Lauren Molina is a Broadway actress, musician, singer-songwriter, and artist. She made her mark on Broadway starring as the cello-playing Johanna in the critically acclaimed revival of John Doyle's "Sweeney Todd," winning the Independent Reviewers of New England Award Best Supporting Actress and named as one of the celebrated "30 Under 30" featured on Broadwayspace.com.
After performing for nearly 2 years as Regina in ROCK OF AGES on Broadway and Off, Lauren left to play a dream role; Cunegonde in CANDIDE, directed by Mary Zimmerman, at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC, where she won a 2011 Helen Hayes award for Best Actress in a Resident Musical. She recently worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival on John Doyle's original musical, TEN CENTS A DANCE, with Donna McKechnie and Malcolm Gets. This production utilized actor/singer/musicians, Lauren playing cello, bass, guitar, ukulele and saxophone, and expressed the story thru the music of Rodgers and Hart.
December 5th - UNDERWORLD V- A Broadway Understudy Concert- hosted by Lauren Molina & Nick Cearley
MTWorks' annual one-night only benefit event featuring Broadway???s hottest understudies performing and sharing their stories. All proceeds go to funding MTWorks??? Season of Fight. Here's a promo video, featuring The Understudy Song, by Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley. http://youtu.be/-Pp7iavawO4
December 6th - Lauren Molina in Concert @ Pianos
An amazing night of original music begins with Cristina Taddonio at 7pm, http://cristinataddonio.com/, The Hollows at 8pm, http://www.thehollowsonline.com/. Lauren will be performing several new originals as well as the old favorites in the chill upstairs lounge. Folk, pop, and a rocking good time.
December 7th - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - A 29hr Reading @ The Crypt
A new eery adaption of Jekyll and Hyde, performed in a crypt where stone surrounds you. The ambiance is as much a part of the story then the songs and dialogue. The musical arrangements have been paired down to a piano and a cello. Directed by Adam Dannheisser. Based on the musical by Frank Wildhorn, music & lyrics by Leslie Bricuss. Adaptation by Mitchell Jarvis and Scott Bradlee.
8pm - The Crypt @ the Church of the Intercession
550 W 155th St. @ Broadway (Take C train to 155th St), NY, NY 10032
Free - By reservation only - to reserve seats EMAIL: Stevelitwitz@gmail.com
December 18 - Lauren Molina/The Main Squeeze Orchestra @ Drom
Lauren performs an opening set of original folk pop.
Recent reviews of Mary Zimmerman's new production of CANDIDE included the following quotes:
"...a petite firecracker with comic brilliance and a soaring voice."
Chicago Sun Times, Hedy Weiss
"...a feisty and comically agile Lauren Molina...wows with her
high-flying coloratura soprano in the showstopping number 'Glitter and
be Gay'." Daily Herald Scott C. Morgan
"...golden-voiced..." Variety, Steven Oxman
"Molina nails Cunégonde's legendary aria 'Glitter and Be Gay.' " Time
Out Chicago, Kris Vire
"Despite all the talent that spills across the stage, Molina (also a Helen Hayes Award-winner) rises above the rest. To be a great comic actor is one thing; to be blessed with an ability to hit those big, operatic notes is another. But it doesn't seem fair when the two fit in one lovely, waifish body. She brings the house down in an act-one moment of long, rolling notes that's both comic and awe-inspiring. Molina astonishes from start to finish."
- Alexander Stevens, Wicked Local Dover
"'Glitter and Be Gay' is a comic masterpiece, yet Molina also leaves the goofiness behind to bring off poor Cunegonde's ruin with the nuanced assurance of a tragedian; this is a performance for the history books." Thomas Garvey, The Hub Review
"Molina is just wonderful...She brings comic zest to Cunegonde's aura of self-delight and heart-rending poignancy to her downfall." - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe
"Molina brings operatic panache and funny flirty timing to Cunegonde, her number "Glitter and Be Gay" one of the standouts of the evening, a miraculous collision of shame and self-admiration that makes for razor-sharp, black comedy." - Bill Marx, The Art Fuse
"Cunegonde may be the ultimate musical theater soubrette and Lauren Molina flawlessly sings this most difficult of roles. She is also hilarious, turning self obsession into comic gold. Assisted by Zimmerman's droll staging, her rendition of "Glitter and Be Gay" is genius - about as funny a ten-minutes as you'll spend in the theater this year.
- EDGE Boston, Robert Nesti
"Sea for Two" contains new songs, but also remixed and remastered songs from her debut independent release in 2007, "Doo-Be-Doo". Lauren wanted to re-release old songs with a different sonic palate that would show a depth to the instrumentations of cello, ukulele, guitar, accordion, etc....giving songs more of an "indie" folk pop vibe. Her quirky, playful indie pop songs combine clever lyrics peppered with lush harmonies whose instrumentations include ukulele, guitar, cello, accordion and piano to create bittersweet and pleasing songs.
With Mother West producer Charles Newman, and the folks at Selectracks/Bug Music and NY Noise Studios, Lauren has written music for commercials, including Dannon Yogurt, and her album opener "Sky and the Sea" was recently featured on the NBC's series "Parenthood."
Lauren's newest animated music video, animation by Noella Borie, Try To Say:
Here is the video to the kick-off single from Lauren Molina's full length CD release Sea For Two, entitled "Gonna Be Alright" featuring her former Broadway co-star from "Rock of Ages" Jeremy Jordan (currently playing Tony in "West Side Story" at certain performances). The song and video are available for purchase at iTunes!
