Lauren Ward is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End musicals and plays. Ward originated the role of Miss Honey in the original Stratford-Upon-Avon, West End, and Broadway productions of the musical Matilda, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.
Early life and education Ward grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts."Questions and Answers" thewriteteachers.com, March 1, 2013"Cara Joy David/Lauren Ward 'Matilda' Interview" HuffPost, April 23, 2013
Career
Broadway Ward made her Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of Carousel as Jenny Sanborn and Heavenly Friend, understudying the role of Julie Jordan. " 'Carousel' at Vivian Beaumont Theater" playbillvault.com. Retrieved May 12, 2013 She appeared in the musical 1776 in 1997 as Martha Jefferson.Haun, Harry and Lefkowitz, David. Playbill, August 21, 1997 She appeared in the 2001 revival of Follies as Young Sally," 'Follies' 2001 Broadway Revival" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved May 12, 2013 where she met her future husband, director Matthew Warchus."Matthew Warchus. Doctor of Letters" University of Bristol, February 16, 2010
In 2010, Ward originated the role of Miss Honey in the new musical Matilda, based on the book Matilda by Roald Dahl in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production at Stratford-upon-Avon.Shenton, Mark. " 'Matilda — The Musical' Opens Officially at West End's Cambridge Theatre Nov. 24" Playbill, November 24, 2011 Ward then played this role in the West End starting in October 2011 and on Broadway in 2013. For this role, Ward was nominated for the 2013 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Off-Broadway theatre In 1995 she played the dual roles of Jennie/Daisy in the musical Jack's Holiday. In 1997 Ward originated the role of Violet Karl in the musical Violet, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical."Drama Desk Picks Performers, Presenters & Venue, May 18" Playbill, May 13, 1997 In 1999 she played Arlene Murphy in the musical Exactly Like You.Simonson, Robert. Playbill, March 10, 1999 In 2000, Ward played the role of Helen in Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at the Second Stage Theatre."'Saturday Night. 2000 Second Stage Production" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved May 12, 2013 In 2001 she appeared in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of the musical Time and Again as Emily.Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review, 'Time and Again' " curtainup.com, February 11, 2001 In 2003 Ward played Julie in the City Center Encores production of The New Moon.
London Ward has performed in several London venues: in the West End, with the Royal Shakespeare Company and elsewhere. Some of these productions include: The Vagina Monologues (The Arts Theatre); Pericles, A Winters Tale (with the RSC); Batboy, Heathers (Royal Haymarket)’’; Caroline or Change (Chichester, Hampstead Theatre, West End);The Sound of Music as the Baroness (London Palladium, 2006);Loveridge, Lizzie. "A CurtainUp London Review. 'The Sound of Music' " curtainup.com, November 16, 2006The Philadelphia Story at The Old Vic as Elizabeth Imbrie (2005);Billington, Michael. "Theatre. 'The Philadelphia Story'" The Guardian, May 11, 2005A Midsummer Night's Dream, Camelot the Musical at Regents Park; and, with the Lost Musicals series, Du Barry Was a Lady (2001)Paddock, Terri. "Lost Musicals Unearths Cole Porter's 'Dubarry' " whatsonstage.com, October 25, 2001 and Johnny Johnson."Lauren Ward Biography" Official Site. Retrieved May 12, 2013 and most recently created the role of Virginia Creel in Stranger Things, the First Shadow. In 2019 she created Cynthia in the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen at the Noël Coward Theatre, for which she received an Olivier Nomination.
Film and television Ward appeared in several episodes of the 2005 series Broken News. She has appeared in an episode of Torchwood and Law and Order SVU, The Last Days of Lehman Brothers (BBC), Touch of Frost (ITV), Kiss Me First (Channel 4), She also appeared in Story of a Bad Boy (the debut film by Tom Donaghy and produced by Jean Doumanian), Series 7: The Contenders, the 1997 film In & Out as a student.
Personal life Ward is married to British stage director Matthew Warchus, with whom she has three children.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1997In & OutStudent1999Story of a Bad BoyLudmilla2000Joe Gould's SecretAnne2001Series 7: The ContendersDoria Look-alike II
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2003Law & Order: Special Victims UnitErin RussEpisode: "Futility"2005Broken NewsAlicia5 episodes2008TorchwoodJack's MotherEpisode: "Adam"2008A Touch of FrostMiriam WalkerEpisode: "In the Public Interest"2009The Last Days of Lehman BrothersSamanthaTelevision film2018Kiss Me FirstMrs. KlasnaEpisode: "Friends Let Us Down"
References
External links