Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Lauren Haughton Gillis is an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Indiana University Bloomington. Some of her performance credits include: Wicked on Broadway, Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre (Director: Tommy Tune), and Sammy at The Old Globe. On screen, she appeared in the television series “Encore!” on Disney+ in Annie (Director: Marcia Milgram Dodge, Choreographer: Melinda Sullivan). Lauren has produced, directed, and choreographed shows for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS all over the US and Canada with the Broadway National Touring companies of Hamilton, Wicked, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, and The Book of Mormon.

Lauren currently works internationally as an Associate Choreographer for Virgin Voyages (Director: Jenny Gersten, Choreographer: Jesca Prudencio). In 2021, Lauren was granted a Director/Choreographer Observership assisting Tony Award Winner, Graciela Daniele on The Gardens of Anuncia at The Old Globe. Director/Choreographer credits include: The Magic Hummingbird at The Cutting Room NYC, Matilda and Godspell at Festival 56, The World Goes Round at Coronado Playhouse (Aubrey Award Winner), Bright Star and The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On at Okoboji Summer Theatre, Carrie and Head Over Heels at Indiana University, Peter/Wendy and Rose and the Rime at Northwestern University, She Loves Me at San Diego Musical Theatre, A Year With Frog and Toad at Cardinal Stage, Fly at the La Jolla Playhouse (Director Fellowship), PDA at the La Jolla Playhouse Without Walls Festival (Associate Director), Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Diversionary Theatre (Assistant Director), Pickwick's Haunted Christmas at Ripley Grier Studios NYC (Assistant Director).

Lauren serves as the Head of Dance and incoming Vice President of Conferences for the Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance International (MTEA). She is a proud member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), where she serves as a reader of new musicals. Lauren is published, having recently written a chapter for 50 Key Stage Musicals (Routledge, 2022). Beyond her BFA and MFA, Lauren is certified in Lynn Simonson Jazz Technique and has continued her dance education with courses at Jacob’s Pillow. Lauren recently received the 2022 Trustee Teaching Award from the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington.