Lauren Redmond '01, Upper School Acting Teacher and Director of Performances
"As an alum, ESD is home to me. I enjoy that our traditions remain intact and that new generations can experience and take pride in them every year as well."
What motivated and inspired you to teach?
I’ve worked professionally in the arts all of my adult life, in opera, ballet, and regional theaters across the country. While I was good at it and enjoyed it, it was when I was working with my apprentices and interns that I really knew I enjoyed teaching and wanted to make the switch in careers. I wanted to be able to teach students everything I had learned and get them as interested in the arts as I was.
What makes you excited to come to school every day?
As an alum, I enjoy coming to the place where I went to school and have such fond memories. Granted, there are a lot more buildings than when I was a student, but the campus still feels the same to me. It’s my home away from home.
What life lesson do you want your students to learn in your classroom?
Not everything has to be perfect and I’m not looking for perfection when I work with students. I expect you to be putting forth your best effort every time. I’m looking for you to succeed to the best of your abilities. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to push you further than you think you can go. That’s how you grow as a person and an artist.
Tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself!
I run road races and play softball. I’ve completed over 50 races (3 marathons, over 25 half marathons and numerous 5K and 10K). I’ve also been a part of a few coed-softball teams where we have won 5 league championships and 2 tournament championships.
If you could have dinner with three people, alive or not, who would they be?
I would love to have dinner with Lauren Bacall and Katharine Hepburn. My parents named me after them so it’s fitting I went into the arts. I think they were amazing actresses and I would love to hear their stories directly from them. I would also love to have dinner with Julia Child. That woman loved to eat and cook, and so do I!