Laura Freeman has been delighting audiences, around the
country and abroad, for over twenty years. Known for her wit and warmth,
Freeman finds the heart and soul in her material, whether it’s a song from
musical theater, the Great American Songbook, or a beloved jazz standard. As
background music for an evening of dining or providing the night’s main
attraction, Laura can work the room with her trademark charm.
Laura attended Indiana University at South Bend, studying
with Warren Pepperdine, Jeffrey Kope and Jo Pierce. During summer breaks, Laura
appeared at various theatres around Indiana including Wagon Wheel Playhouse,
Enchanted Hills Playhouse, and The Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres. Laura
grew up at these theatres, making important connections and increasing her
resume.
After graduation, she moved to New York City to make it big!
Laura used the city as a base, while continuing to perform in regional theaters
in Ohio, Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska and Arizona. She toured both nationally
and internationally, performing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Into the Woods, Hair, A Christmas Carol, Black Beauty, Godspell and numerous children’s theatre productions. In
fact, Laura earned her Actor’s Equity card from Theatreworks, a children’s theatre
touring company.
During the ‘90’s, Freeman was performing the role of
Genevieve in The Baker’s Wife, by Stephen Schwartz at the Round Barn which was
directed by Scott Schwartz, the composer’s son. Stephen Schwartz, who attended
the production, commented following Laura’s performance,” (Meadowlark) it’s a
seven minute song with a foregone conclusion. But she made me forget what that
conclusion was until right when she sang it.”
In 2000, Laura moved to Arizona to work as a teacher for the
Arizona School for the Arts. She loved giving back to what will be the next
generation of performers, as a teacher of Theatre History and Acting.
Returning to Chicago, Laura gracefully combines theatricality and musicality. Cabarets and music venues around the city have booked her repeatedly, including: the Gentry on State and Halsted, 3160, DAVENPORT’S, CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER, WATERWORKS STATION, PARK WEST, PETTERINO’S, THREE CAT MEDIA, UNDERGROUND WONDERBAR, CORNELIA’S, STOREFRONT THEATRE, CYRANO’S, WHITEHALL HOTEL, LAKESHORE THEATRE, DRURY LANE WATERTOWER, EAST BANK CLUB, MAXIM’S. Freeman has been delighted to collaborate with talented musical directors including; Beckie Menzie, Jeffrey Roscoe, George Howe, Bob Moreen, Bob Solone, Mark Burnell, Jim Cebastian and William Underwood. When not in the clubs, Laura fills her time with corporate events through EVENT ARCHITECTS at the PENINSULA HOTEL. 2010 highlight, appearing onstage with Patti LuPone in "Annie Get Your Gun" at Ravinia in Chicago, Illinois.
