Laura is inspired to encourage brave spaces where individuals can speak their truth with the goal of bridging the distance between us. A published playwright, author, screenwriter, producer + podcaster (thesparkfile.com) Laura has spent much of her career building the Blue Man Group brand around the world. She began by helping the original Off-Broadway show grow into a global entertainment entity across the country + eventually around the world. As VP of Communications, she culminated her Blue Man career by earning a PR News Platinum Award nomination for the company’s 25th anniversary campaign. She served as Creative Director + Head Writer for Blue Man Group’s first book, Blue Man World. Laura also formed Bridge Club Productions + developed various theatrical shows, including the original musical [title of show], and co-produced it’s Obie Award winning + Tony nominated Broadway productions. Since 2017, Laura has dedicated her talents to Blue School, an independent private school in NYC, created by six accomplished artists + academics, including the original founders of Blue Man Group. The school’s mission emphasizes the importance of emotional + social intelligence + creative thinking in balance with academic mastery. In support of this work, Laura is a recent cohort of Jennifer McCrea’s Harvard course on Exponential Fundraising. As a Collaborator with Susan Blackwell + Co, her areas of expertise include public speaking, moderation, media training, writing, and cultivating brave, authentic communication.
SHOW NOTES
- Where are you calling from?
- What project has your attention right now?
- Was your lifestyle growing up similar to your lifestyle now?
- Did you have a backup plan?
- Did you have a survival job?
- What has been the biggest risk you’ve had to take?
- What are some big rewards that you’ve received that your younger self would find unbelievable?
- Who have you admired along the way? See it to be it.
- Have you “made it”?
- What advice would you give to listeners wanting to follow in your footsteps?
- Kansas Theatre Works podcast
- One Dead; One Dying
- Do you have any artistic recommendations for listeners?
- How could listeners connect with you?
KEY QUOTES
- I auditioned for a show and found the passion and competitive nature that my dad was always hoping I’d find for sports.
- You really can make your life, and you really can make the lifestyle that you want and that works for you. For me, it’s Florida and New York.
- I ended up traveling to 22 different countries and worked with incredible teams.
- I take small risks every day.
- Physically put yourself at the center of the things you want and to be surrounded by them and see them, they become tangible, reachable goals.
- I’m guilty of leaving Kansas with self doubt…anything happening on either coast was perceived as being smarter, better.
- Time spent on both coasts has given me this confidence that I do have the knowledge and the foundation of my education and natural ability and work ethic and all that is enough, more than enough. I need to trust that and I when I left Kansas, I didn’t know that.
- If my dad’s family had not been from NY, I don’t know if anyone in my family [in Kansas] would have supported my move to NY.
- Blue Man Group gave me a vision of the world bigger than I could have imagined.
- They always bet on themselves. [Founders of Blue Man Group].
- We are obsessed with creatives and creativity [The Spark File].
- It really is about focus, working hard, and sticking with it.
- Don’t stop at the first sign of a, “No.”
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