She is one of Broadway's rising stars, and this week Lauren Kennedy caught up with Troy Dodds to discuss her special relationship with Jason Robert Brown, her thriving career and her future...


The Last Five YearsTD: Lauren, most people in the theatre industry here would know you for your work on Jason Robert Brown's material, given you starred in the premiere of The Last Five Years (which is quite well known here) and then released an album of his work. Has his material and work played a big role in your career?
LK: Absolutely! On so many levels! Where to start... Well, just the immediate response I had to his music was sort of a shift for me. I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of! Then getting cast in L5Y was amazing. I felt like I learned so much about myself as and actress and singer. And working with Jason and with Norbert as well just challenged me so much and like they say, "you are only as good as the people you work with"! And so, as you can imagine I was well taken care of in that sense! Then the hardest thing for me was to decide if I should go to London to do South Pacific at The National Theatre with Trevor Nunn instead of dong the show in NY. Well, it so many ways, I knew it was what I had to do, but at the same time, I knew Jason was a force and something spectacular was going to come of L5Y and I was not going to be a part of it. That was the choice I made. And I do feel like it was the right one. Then it hit me...I had been playing with the idea of doing a album for ages, but never knew what I wanted to do. And it was finally as clear as day! Jason music was exactly what I had been waiting for!


TD: The album is full of new, rockier versions of many of his songs. Was that something you had fun with?
LK: Oh yeah! I loved rediscovering the music in a new way. Plus, the studio is such a different medium than live performance. And we tried to cross the two worlds of theatre on popular as much as possible. But the main goal of the sessions were to just get amazing musicians together playing great material and just have fun! If I could sum up the whole experience with one word it would be "YIPEE!" We had such a blast and I think that is evident! Every now and then I will scroll to it on my ipod and those feeling come rushing back! I am still so proud of that album!!!!


SpamalotTD: You've most recently been appearing in Spalamot - tell us about the experience.
LK: Well, that was ridiculous fun! I have never been a part of something that got that kind of response! Well, maybe Les Miz because I was in the Broadway cast at the end of its run (before the revival) and everyone was rushing back to see it before it closed and people went crazy over it like it was a rock concert! But of course that was different than the infectious giddiness that we had on stage at Spamalot and that the audience was always game for! The cast at Spamalot was just the best group of people, from Simon Russell Beale, Hank Araria, David Hyde Pierce. The most over qualified ensemble you have ever seen, everyone in the building was funny! The hardest part for me was replacing the Tony Winner, Sara Ramirez. She created such an incredible role and the shoes were very big to fill! I found my way, but it was intimidating.


TD: You came to Australia a few years ago - what was it like?
LK: Yes, I actually came to Australia about four years ago to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival! I was part of a couple of shows. The Broadway Divas, and with Jason Robert Brown. We did a Songs For A New World concert then Jason and I performed a concert version of L5Y for five performances! It was so cool. That was my favourite version of the show!


TD: The words "made it" are often thrown about, and here in Australia it's quite a confusing term as the industry always seems to be on a tightrope. When do you finally sit down and say, "I've Made It", or is it something that never really happens?
LK: Well, you are asking the wrong person cause I certainly don't think I've made it! Well, actually, I take that back. There are different moments all the time when I felt like I have made it. Like my first Broadway show, or the release of my album, or getting a nice review...but "making it" is elusive. I think you could chase it forever and never be where you want to be. But that is what makes your life and your career...striving for it! These days when I make my daughter laugh, that is the biggest accomplishment!!!


TD: What has been the highlight of your career?
LK: I don't think I have had the highlight yet! I hope there are still more wonderful experiences ahead of me! But at the same time, I have loved the whole ride. There is very little I look back at and think, what a waste of time!


TD: A critic once said you were "glamour personified". The media obviously plays a big part in theatre in New York - critics can often be the deciding factor in a show's success - what type of relationships to actors and performers generally have with members of the press?
LK: Well, usually actors have no relationship with critics. Critics have to keep a certain distance so as to not become too involved, I imagine. I think critics are still very powerful, I think the internet is becoming more powerful too when it comes to word of mouth. It's weird to me that a few people can have such an impact on a show's life. But there are also so many times where the ground swell of audience response has superseded a negative review. Hopefully we will become less reliant on someone else's word about what is quality theatre and listen to our own gut response!!


TD: What's next for Lauren Kennedy?
LK: What is next for me???? Back to the drawing board, so to speak! I am auditioning!!! And I am getting ready to go into the studio and record my second album. So I will keep you posted on that!!!