By most measures, Lauren Boyd has arrived. She is in this century’s most seminal piece of theater, dancing in the ensemble and as an understudy for Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds in Hamilton: An American Musical. After a lifetime honing her craft and years on the road with the national tours of West Side Story and Wicked, Boyd made her dreams come true. She has landed on Broadway and in the biggest hit in recent memory.
This achievement, the dream of many a starry-eyed young thespian, has not come without its share of challenges. Boyd openly shared about grappling with self-doubt, the sustaining power of faith, and the elevating joy of teaching seniors to tap.
When did you start dancing?
I was a very shy kid growing up so dance was a way for me to express myself. If I was emotional I could just dance through it. I wanted to be the classic ballerina with the pointe shoes, tights and leotard and come to New York City to be a dancer with American Ballet Theater School. At 18 years old I slowly transitioned into musical theater because I was told, “You can sing”. I said, “Oh, okay, I didn’t know”. I was also realizing that ballet was not going to be for me because I didn’t have the right body type, the right look, and I didn’t want to be standing at a ballet barre the rest of my life. So I went back home to audition in L.A. for musical theater jobs. I didn’t go to college for this and just started hustling and working hard.
In costume for Hamilton (Photo: Boyd’s social media)
Did your parents support you in taking this path as opposed to pursuing a traditional education?
My dad is a systems engineer/aerospace engineer, so he’s very left-brained. He suggested I go to college and I tried, but I also needed to work to pay for it and that just wasn’t my path. They were okay with that, they knew that everybody’s path is different.
What has helped you to cope with the high and lows of show business?
I have a really strong foundation of family and faith. I still struggle sometimes with my self-confidence. I’m supposed to be on this high platform. I struggle with trying to be the best me and it’s a hard position to be in right now because my self-worth isn’t the best it can be. I’m trying to work as hard as I’ve ever worked in my life to work up to the same level as my peers. I want to know in my soul that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. My parents remind me that I wouldn’t have been picked and put in this position if I wasn’t supposed to be here.
I want to be open about my self-doubt because there’s somebody out there who’s struggling with the same thing and if I’m not open about it, someone’s going to think that they are alone. I certainly thought I was alone.
Boyd and Anthony Lee Medina during an EduHam student talkback
What do you do for self-care to maintain the eight shows a week vigorous schedule?
I just try to rest as much as I can and really just take my days off and take them well. So whether that’s sleeping eight hours a day, eating healthy and getting massages every once in while, thanking God, really feeding into myself so that I am able to give to others.
Do you think of what you do on stage as a type of service?
Yes. We pray before each show. Chris Jackson had started that tradition, which is lovely because it’s something that I do anyways. The fact that I get to do it with my cast members makes it even more special just to know that we’re all in this together. We will say in the prayer that we’re here to be in service of the people who are watching tonight. God put us in this place in this moment to have a wonderful time on that stage and that’s exactly what we can do. We invite God’s presence into the theater, which allows him into our artistry. God gave us this talent so that we can give it and share it with others.
Is dance still therapeutic for you?
It has definitely changed for me, I think because it’s turned more now into a job. I’ve had to find moments where I can just kind of step away and take a class or dance in my room and just move the way I want to move. When you’re doing the same thing eight times a week it can be hard for an artist to find moments to express their artistry. You want to do that in the confines that best represents and best tells the story. So now for dancing to be therapeutic for me, it has to be a little bit selfish. It has to be when I’m at home by myself, turn the lights off and then just feel it.
I know that volunteering is really important to you. What impact has it had on your mood and emotional well-being?
I first started volunteering with seniors and dance when I was in California after finishing the first national tour of Wicked. I took an entire year off before I knew it was going to be moving here [New York City]. Broadway was the goal and so it was just a year of reflection, a time to be grounded, a time to spend with family, reflect and just build this firm foundation before coming here because I knew as soon as I got here I was going to hit the ground running.
Boyd with a couple of her Broadway Babes students (Photo: Bdway Babes social media)
There’s a senior center that’s behind my house in California and my family would always have me just go behind my house there to volunteer. Serving in the community with those seniors was initially about giving. But once you pour out to people, they pour into you. I realized how much I needed it. I turned that into Broadway Babes, which is teaching tap dance to the seniors. And they love it. They learn the routine and then at the end of the year they have a recital. My friend, Cassie, just started in this location in Woodland Hills, as well as the original location in San Demas.
What is like to work with the seniors?
They’ve got so much personality and it’s so funny too, because the way I’ve seen their hearts change from the very first class to now. They get into a routine that they don’t want anybody to interrupt. So when this new person comes along bringing this new music in, they’re not sure about. But then they kind of liked the music and it’s amazing to see the transition.
How can people can support the work that you’re doing with Broadway Babes?
If you have tap shoes that you’re not using, you can send them to the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the Hamilton Senior Center, or The Commons in Woodland Hills. If you have any money donations, you’re more than welcome to send that. And then also you can just support by following us on Instagram @bway.babes.
To send your gently used tap shoes or donations to Broadway Babes, mail them to:
