Spotlight on Lauren Kiel

Author: Lauren Smith and Jodie Zhang

The Middlebury Campus: How did you get your start in acting?

Lauren Kiel: I started to dance when I was two, and was such a big ham in dance classes because I was always trying to take over the classes, so my mom saw the actress in me. So she signed me up for a summer camp in second or third grade, and we did Cinderella. I was the "yellow bird," and I didn't have any lines ... no wait I think I sang the lines "We'll make the dress so pretty"... that's it. Since the bird, I've been in some sort of production every summer, so there's rarely been a time when I'm not working on a show. I kinda like it that way.

The Campus: What performances have you been in at Middlebury?

Kiel: Last year in the First-Year Show, I was Princess Camilla and the Ugly Duckling and then I stage managed for one of the faculty shows called "Midwives," and I did "The Vagina Monologues" last year and this year. Now I'm in "Necessary Targets," which goes up in April, which is by the same woman that wrote "The Vagina Monologues."

The Campus: What has been your favorite role so far?

Kiel: My favorite role in general was Winifred in "Once Upon a Mattress" - there's a bit of a musical girl in this body ... Right now, I'm just amazed at how much work is being put into this play, which I love. We're doing a lot of stuff outside of rehearsal, like going to lectures and watching documentaries. The play is about Bosnian women refugees and we've also been talking to Bosnian women, so it's been really cool.

The Campus: Where do you want to eventually take your acting?

Kiel: Hmm... Such a hard question, I don't know! I struggle with that question all the time because in reality, if I could make the dream life for myself, I would be an incredibly successful, intelligent actress and I would have a lot of money and consistent work and a nice place to live for my family... But that doesn't always happen.

The Campus: What is your favorite Broadway play?

Kiel: I have like nine million! But my favorite play is probably "Once Upon A Mattress." I saw it starring Sarah Jessica Parker and she's my idol. She's so successful - she's been on Broadway, and she's hugely successful in film and TV and she's married with a family... I basically want to be her.

The Campus: Besides Sarah Jessica Parker, are there any other actors that you really admire?

Kiel: She's the main one.

The Campus: Do you have any embarrassing moments during a performance?

Kiel: Ohmygod, yes. Let me think. My god there's a million. When I was Annie a while ago, I completely blanked on the words of a song, and I was singing along and I ended up singing ... "She may be pouring his coffee, she may be pouring his tie..." which makes no sense, so that was a good one. Last year, in the First Year show, my skirt fell off during a show. That was really awkward. But that's the fun of live theatre, because in film you just go back and edit that out, but I got screwed. (laughs) You just go with it.

The Campus: What do you like to do in your free time?

Kiel: What free time? Um ... I guess extracurricular-wise, I'm in a show. And Bobolinks, so I'm in that - it's one of the two coed acapella groups. Rehearsals for the play are every single day, so I don't have too much time for classes...

The Campus: If you don't end up acting as a career, what will you do?

Kiel: I don't know ... I love teaching - it's kind of like performing except in front of a class. I'm taking psychology right now and I really like it, and I've been toying the idea of counseling.

The Campus: Does anyone in your family act?

Kiel: Zadie, my grandfather, was an entertainer. He played in a band. But no one in my family has done theatre.

The Campus: What is the hardest part of doing theatre?

Kiel: The hardest part of performing live theatre is that it's unpredictable - there's no turning back. But also, you have to get into the head of a completely different person with each show and figure out what they're doing and why they act the way they do. It's cool, which is probably why I like psychology so much. It's definitely a challenge.

The Campus: Favorite movie or TV show?

Kiel: "Sex and the City" is my favorite TV show, go figure.

The Campus: What's your favorite part of Middlebury? What annoys you about Middlebury?

Kiel: Tricky! I think it's cozy here, the small community feel is comforting, maybe at the same time that's the worst part of it ... either that or it's freezing and you go outside and your nose hairs stand up. I mean, I don't mind the cold, but when it's nose-hair-freeze-cold, I wanna go home!