Downers Grove Magazine | Cover Story
Do you emulate any particular singers?
LAUREN PATTEN AND COMPANY IN JAGGED LITTLE PILL Photo by Matthew Murphy
Continued from the previous page professional debut at 12 years old in A Christmas Carol at The Goodman.
When did you realize you wanted to do this for a living?
I played Anne Frank with The Rubicon Theater Company in LA early in my career. I was 14 years old. I would say that was when I realized that I wanted to make this my profession. I learned that I really cared about what I was doing and wanted to be good at it.
What is your favorite theater role you have played?
That’s always a hard question, because every time you’re doing something new, you kind of fall in love with the character you’re playing. I’ve really loved the roles I’ve had the opportunity to play on BroadwayLAUREN PATTEN AND REBECCA LUKER IN FUNHOUSE Photo by Joan Marcus
Medium Joan in Funhouse and Jo in Jagged Little Pill. Jo is probably the one closest to my heart and spirit, because I put so much of myself into it. I also helped to create that character from the start, as opposed to just stepping into something someone else had written. It was an honor. Actors aren’t usually a part of the creative process of character development.
Jagged Little Pill opened with a local cast in Australia late last year. Is it difficult to see someone else play a role you created?
I accept that it’s kind of part of the process of what happens in theater. The creator- partially me, in the case of Johas in mind what they expect from the character, but it’s a conscientious choice not to hold on to what you have created so tightly that there’s no room to ‘hand the character off’ to another actor. Another actor is a completely different person than me, so it’s a shared experience. It’s part of the magic of theater.
How does it feel to have won both a Tony and Grammy for that show?
That was not something I saw coming! (Lauren laughed). I never expected it. Growing up in theater, I definitely never saw that Grammy coming. I grew up watching the Tony Awards thinking ‘wow. What if that ever happened to me?’ But a Grammy? Even though I’m a singer, I never even saw that as accessible. For a long time, vocalists weren’t even considered for that award, but that criterion changed a few years ago. So, it was this lovely, wonderful surprise! 34
DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
Alanis, of course. But not just because of the show. Outside of that as well. I listened to a lot, and I mean A LOT of singers growing up that I think helped shape what is vocally possible for me. I really looked up to Judy Garland, Randy Carlisle, Regina Spektor and Bob Seger, among others. Both of my parents are big music lovers. I got a varied musical education just riding in the car with them when I was young. They listened to all sorts of music. I always sang along.
Tell us about your band.
We really don’t have a name (Lauren laughed). It’s kind of a joke among us, that we need a name. It’s myself and three guys who play in pits on Broadway: Mark Shmead, Damian Bassman and Eric Davis. I’m the singer. We perform all sorts of different kinds of music together. I play guitar, too, but I’m kind of shy about it.
What made you decide to try television?
Theater is a deep love, but I always wanted to try television and film as well. There are things you just can’t do on stage that you are able to do on film, and vice-versa.
You had a great run with Blue Bloods. How did you come by the role of Officer Rachel Witten?
I went on an audition for what was supposed to be a one-episode part. I filmed the episode, thanked them and left. Then I got a call back the following season. Apparently, it had bothered Tom Selleck that his character (Commissioner Frank Reagan), fired Officer Witten, (my character). He didn’t like the direction the storyline had taken. He felt Reagan would not have fired Witten, but rather would have given her another chance. So, because of Tom’s generosity, what was supposed to be a single episode turned into five seasons.
Your schedule must have been crazy- filming the show while also starring on Broadway?
Luckily, Blue Bloods didn’t often film the same days I was performing live, but a few times it did. The days I was needed
