There’s nothing that says brawn more than the Ringling Circus which combines the realm of acrobatics, aerial, music, dance, comedy and daring performances that will have you on the edge of your seat! Buckle up Gwinnett because the circus is coming to Duluth at the Gas South Arena from February 21-23rd. What makes this even more exciting is that a Gwinnett native is one of the performers! I had the opportunity to sit down with Lauren Irving who has spent her entire career in the world of entertainment and is now performing with the Ringling Circus!
Lauren spent the majority of her upbringing in Gwinnett. From a young age, Lauren shared that she developed a love for performing after watching her older sister who was active in musicals and dance recitals. With the support of her family, she became involved with the arts throughout the entirety of her schooling. As she entered college, she applied to the Disney college program which was her first step towards pursuing a music career. After the program, Lauren continued her entertainment career by working at Universal Studios in Japan! Lauren shared that although she initially signed a one-year contract, she remained for three years after falling in love with her job and Japan. She then moved on to work on cruise ships, doing a variety of performances including Six the Musical where she performed as Catherine of Aragon.
With a bountiful career in music, Lauren was able to get the role of Aria with the Ringling Circus which she shared has been a truly rewarding and incredible experience. Aria is a part of a trio who all work together to guide the audience through the show. Lauren shared that playing Aria has allowed her to combine her two passions of music and people. As for the character of Aria, Lauren was given the creative freedom to craft Aria’s personality which is modeled after her own characteristics. As we spoke about creating Aria, Lauren shared the vision of Aria’s costume which is just as important as her personality. You’ll notice that Aria sports a vibrant blazer with a mustard yellow collar (Lauren’s favorite color) and black pants which were created by Dawna Oak. Aria’s makeup, which also includes vibrant eyeshadow colors, lets her express herself further in the role.
As our interview wrapped up, Lauren shared that it’s been a surreal experience coming back to Gwinnett to perform. She shared that she feels so thankful for her success because as a kid, she could never imagine where her passion would eventually lead her. Lauren also imparted some advice for our readers in Gwinnett who perhaps want to get started in the entertainment industry but don’t know how or feel scared. She shared that you need to embrace your uniqueness and continue to push yourself to chase your dreams and pursue what you love. For those who may feel scared, Lauren stated that finding a support system whether that’s your family, friends or even a club, it’ll make a huge difference when it comes to going after your goals.