Music of the Heart: Meet Encore MTI Alum, Lauren Monsivaiz

Encore: What productions and programs have you been involved with Encore?
Lauren: I have done 6 shows with Encore (Robin Hood: Old Widow; The Magical Lamp of Aladdin: Genie of the Lamp; The Hobbit: Elf Guard; Big Bad: crew; Legally Blonde the Musical: Court Stenographer/ensemble; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: Susan) and I have also participated in every session of Show Choir/Musical Theatre Intensive except for the first one. I also attended one of their workshops on accents.

From left to right: Aslan (Sean Hackes), Lucy Pevensie (Isabel Tate), Peter Pevensie (Richard Bew) and Susan Pevensie (Lauren Monsivaiz). Photo by Larry McClemons.

Encore: What are some of your school involvements and activities outside of theatre?
Lauren: Besides theatre with Encore, I’ve also been involved in 7 school productions and participated in Chorus for 3 years. I have also co-directed a summer neighborhood drama camp with Olivia Hammermaster (also an active Encore member) for the past 5 years.

Encore: What is your proudest/memorable moment while participating at Encore?
Lauren: I don’t know how I could pick a proudest moment from my time with Encore, but one of the most memorable and honorable experiences was actually very recent. I was asked to speak at the annual Encore Benefit Breakfast as one of two graduates who got the opportunity to share about their time with the organization. I felt incredibly blessed and emotional while giving my brief speech, unable to adequately express my love for the people and the activities that I have worked with over the years. That was probably my greatest moment, not due to my words in and of themselves, but purely for the chance to share and try and give back in words what Encore gave me in so many other ways.

Encore: How has Encore impacted your life beyond the stage?
Lauren: Encore has impacted me in many ways, but the biggest and most obvious way has been my confidence. More often than not, you’ll find me dancing and laughing loudly in most situations. I’m no longer as quiet or reserved or shy as I was at the beginning of high school. Encore Stage & Studio introduced me to people with the same interests, gifts, and aspirations that I possessed, and beautifully portrayed the ways in which I could follow those dreams. Encore opened up a world of opportunities that I had never imagined possible.

Encore: What sparked your interest in joining Musical Theatre Intensive (MTI)?
Lauren: I’m almost always dancing in some way, shape, or form. Going right along with that, I love to sing. And of course, acting has always been a passion of mine… So put them all together and you get MTI! I had actually been looking for an outlet for a show choir-type program for awhile, so when Encore started it up I got really excited to join.

Encore: What is your favorite number you performed with MTI?
Lauren: Tough question… I think my favorite pop number was “I Forgive You” by Kelly Clarkson (I jam out really hard to this song), and then my favorite show tune was “Lady’s Maid” from Titanic the Musical, where I got a lot of opportunities to put more acting into the musical number.

“I love the broad spectrum of music we’ve covered, knowing I’ll become more cultured each time I enter the rehearsal room.” -Lauren Monsivaiz

Encore: What was it like to work with Doug Ullman and Kelsey Meiklejohn? How did you enjoy their styles of teaching?
Lauren: Doug and Kelsey are two of my favorite directors, ever. Doug is one of the greatest and most talented musical directors I’ve ever had. His confidence and knowledge of his field is incredible, and he is always willing to help out his students with anything. He and Kelsey are both constantly pushing us to go beyond whatever limits we’ve created for ourselves, knowing our abilities stretch so much farther than we think they do. Kelsey is the tiniest ball of energy I’ve ever met. I love her way of choreographing, because she incorporates so many different styles into our repertoire. The best thing about these two directors is how well they work together. Often times, they don’t even have to use words in order to be on the same page. Their cohesive and understanding (and hilarious) relationship creates a perfect environment for us to learn and explore and ask questions. I will never forget the skills and laughs that I’ve gained from working with Doug and Kelsey.

Encore: What made you stick to the program for all these years?
Lauren: Well, I guess I could just say see above! The directors and the way the program is run just keeps me interested. I love the broad spectrum of music we’ve covered, knowing I’ll become more cultured each time I enter the rehearsal room. I’ve never learned so much and had so much fun all at the same time before in my life, so I stuck around.

Encore: You have great stage presence! How has the program shaped your performance skills or appreciation for musical theatre?
Lauren: Thank you! I can say with certainty that how MTI has been a significant contributor in that area. As I alluded to, I have not only gained confidence, but boldness in the field of musical theatre. I’m more willing than ever to try a new dance move or attempt to reach a new high note. I know that “my voice is higher” and “if Kelsey’s arms can reach that high, so can mine!” I now know about so many different shows and types of music and dance styles that I would’ve never heard about otherwise. I’ve developed an interest in musicals that runs much deeper than just what’s popular on Broadway at the time, and I am so thankful for that.

Encore: What are your plans after you graduate high school?
Lauren: I am headed to Texas A&M this fall, where I will be majoring in Theatre and hopefully minoring in languages. My passion is theatrical performance, so if Broadway doesn’t happen then we’ll see… My plans other than college are not all that specific, but I’m ready for some great adventures!

Encore: What advice can you give to students interested in theatre for the first time or rising seniors who want to be involved in Encore and theatre in general?
Lauren: Take a deep breath and jump. One of my favorite quotes is “To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong” (Joseph C. Pearce) and I have tried to live by that since discovering the concept. Fear of failure is often one of life’s biggest pitfalls, so jump over it! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

We thank you Lauren for sharing your Encore experience and we wish you the best of luck on your future endeavors! Your Encore family will always be cheering you on!