Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Alumna Makes Boston Theater Accessible
Lauren Elias, Hamden Hall Class of 2006, is walking the walk when it comes to her commitment to making theater accessible to everyone. Lauren is founder of the Hub Theatre Company of Boston—the only theatre company in Boston that is all pay-what-you-can, every seat, every show, every time!
“One day over lunch four years ago, I was lamenting to my friend John about the fact that theatre in Boston was not readily accessible to everyone,” Lauren recalled. “In other words, Boston lacked a theatre company with a true Pay-What-You-Can ticketing policy for every performance. At that moment a light bulb went off—instead of complaining about it, I decided to do something about it! John and I got to work and the rest, as they say, is history!"
The Hub Theatre Company of Boston was incorporated in November 2012, and it received a non-profit status in early 2013.
The Hub Theatre Company of Boston was incorporated in November 2012, and it received a non-profit status in early 2013.
About to complete its fourth season, Lauren is proud that the Hub selects a charitable organization as a partner for each production. The result has been the delivery of toiletries, children's books, and clothing to various charitable organizations throughout Boston.
Beyond founding the Hub, Lauren also serves the theatre as managing director and actor. Currently, Lauren is a cast member of WIT that tells the story of Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a professor of 17th-century English poetry and an expert in the fiendishly difficult poetry of John Donne. Demanding of herself and others, Dr. Bearing allowed herself little time to cultivate a life outside of her all-consuming quest for knowledge. But when she’s diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she’s forced to confront her own mortality with a profundity and humor that transforms her and all who witness her remarkable journey. Lauren plays Susie Monahan, Vivian's nurse who not only cares for Vivian's body, but her heart and soul as well.
Lauren is no stranger to the stage or theatre management. A 2010 honors graduate of Brandeis University with a B.A. in theatre arts, Lauren has been a Boston-based actor, director, and producer ever since. Her Boston-area credits include Hub Theatre's The Love of the Nightingale, Laughing Wild, 6 Hotels (New England premiere), Love, Loss and What I Wore, and Lebensraum; Body and Sold (staged reading) with Central Square Theatre (Dora); Happy Medium's Romeo and Juliet, director Paula Plum, (Juliet-Best Actress Broadway World Boston); Heart and Dagger's Polaroid Stories (Ensemble-IRNE Award nominee for Best Ensemble); SpeakEasy Stage's workshop production of The Blue Room (The Married Woman); Amazing Things' The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Lin-EMACT DASH award nominee) and this winter, Lauren will be taking the stage with The Gold Dust Orphans' Murder on the Polar Express.
Looking back at Hamden Hall, Lauren reflected, “I did not have a lot of time to do much theatre at Hamden Hall as I was very involved with Act Two Theatre as well as a local summer Shakespeare company where I earned my first Equity points. That being said, I do have very fond recollections of Dr. Louis Negri, my music director at Hamden Hall. He was a fantastic mentor, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to work with him before I graduated from Hamden Hall."
As for Lou, he remembers the sparkle that Lauren brought to Hamden Hall.
“In fact, I nicknamed her Sparkle,” Lou quipped, adding that although Lauren was diminutive in stature (petite!), she was not diminutive of heart.
“I am not surprised at Lauren’s success and I’m so happy for her,” Lou said. “She has a genuine heart, is very talented, and has a beautiful soul.”
To get tickets to WIT (Nov. 4 – 19), visit https://hubtheatreboston.ticketleap.com/wit/
Lauren notes that tickets are still pay-what-you-can, even when purchased online.
Hamden Hall Country Day School
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
About Us
Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
