campus and beyond during college at Louisiana Tech with the vocal training of Dr. Laura Thompson. She excelled in campus ensembles and productions, won regional competitions, and earned coveted invitations to perform on both the Louisiana Composer’s Consortium Concert Series and the Robert E. Cheatham Honors Recital three years running.
In 2006 Laura traveled to Austria with Louisiana Tech Chamber Singers to perform in the International Mozart Festival. She flew back to Europe in 2007. Destination: Italy and the Rome Opera Festival. Originally slated to be an Italian actress’s understudy for Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro directed by Fritz Maraffi, Laura won the role for herself! Back in America, Laura continued to wow at local and national events (you can look her up singing in CNN's archives!) before graduating with a Bachelor of General Studies degree with a minor in vocal performance in 2009. She then studied psychology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and continued refining her voice with world-renowned performer, Dr. Louis Nabors. In 2010, Laura performed in Star Wars: in Concert in Bossier City with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Dirk Brossé. She earned her master’s degree the following year and took a break from performing to work in healthcare and with non-profits.
But Laura’s love for the arts would not be denied. She returned in 2018 by reuniting with Cathy Airhart Webb at CA Studio. Finding herself at home again in the spotlight and behind the curtains, she performed in over a dozen productions over the following two years until COVID. Laura certainly wasn't unaffected... But she didn't let it stop her. After moving to Missouri to be closer to her husband, she went on to hold the role of Lady Macbeth in a Zoom variant of Macbeth followed by The Nurse in Shakespeare in Love, the manic role of RM Renfield in Dracula, and the riotously awkward Lizzy Bennett in Kate Hamill’s Pride & Prejudice.
Now she is actively teaching through her private studio and with Little Theatre of Weston. If you’re local to the Weston area, you might have seen her sold-out directorial debut with LTW, Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo.
No matter the unforeseen obstacle, with all of her heart and soul, Laura is seizing opportunities to conjure fantastic experiences and channel her dynamic talent and passion into what fills her heart – her favorite team sport – theatre.
Education
University of Louisiana at monroe
2011-2012
Master of Science in Psychology, Psychometrics
Louisiana Tech University
2004-2009
Bachelor of General Studies, Humanities
Minor: Vocal Music Performance
Training
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Dr. Louis Nabors
Dr. Laura Thompson
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Cathy Airhart Webb
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Anna Maria Sparke, Tap
Jeffrey Dominessey, Argentine Tango
Jay Stylz, Salsa, Bachata, Body Isolation, Tricks
Jenni Marcano, Hand Shines, Foot Shines, Tricks
Christian Villalobos, Salsa, Musicality, Dips and Couple Tricks
Crystal Verver, Hand Shines, Foot Shines, Spins
Mikko Kemppe, Salsa, Cha cha cha
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David Miller, Combat Basics & Falls
Groups
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Little Theatre of Weston Improv, 2023-Current
Lagniappe Entertainment 2020-Current
CA Studio 2018-Current, 2008-2010
Improv 2018-2019
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Salsa Fitness 2022
Salsa Monroe 2005-2009
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First United Methodist Church Choir, Shreveport 2009-2012
First United Methodist Church Choir, Monroe 2007-2009
Louisiana Tech Women’s Choir 2007-2008
Louisiana Tech Chamber Singers 2004-2009
Louisiana Tech Concert Choir 2004-2008
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Choir, Monroe 2004-2007
Neville High School Choir 2001-2004
Neville High School Tower Singers 2001-2004
Masterworks Young Singers 1996-2000
Competitions + Awards
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CHRISTOPHER AWARDS
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Sister Act 2018
Nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy/Drama Divorce Southern Style 2005
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PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS
Cheatham Honors Recital Performer 2006, 2007, 2008
Ben Laney Memorial Scholarship 2006, 2007
Virginia Thompson Memorial Scholarship 2006, 2007
School of the Performing Arts Dorm Waiver 2004-2008
Choral Scholarship 2004-2008
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING (NATS)
1st place – Classical, Sophomore Women 2006
1st place – Classical, Freshman Women 2005
3rd place – Lower College Musical Theatre, Men and Women 2005
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COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN
Regional Judge for 2008 and 2009 competitions
HONKY TONK TALENT SEARCH
Local Judge for 2007 and 2008 competitions
Skills
Tennis, Water Skiing, Swimming, Writing, Four-Wheeler Driving, Automatic and Standard-Shift Vehicle Driving, Video Gaming, Marksmanship: Pistol, Computers, 120 WPM, Music Composition, Sound Design, Vocal Range: E3-D6, Dancing: Cha Cha Cha, Dancing: Bachata, Dancing: LA Style Salsa (+tricks and dips), Dialects: RP British, Cockney, French, Russian, American-Southern, American-Standard