Spotlight Artist: Laura Stephenson

Laura Stephenson

Actor in the Alcyone Festival 2012, Artist-in-Residence 2013, Company member/Co- Company Manager 2014

Favorite Halcyon shows:
There's many that I've loved, but I have to say A Lover's Dismantling because that's when I met you guys :)

Worst/most embarrassing stage moment:
Any time I drop a line and it's obvious! Ugh. That's the worst. Or if I am supposed to be legitimately sexy... I'm about as seductive as a house plant.

Favorite Theatre Artist and why:
I never have favorites really, there's too much talent out there. But-- You know who makes me mad because he is so stupid talented? Fin Coe. That guy can write, act, sing- plus he is hilarious and just an awesome person to know.

Complete the sentence I create theatre because...
I'm not good at anything else. Kidding! Theatre is the one thing that someone from every part of the world can understand. Humans have always been story tellers, and I love being part of something that connects all of us.

What is one of your favorite neighborhoods in Chicago and why:
Lincoln Square! There's so much to do, but it feels less urban-- there's still trees and squirrels and bunnies, which makes it feel like home.

What's the strangest thing you've been asked to do onstage?
In a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream--I was cast as Titania (already strange, right?) and she was meant to be this Britney Spears-esque pop star, so I had to perform the whole show in booty shorts and a golden bra. You're welcome, audience.

What does "making it big" mean to you? How do you judge success in a show?
A h, Success...you fickle, weird thing. To be perfectly candid, I judge the success of a show by an audiences reaction or response-- whether positive or negative. Because it's about them. And if they leave feeling indifferent, then we have missed an opportunity.

How do you overcome rejection?
If someone figures out the secret to this, let me know! No, honestly, this business is so subjective-- and a lot of times, you have to fit what someone already had in mind or convince them that what they had in mind was wrong. Rejection usually hurts most when I know I didn't do my best at the audition/callback/ whatever.