She's getting some good reviews for The Last 5 Years so far! I've only seen a few but Mark Shenton at The Stage seemed very impressed by the whole thing and even the less positive reviewers seem to have reserved praise for Lauren at the moment (one I read didn't really like the show, didn't like the production, thought the performer playing Jamie was only ok but still praised Lauren's singing, despite thinking her too young for the part, which is pretty good going I feel!).

I'm going to see it on Thursday!

Hope you get to see her! I went yesterday and Lauren wasn't on - she wasn't well after her holiday. However Jamie Lee Pike was excellent, not as vocally powerful as I expect Lauren would be but a very likeable and intelligently acted Cathy. I thought the screens at the back of the stage were a bit unnecessary, but overall I enjoyed it enough to go back again when Lauren's on. It' a great little theatre btw (if you're in the front row your feet share the tiny stage with the actors).

Aw, that's a shame she was off yesterday, doctor. She was on today and you wouldn't know she'd been ill at all! We did get an understudy Jamie (I can't remember his name but spotted a poster on the way in saying somebody or or was performing "tonight"), who was fine but probably a bit nervous.

I have to say, Lauren was excellent tonight. Her singing was flawless as expected but I think she's a bit like Rachel Tucker from IDA in that OTR did her a real disservice where judging her acting was concerned. I'll be honest here, when I heard the score I knew that Lauren would be able to sing it brilliantly but I wasn't sure if she wasn't maybe a couple of years too young for the part considering the journey the character has to go through. I went with a friend tonight who is very into theatre and had similarly loved Lauren's voice on OTR but had at the time been slightly unsure of her as an actress. Tonight showed us both her range as a theatre actress and I really hope people go to see this who can give Lauren more parts in the future because it's an excellent showcase for her. She starts off with a couple of very emotional songs (I started tearing up slightly in the second ), has a few comic numbers in the middle and a couple of generally happy ones as well, and she pulled them all off with aplomb. I hadn't known that she could be so funny! The show is essentially a song cycle and you could tell at the beginning that people weren't quite sure whether or not to clap at the end of each song but as it moved pretty quickly no one did, except for Lauren's real comic song somewhere towards the middle of the show when everyone burst into applause at the end. She was broken, moving, strong, funny and charming by turns and while the guy playing Jamie was fine, he was outclassed by her for most of the show (though as he was the understudy, maybe he just wasn't as confident with the material). I was thoroughly impressed and if you're thinking at all of going to see it at some point before March 5th, I would highly recommend it.

http://www.whatsonstage.com/intervie...n+Samuels.html

video interview

I went back on Wednesday and saw Lauren this time , along with Michael Batten the understudy Jamie. I was impressed with her acting too; there were a couple of places where she could have easily over-acted or powered up the song too much, but she kept it low-key and natural, as well as getting into all the different emotions involved. She certainly won my sympathy for Cathy - and while Michael Batten was good, Lauren's singing stood out (and if I had any criticism it's maybe that the difference in their styles - he came over as maybe more actor than singer - separated what was happening on each side of the stage more than I'd noticed previously).

The first time I saw it there were more gaps between some of the songs, and more clapping; this time I think we only clapped once midway through, for Lauren's audition song.

I hadn't realised how petite Lauren is; it's that powerful voice I think!

Last show tomorrow. Anyone seen any news on what she is doing next?

There is the mambo mafia. Also the munchkins and the Fearon fanatics.

Question. Is there an existing fan club for Lauren?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkrP...eature=related

Lauren in The Last Five Years

and some more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzXup...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l02sb...eature=related

I've heard she's been auditioning for some exciting parts!

Love these, thanks for posting them. Lauren has a breathtaking voice!

is Lauren still in grease? I'm going to see it in west end on saturday and saw that she was in it last year, is she still in it?

no she left a while ago, she did another show (The Last Five Years)for a few months but that has finished now, not sure what her next show is going to be

damn was looking forward to seeing her oh well I'm sure it will still be great

http://www.showoffpianobar.com/news/...uests-on-6-may

Lauren is due to be singing at this on 6 May and presumably on the album when its out?

Sarah Lark is introducing it or so I read.

Hey guys I hope you are all well! I know this is nothing to do with Lauren but I'm doing my Race for Life two weeks today & would absolutely appreciate some sponsorship all in aid of Cancer Research so...

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/suzannefairman/

Muchos Gracias x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6BL5VcPEtY

Lauren - Blue Sky Thinking - by Chris Passey for his new album

Lauren in Grease singing "Hopelessly Devoted" uploaded by babyfragon last december

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld6MS...eature=related

Lauren is performing at the Cafe Koha (off the Charing Cross Road) on July 15 with Sarah Lark from IDA and Dani Rayner from OTR. They are singing songs from Tim Prottley-Jones's album and CD

http://www.showoffpianobar.com/

Haven't been on this in ages! still a huge lauren fan (especially since seeing her in grease!!) and just wondering if anyone has any news on what she's doing at the moment/what she has lined up?! thanks!

Whoop good news coming our way....

definatly is if what i have just read on twitter is true, will have to try and get down to london!

So its been officially announced now then? I wasn't sure before.

Is there an official announcement? The twitter/whatsonstage rumour mill all points in one direction. Can't see why else Sarah French (Scaramouche on maternity leave) and Sabrina Alouche (now back as Scaramouche) are congratulating her.

Mega news if true.

Wonder if they will notice that Jenny is free from the tour early next year and those two worked well together.

dont think officially, but lauren replied to their messages saying thankyou and shes excited etc shes not disputed their congratulations etc

I don't really follow the twitter/whatsonstage rumour mill regarding musical castings etc. I just had a text from someone.

Lauren's now posted on twitter that she is joining the London cast of We Will Rock You in the lead role as Scaramouche. Cast change I think is sometime around Oct 8 but she hasn't said when.The roles don't come much bigger.

If anyone wants to see her before then, by Helena's twitter, she is guesting with Helena Blackman at the pheasantry Chelsea on July 28. http://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/popList.aspx