Exclusive Interview with Lauren Frost Part 1: Adolescent Musical Prodigy, Divorce: The Musical, and Even Stevens
To view each part of the interview, click on the following links: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Me: Explain a little of your musical upbringing, your parents' specific involvement in the music industry, what that childhood introduced you to, and how it has seeped into your current music.
Lauren: I was born in Chicago. And, as you know, Chicago is a huge music town, specifically for jazz and blues. And my dad [see left, Mike Frost], is a trumpet player. I grew up seeing his life as a musician and gigs, traveling, and all that jazz (laughs). He really inspired me. From a young age I always wanted to sing.
He, along with my mom, were extremely supportive for me taking voice lessons and theater, supporting me any way that they could. But I'd definitely say I was influenced by the music he listened to. My dad listened to a lot of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Ted Baker. And my uncle is also a sax player. They play together in a jazz troupe called the Mike Frost Project. And they are getting a name for themselves. They got a couple records out. They're playing around town.
I mostly grew up listening to horn players, because of them. And I think that's what, other than me singing and not being able to shut up, really inspired me to sing because of their melodies. That's the kind of the upbringing I had. From jazz and blues came, as I got older and into my teens, indie rock bands and more sort of the trendy thing, I guess. I was getting into independent artists. I think I've progressed over time. It's definitely in my blood. Now I enjoy it all. I enjoy all kinds of music.
Me: The Barbra Streisand concert was massive. Were you able to grasp the gravity of the project at that age?
Lauren: You know, I've been asked that before and I never know how to respond because I think in a way, I couldn't really grasp it at all at that age. I was fourteen and, you know, you're a kid then. But I knew the people I was working with. I knew Barbra Streisand, I loved Barbra Streisand (laughs).
My mom, talking about music, my mom was a huge Streisand fan. So I knew who she was. One of my favorite movies is Funny Girl. I grew up watching musical movies so she was definitely an idol of mine from a very young age. So I had the idea that this is something big and my parents were all excited. But when you're a kid and you're on stage in front of 30,000 people, it was very daunting. I think, looking back now, I understand the magnitude and the opportunity but I definitely knew it was something big and I was super excited. But I don't think it's possible to grasp that at that age.
Me: I heard you were in a movie called Divorce: The Musical around this time, but I've never been able to find much about it...
Lauren: Thank God! No, I'm kidding (laughs). I was lucky enough [to go] on my very first trip to LA [in] the summer of '99. And that was only because I had asked my parents. I was watching TV one day and I'm like, "Wait a minute, those kids are my age." And for some reason I had it in my head that, you know, your life passes, you go to high school, you go to college, you graduate, then you become an adult, and then you become an actress.
And so it just hit me one day that, "Hey, those kids are my age." Maybe I should try out for TV, because at the time I had only been doing live theater in Chicago. So we went out to LA and one of my first auditions and my first job was Divorce: The Musical. And it was directed by Steven Dworman, who is a lovely man.
It was actually an extremely educational process for me because it was literally the first thing I had even been on camera for. But it was also equally embarrassing, because, you know, I was super awkward in a super awkward phase (laughs). And I think in one of the scenes, I had to either kiss a boy or have a crush on a boy so I was very nervous. It was definitely a great learning experience.
Me: You don't have a copy of that, do you?
Lauren: Oh God (laughs), I could probably dig it out. I don't know where it is.
Me: What was working on "Even Stevens" like?
Lauren: Even Stevens was great. I was so excited to get that job. It was a great opportunity for me. Once again, a really brilliant learning experience. I was on set usually every day. I was originally cast just as a guest star. The rumor was that they had gone through several best friends for Ren before I had auditioned and worked. So they were used to only having people on set for a week and in one episode. But Christy Carlson Romano and I had great chemistry. We got along really well. And it turned into a regular slot for me. I met great people, made great friends. Margo Harshman is one of my best and dearest friends. So that was a blast. It was fun. It was awesome.
