Laurel Hatfield
Actor
Singer
Writer
Director
REVIEWS & AWARDS
"Brilliant every moment she is on stage"
Joseph Harrison, Broadway World
"The kind of singer a producer dreams of"
Alan Binau, Record Producer / Studio Engineer
"A powerhouse voice"
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel
"The girl with the golden larynx"
Tony Tanner, Tony-Nominated Actor and Director
"Director Laurel Hatfield is as sure-footed as they come"
Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play, Orlando Sentinel
(Intimate Apparel)
Best Lead Actress in a Short Film, Treasure Coast International
Film Festival (Fish Out of Water)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Inland Theatre League (Quilters)
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Laurel!
I am a singer, actor, writer, and director, but mostly I'm a human who loves the ocean and loves to smile. I'm originally from California and grew up like most Californian children: eating avocados and writing screenplays on the beach. I currently live on the East Coast and even after ten years am still getting used to the ocean being on my other side.
I have performed professionally on stage, on screen, and in the studio for over twenty years.
Since relocating to the East Coast from Los Angeles, I have performed in theaters around the southeast including the Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre (Intimate Apparel - Orlando Sentinel, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play), Orlando REP, Mad Cow Theatre, Winter Park Playhouse, Theatre at St. Luke’s, Osceola Arts, Encore Performing Arts, Orlando Fringe, and Theater West End.
I have originated two roles for Disney, as Squirt in the opening cast of the new musical Finding Nemo The Big Blue and Beyond at Walt Disney World, and as Andy in the original cast of Disney’s Toy Story the Musical for Disney Cruise Line.
In Los Angeles, I starred in several world premiere musical adaptations of classic works, including Chekov's The Seagull, The Lady With the Little Dog, and as Elizabeth Bennet in Plain Jane, a musical adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, written and directed by Tony-nominee Tony Tanner.
Other regional credits include La Mirada Theatre, Musical Theatre West, Musical Theatre Guild, and the West Coast premiere of Quilters at Performance Riverside, directed by Broadway’s Teri Ralston (Inland Theater League Award - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical).
As a voice actor, I have voiced leads in multiple seasons of the anime series Stratos 4 and Magical Meow Meow Taruto for Bandai Entertainment. Notable on-screen credits include Gilmore Girls (Warner Brothers), Passions (NBC), Being Vincent (Fox Searchlab), many national commercials (Ritz Crackers with Trevor Lawrence, Smart Asset, Florida Prepaid, Addition Financial, Auto-Owners Insurance, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Credit Sesame, Gaylord Hotels, Capri Sun, EZ-Go Golf Carts, Persona Nutrition), and most recently the short film Fish Out of Water (Winner - Best Actress, Treasure Coast International Film Festival.)
For many years I was a backup vocalist for Joey Fatone & Friends and the Joey Fatone & AJ McClean A Legendary Night Tour. I have sung backup vocals for members of *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, BoyzIIMen, Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dayne, Ryan Cabrera, Dee Snider, and more.
I was a founding board member of the Orlando Artist Guild and am passionate about promoting the arts and arts education. I am the co-founder and Director of Dog Cat Bear Productions, a production company whose mission is to create, film, and produce media and artistic work in Central Florida in an effort to make Orlando a global entertainment hub. Follow us on Instagram @dogcatbearproductions and visit us on the web at www.dogcatbear.com.
Most recently, I directed the critically acclaimed production of Steel Magnolias at Theater West End and was a choreographer for the 10th Annual Applause Awards at the Dr. Phillips Center, hosted by Michael James Scott. Currently in post-production is the pilot of the half-hour dramedy I wrote, produced, and starred in, SMILES (Follow on Instagram @smilestheshow.)
I received my Bachelor’s of Arts with Musical Theater Honors at the University of California, Irvine.
My new music with my band, The La La Band, will be released early next year: an EP with a mix of jazz, pop, and funk. Check out a short band demo reel, here! Check my website for a list of upcoming performances! Let's stay in touch!
Love and thanks,
Laurel