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The delicately spun role of Laura in Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" is one most actresses have on their bucket lists.
Tennessee-born Lauren Noll has played the role once in high school, turned it down once, and is currently in rehearsal to play Laura again at Salt Lake City's Grand Theatre.
Local audiences might remember Noll from her portrayal of the lovelorn Crissy in last June's Egyptian Theatre production of "Hair," thanks to her show-stopping number "Frank Mills."
Noll began singing early, developing an interest in theater in her junior year. She attended musical theater workshops at Brigham Young University while in high school and graduated from the school's BFA acting program in 2008.
Then she was an acting intern at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for the 2008-09 season. "I did a whole lot of understudying and networking with a little bit of scene shifting and workshopping with directors thrown into the mix."
Since she moved back to Utah, she's been working to network in the Salt Lake theater community. "There's so much more going on here than I knew," she said.
"I love that when I act, I can completely leave everything else behind," Noll said. "I love starting a process with a skeleton and ending up with a living, breathing creation in which I could endlessly discover new little details, and I would if the show never had to close."
Roles on her stage bucket list include Lady Macbeth, Nina in "The Seagull" and the Beggar Woman in "Sweeney Todd." She also looks forward to originating roles. "I'm very interested in being part of the new play development process, so a dream role of mine may not be written yet."
Lauren Noll, 25, will be performing in Grand Theatre's "The Glass Menagerie," Jan. 19-Feb. 5. —
Grand Theatre's "The Glass Menagerie"
When • Jan. 19 to Feb 5
Where • The Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $8-$24, http://www.the-grant.org or 801-957-3322