Faculty Profile for Laura Lane

profile photo for Laura Lane
Laura Lane
Professor — Department of Theatre & Dance
THEA 101
phone: (512) 245-2147

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Lauren Lane Head of Acting
In her ten years in Los Angeles, Lauren Lane starred in three award winning television series; The Nanny, L.A. Law and Hunter. Winning the LA Critics award, Austin Critics Circle award and multiple B Iden Payne awards represent the critical acclaim of her extensive and continuing work in the theatre. In addition to full-time filming in Los Angeles, Lauren was a company member of The Actors Gang- Tim Robbins award winning theatre company. As an acting teacher, Lauren’s work has been awarded The Presidents Excellence in Teaching citation six times. Serving as Head of Acting for the past five years, and as a Texas State faculty member for 14 years, Lauren is proud to be part of an outstanding group of professionals who have extensive experience in every media form, both nationally and internationally. Lauren graduated from the MFA program at The American Conservatory Theatre. Having grown up in Texas, she returned for her favorite and most meaningful job, being Kate’s mom.

Teaching Interests

Six weeks after moving to Los Angeles, I walked out of an audition room and was told that I had earned the lead female role in a very successful detective series. It was my first television audition after grad school and now would be my first lead role on television. The thrill of that moment is what I want for my students. My ultimate goal as teacher is for my students to hear the words, “congratulations you got the part” My classes are part of a rigorous prescribed sequence of actor training that allows students to develop the artistry and craft required to work as professional actors. I have developed teaching methods that support efficient artistic training. When my students hear the words, “you got the part”, they know they earned the opportunity and that they have the skill and confidence necessary to do the job

Research Interests

Training highly vetted BFA acting students to work as professional actors across production platforms. Achieving a level of professional confidence and craft in a four-year BFA liberal arts degree that equals an MFA level degree. By means of a rigorous, sequential curriculum taught by industry professionals who continue to work in the profession.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • actor, HBO FilmFest, Ny. October 23, 2019 - October 29, 2019.
    Showings:
    • HBO NewFest. October 23, 2019 - October 29, 2019 Cinépolis Chelsea [260 W. 23rd Street], New York City, NY: SVA Theatre [333 W 23rd Street] Cinépolis Chelsea [260 W 23rd Street] The LGBT Community Center [208 W 13th Street].
  • actor, Low-Key Variety Show: OBSESSED. March 16, 2019.
    Performances:
    • Low-Key Variety Show. March 16, 2019 Hyperion Theatre, Los Angeles.
  • Actor, Fixing Troilus and Cressida. February 2018 - April 2018.
    Performances:
    • The Rude Mechs. January 28, 2018 - April 1, 2018 The Nowlin Studio, The Nowlin Theatre, Austin.
  • Actor, BLOCK ASSOCIATION. March 17, 2021 - May 2, 2021.
    Performances:
    • THE HUMANA FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS. April 14, 2021 - May 2, 2021 ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUIVILLE, ZOOM.
    • Reviewed by: Maya Phillips.
  • Lead Actress, I want to be a fucking Princess. September 1, 2020.
    Showings:
    • 2020 Summer Play Reading Series in association with ScriptWorks. September 1, 2020 Online, Zoom Reading, Online, Zoom Reading.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Nominee: B. Iden Payne Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Austin Creative Alliance. September 17, 2018 - November 7, 2018
  • Award / Honor Nominee: B. Iden Payne Nomination, Best Actress in a Comedy, Austin Creative Alliance. August 2018 - Present
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidents Award for Excellence. 2012
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Austin Critics Circle Award Best Actress. 2011
  • Award / Honor Recipient: B. Iden Payne Winner for Best Actress in a Comedy, Austin Circle of Theatres. 2011

Selected Service Activities

Celebration of award winning playwright Steven Dietz
The University of Texas
April 27, 2018-Present
Member
Personnel Committee
2014-Present
Member
Season Selection Committee
2014-Present
Head of Acting
HEAD OF ACTING 2014-2016 As Head of Acting I am responsible for the following: RECRUITMENT GETACCEPTD APPLICATION PROCESSING In preparation for our On-Campus Callback Weekends, I utilize an online platform-GETACCEPTD to view all of the application materials submitted by prospective students from around the country. This includes watching two audition videos for each candidate, reading student letters of intent, reading student transcripts, reading student letters of recommendation and student resumes. Each application requires a minimum of 15- 20 minutes of concentrated focus. We receive approximately 200 applications, which requires an estimated 67 hours of time between October and our December deadline, just in preparation for our Callback Weekends and my callbacks at The Unified Auditions in Chicago and Los Angeles. RECRUITMENT TRAVEL Coordination of registration details for all recruitment events. Coordination of all Faculty scheduling for recruitment events. In 2016, I traveled to the following recruitment auditions: The North Texas Drama Auditions in Plano Nov. 18th -22, The ‘Moonified’ Auditions in Dallas Nov. 20-21 The Unified Auditions in Chicago February 6th-9th The Unified Auditions Los Angeles 14th, and 15th. These recruitment events involve: organizing all promotional materials beforehand, shipping or traveling with materials, setting up all necessary materials and promotional tables before auditions begin, observing hours of acting auditions, generating and posting callbacks, meeting with prospective students, promoting the Department of Theatre and Dance to non-actor students interested in Texas State who ask for information, providing all candidates with clear information regarding application and further callbacks. ON-CAMPUS CALLBACK WEEKENDS Jan. 15th and Jan. 16th and Feb. 20th and 21st, 2016 I coordinate numerous communications for students and their families over the course of time leading up to our On-Campus Audition Weekends and our callbacks in Chicago and Los Angeles. I am the responsible faculty member from the Acting Area responsible for executing our two On-campus Audition Weekends. During these two weekends we host in excess of 350 to 400 prospective Acting and Musical Theatre students and their families. I help to organize and assign students to man numerous events: Campus tours led by BFA Acting students for all candidates and their families. I coordinate warm-up groups, audition blocks and ensemble auditions. I coordinate separate interviews for students in whom we have interest and need further contact. I coordinate and facilitate two Master Classes taught BFA Acting Faculty for all students and their families. I coordinate and facilitate the Program Overview, led by current BFA students who speak during our 1.5 hour program overview with parents and prospective students. I coordinate and facilitate the deliberation meetings with Acting Area Faculty following each On-Campus Audition Weekend to sort and compose offers for a potential Freshmen class. I extend offers to potential students and track progress of the composition of the class (February-May1) I work extensively with Admissions during the recruitment season to identify high achieving students and to identify out-of-state high achieving student who will add to our BFA Acting Company, bring high academic standards and qualify for in-state tuition. HEAD OF ACTING (cont.) Senior Headshots for 2016 Showcase: schedule and facilitate two full days of Headshots for senior class, August 17-18, 6:00am- 6:00pm BFA Acting Welcome To The Family Event, schedule and execute welcome event for incoming freshmen and returning BFA Acting population. Organize individual meetings with each class for updates and important reminders. Organize and facilitate second part of event during which entire BFA population then attends welcome event for freshmen including performance of their audition pieces, August 21, 2pm-7: 30pm Library Orientation presentation with Lorin Flores. Organized and facilitated presentation by Lorin Flores- Department of Theatre and Dance library liaison. September 4, 2:00-3:45pm Bob Krakower acting for TV/Film Masterclass. Negotiated, organized, facilitated and hosted guest Bob Krakower who teaches a master class in Acting for Film and Television for Acting Area and MT students. Oct 23, 24, 11am-7pm I work with The Dean and The Office of Development to honor Donors at various events. I schedule and facilitate all Acting Area meetings. I am responsible for administration of all Acting Area Business. I serve as primary liaison to Acting Area parents and work in concert with parental volunteers to provide helpful information and public relations for The Acting Area. I schedule the BFA Acting Area Block of actors for both the Fall and Spring General Auditions and provide feedback in private meetings to every actor in the BFA Acting Area. I provide individual meetings and feedback for every student in the BFA Acting area following their participation in a production by the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas State and The New Work Festival. I provide individual feedback for every BFA Acting student in the D2 festival, Graduate Directing Student projects, collaborations and performances associated with classes and special events (such as The Common Experience) as my teaching schedule and advising schedule allows. I am responsible for website monitoring and updates for the Acting Area and tracking and with Sara Mitschke, I track and order promotional materials for the Acting Area. I provided all BFA acting area students with feedback in private meetings after attending all callbacks for Tartuffe, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Lyon’s Den. Senior Evaluations Organize, schedule and facilitate annual evaluations of BFA Freshmen Acting Area students. All Acting Area faculty participate, providing notes on individual classes as well as general notes and feedback on the students work in productions and showcases. This serves as their final formal evaluation before they graduate. Dec. 4th, 2-6:00pm Freshmen Evaluations. Organize, schedule and facilitate annual evaluations of BFA Freshmen Acting Area students. All Acting Area faculty participate, providing notes on individual classes as well as general notes and feedback on the students work in productions and showcases. These evaluations become an important element in analyzing each student’s four-year progress and are part of the students Acting Area file. April 17, 2:00-6:00pm Sophomore Evaluations. Organize, schedule and facilitate annual evaluations of BFA sophomore Acting Area students. All Acting Area faculty participate, providing notes on sophomores from the faculty members individual classes as well as general notes and feedback on the students work in productions and showcases. These evaluations become an important element in analyzing each student’s four-year progress and are part of the students Acting Area file. Friday May 1, 1:30-6pm Junior Evaluations. Organize and schedule annual evaluations of BFA Junior Acting Area students. All Acting Area faculty participate, providing notes on Junior from the faculty members individual classes as well as general notes and feedback on the students work in productions and showcases. These evaluations become an important element in analyzing each student’s four-year progress and are part of the students Acting Area file. Friday May 8, 1:45-6pm COMMITTEES I serve on the Area Heads Committee. I serve on the Personnel Committee I served on The Search Committee for The New position in Voice and Speech I serve on The Season Selection Committee ACTORS LAB (above load) I participate with Acting Faculty in weekly Actor’s Lab study. This is an above load lab held on as many Fridays as scheduling allows in which the entire Acting Area Company gather for scene study and workshops. 2:30-5:30 Friday afternoons. ACTING AREA ADVISOR FOR MFA GRAD PRODUCTIONS I worked as Acting Area Advisor on The graduate student production of Tartuffe. This requires attending auditions and callbacks, offering the student director any solicited help and attending numerous rehearsals over the course of the production. OREGON SHAKESPEARE INTENSIVE I organize and lead a national travel study, The Oregon Shakespeare Intensive every summer. This class is offered through Extension Studies. It serves to add to the profile of the BFA Acting program and allows our students who participate access to the artists, designers and Artistic Director of the biggest Repertory Theatre in America.
August 2014-Present
Member
Area Heads Committee
August 2014-Present