Meet Lauren Meyer, Center Stage Program Alum
Meet Lauren Meyer, a 2021 alum of the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program. Lauren was a participant in the Center Stage Program from 2018 before graduating from St. Mary Catholic High School in 2021. In her senior year, Lauren was chosen as one of two nominees to represent the Center Stage Program at The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (the Jimmy Awards®) during their virtual showcase.
During her time as a program participant, Lauren appreciated the time and effort the Fox Cities P.A.C. put in to make the Center Stage Program come to life. “The program provides students with such an incredible opportunity to learn throughout their years in high school,” she shared. “In the grand scheme of high school, music and theater are often on the backburners, but being a part of the Center Stage Program showed me and many others that a love for the arts can (and should) be celebrated long after graduation.”
Through the Center Stage Program, participants receive feedback from adjudicators attending their high school musical productions. “This feedback is an incredibly valuable resource when it comes to honing your skills as a performer,” Lauren commented. “If students are lucky enough to receive individualized feedback, they’re able to see how their choices on stage were interpreted and if the intended read from that choice was understood.”
Building relationships with her peers through the Center Stage Program while sharing the love of theater was a highlight for Lauren. Her favorite memory goes back to Showcase. “I always loved going to the showcases in the spring with my friends,” Lauren commented. “Whether or not we were nominated for an award, it was always an enjoyable evening that made us feel like we were at our own mini version of the Tony Awards®. Performing in the showcases also gave me a chance to connect with students from other schools and perform with a new group of talented young people.”
Currently, Lauren is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at UW-Madison on the pre-medical track. In her free time, Lauren volunteers at UW-Health in the Gynecology/Urology/Plastics/ENT unit. She continues exploring her love of theater as the company manager at Wisconsin Singers, an ensemble that combines song, dance and theater technology while providing leadership opportunities for students of the university.
The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with support from corporate partner Fox Communities Credit Union. Additional partners in this program include Johnson Financial Group, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo & Jennifer Ninivaggi, Schneider Foundation, Skogen’s Festival Foods, WFRV and Wipfli. Programs like the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program are also supported in part by contributions to the Center’s Annual Partner Campaign.
Written by Philomena Dorobek, Brand Storyteller
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center