Lauren Hartley
Class of 2020
Musical Theater • Jazz Choir • Drama
Millikin University
Musical Theatre
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For Lauren Hartley, San Marin Performing Arts transformed a love of theater into a calling. The community, mentorship, and opportunities she found at San Marin gave her the confidence to pursue a career on the stage—and continue chasing that dream in New York City.
After graduating from San Marin, Lauren attended Millikin University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre in 2024. Today, she lives in New York City, where she is building a career as a performer while continuing to audition for theater, cabarets, and new works.
Career HighlightsLauren currently performs nightly as a singing server in a Manhattan piano bar and speakeasy while working with her agency to audition for theater productions throughout New York City.
Over the past year, she has performed in new works and cabaret performances at some of New York's most celebrated venues, including 54 Below, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, and Green Room 42. She also had the opportunity to perform alongside Broadway performers she had admired for years during an Off-Broadway fundraising event this past spring.
Lauren considers herself fortunate that her life continues to revolve around the performing arts every day.
“Looking back on my time in high school, all of my fondest memories came from within this program, and I am forever grateful for the direction it took me in.”
Reflection & AdviceLooking back, Lauren credits San Marin Performing Arts and its faculty with helping shape both her career path and her sense of purpose.
"I give full credit to San Marin's Performing Arts program and faculty in guiding me to the life and career I lead today."
Although she performed throughout Marin and San Francisco growing up, Lauren says her most formative experiences came through the San Marin community.
"I felt so passionate about being part of something so special and having such wonderful faculty to serve as mentors as I slowly started taking theater as a career choice more seriously. I loved getting to bond with people who had the same interests as me and put on performances we could be proud of."
She also remembers opportunities to attend festivals and collaborate with other schools as experiences that built a lasting sense of community and artistic drive.
"Looking back on my time in high school, all of my fondest memories came from within this program, and I am forever grateful for the direction it took me in."
One of Lauren's favorite memories was playing Dolly in Hello, Dolly! during her junior year—a role that confirmed theater was the path she wanted to pursue.
"Getting to play Dolly in Hello, Dolly! my junior year solidified my decision to do theater for the rest of my life. Stepping into my first major lead role alongside people I'd worked with for years was truly a gift, and I feel so lucky that I had Kele, Kathy, and Ms. Gates to guide me along the way."
Lauren encourages current students to embrace the journey while remembering that a career in the arts comes with both incredible rewards and real challenges.
"The hardest part nobody warned me about was the adjustment of your passion becoming your job. It's okay to have days where you don't want to practice or perform—just like there are days you don't want to go to work—but you have to find the motivation in yourself because now nobody's forcing you to. Rejection is simply part of the profession, but if performing is truly your passion, it makes the journey worth it."
