With New York experiencing its worst air quality from the Canadian wildfires last week, many people felt the effects of what pollution can do to your eyes, lungs, chest, and voice.  Few know this better than singers, who are hyper-aware of the smallest change to their precious instrument.  Take Canadian singer/actor/dancer Lauryn Withnell, who is living and working in NYC.  A recent graduate of the prestigious Musical Theatre program at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, she has been struggling to get her voice back after being exposed to the smoke. 

“It was crazy.  My flight from Montreal was rescheduled, then cancelled, then the new flight was rescheduled three times due to planes being grounded because of the smoke.  When I finally arrived, the sky looked like an apocalypse.  The next day I was trying to lead a vocal class–my chest was congested, and vocal cords just weren’t responding normally.  I’d go for a note and there would be a big hole.  I felt like I needed to cough and clear my throat constantly.  I’ve never experienced anything like this unless I had pneumonia or laryngitis.  I especially empathize with those whose breathing was already compromised before the smoke hit.“

Hazardous air quality forced cancellations of shows such as Camelot and Hamilton, as well as outdoor concerts and sporting events, and even forced one actor to stop her one-woman show mid-stream to have her understudy step in.  

While rain is falling in Brooklyn at the moment, Lauryn is praying it is also hitting the northern wildfires.  “What I’m experiencing is completely inconsequential compared to those who have had their lives turned upside down – being evacuated, losing everything, or living in a state of constant fear.  I cannot fathom how devastating that must be. I have unbelievable respect and gratitude for the courageous fire fighters from all over who are making heroic efforts to contain these fires.  We take so much for granted and are all in this together – we’re finally realizing that. It’s easy to feel helpless so far away but there are ways to help – for instance, donating to the Canadian Red Cross. The Alberta and Canadian government will triple every dollar donated.” She is crossing her fingers that the air quality won’t worsen as summer heat kicks in across the nation. 

Lauryn has been crafting her instrument since childhood and can describe in detail how important diaphragm-supported breath and clean air is to making a clear, dynamic vocal sound, and how breath control plays an pivotal role in the stamina of a dancer.  She grew up in Toronto, studied voice, piano, and violin, danced competitively for 8 years, and attended the esteemed Musical Theatre program at Etobicoke School of the Arts.  There she performed leading roles such as Cassie in A Chorus Line, Carole King in the On Broadway revue, was a lead singer and dance captain for the Canadian grand champion show choir Splash, sang alto in the award-winning a capella ensemble Jamme, as well as intimate basement productions of musicals.  Add to those, performances across Canada as Artist on Board on Via Rail for Canada’s 150^th birthday with her family band, The Withnells, one of her favourite performance memories. “It took months of rehearsal working out intricate vocal arrangements but was worth every second.  The train was packed with eager travellers of all ages from all over the world – we did three shows a day plus station stops.  Since you have mostly the same audience across the country, you need a ton of material!  We all had the best time–it made me feel incredibly proud to be Canadian and subsequently represent Canada beyond its borders.

And represent she has!  Upon closing Boston Conservatory’s graduation showcase in New York, she was immediately given offers from five agencies who recognized her extraordinary ability.  She was also cast then and there, without an audition, as the feisty Graziella in Reagle Theatre’s multi-award nominated West Side Story, and subsequently offered Pippin in their same season.  Matilda the Musical followed at Wheelock Family Theatre in Boston, and then she made the move to New York in December last year.  She hasn’t looked back – making it through final callbacks for several shows, and turning down a Jersey Boys offer for a one-year Broadway national tour beginning rehearsals in late August – stay tuned for the casting announcement.  She is cautiously excited.  “I feel incredibly fortunate” – and is reminded of that with every laboured breath.