Laura McClain
Actor/Singer
About Laura
Laura is a Chicago-based actor, singer and "mover" who hails from the far northern Chicago suburbs.
Laura first fell in love with performing when her mom made the fatal error of enrolling her in a Park District acting class for kids at about age seven. Notable roles followed, including "Teacher" in the fourth grade musical "Cool in School" where she shoved her co-star for not knowing his lines (it's all on tape) and "Urchin Pickpocket Boy (#3)" in Oliver! in the seventh grade.
After high school, where she had the distinction of having an awkward stage kiss in almost every single show (typecasting!), she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating with distinction with degrees in English literature and theater performance, she moved back to Chicago and stepped into the exciting world of storefront theater.
Laura has performed with some of the best storefront theater, and is super-grateful to do so. She was profiled by Chris Jones, chief critic for the Chicago Tribune in 2008 in his annual "Hot New Faces of the Chicago Stage" feature, alongside five other Chicago actors, and got another shout-out in the 2015 feature. She has been nominated for three Joseph Jefferson Awards: for Leading Actress in a Musical for The Christmas Schooner; Leading Actress in a Play for Pride and Prejudice; and Supporting Actress in a Musical for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She was also part of the nominated ensemble for Titanic. She hopes that one day she can say she lost in all five acting categories!
When not spending time in Chicago's storefronts, Laura enjoys watching Mad Men obsessively, reading true crime books, using her friends' kids as an excuse to see children's theater, correcting grammar, walking as much as humanly possible, recapping the late, lamented TV show Smash, eating baked goods, exercising (j/k) and writing.
Thanks for visiting!