Artist Spotlight Series: Lauren Iverson
We are excited to launch our "Spotlight on Rising Talent" series, a unique initiative aimed at celebrating the remarkable artists at Are We Delicious?. Over the next several days, we invite you to join us as we illuminate the extraordinary individuals who bring their talent, dedication, and passion to our stage. #ArtistryUnveiled
Lauren Iverson
ACTOR/WRITER
Lauren is a recent graduate from UW-Madison with a degree in Theatre and Creative Writing. You may recognize her from University Theatre’s Macbeth, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Bonnets, as well as Broom Street Theatre’s production of The Abortionist. When not on stage she spends her time writing plays and reading and hopes to do more professional acting, writing, and directing. She would like to thank her partner, her family, and everyone else who has supported her in her artistic endeavors.
What’s your journey been like as an artist?
Since I was a child I have always been a performer. In high school I thought for sure that I would pursue clarinet performance as my degree but I found that it didn’t fulfill me as much as theatre did. I enjoyed the team that is built in the collaboration process. Now, I am a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Theatre, and Creative Writing. I act, write plays, and am trying to dip my toe into directing. At the very core of it, I love to tell stories, and in turn, elicit an emotional reaction.
Ghosts come in many forms and from various cultural backgrounds. Do you think you will incorporate your culture into your portrayal of different ghostly entities?
I don’t feel a particular pull toward any specific cultural depiction of ghosts as a white American.
Are there artists who have had a significant impact on your creative journey?
I have been especially inspired by Ira Glass’s idea of “the gap.” It basically refers to the gap between an artist's tastes, and their ability. Glass expresses the importance of creating as often as possible, even if the product is sub-par, because through the process of creating poor products, the artist is hopefully able to look back at what went wrong, and create better products in the future. Consequently, the gap is shortened.
Are there any specific historical events or haunted locations that have served as inspiration for your piece?
I have been especially inspired by the abundance of youtubers who have turned to ghost hunting. I think it can sometimes come off as a bit disrespectful, but sometimes, I do find the videos interesting. I also found the history of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel to be interesting. This hotel is credited to be the birthplace of the Oscar and even held multiple Oscar ceremonies in the early 20th century. It is also the last known location of Elizabeth Short, AKA the Black Dahlia. The Biltmore has so many other interesting stories, which is why I think it would be a great location for a short play.
What are your thoughts on having only two weeks to write, rehearse, and perform an entire show?
I think there is something about the constraints that makes creating significantly easier. If I’m given a lot of time, I will find myself often saying that I will work on it another time in the future. With the time constraint comes motivation, and with that motivation, will hopefully be the creation of some great stories!
