Lauren and Montana grew up in the same area of Dayton, Ohio. They shared a circle of friends, participated in local theater, and frequented popular spots like Kings Island, Panera Bread, and Graeter’s. Yet, despite their overlapping lives, they didn’t officially meet or become friends until 2022.

Their story is that of a classic romantic comedy. Montana grew up in Springboro, Ohio, while Lauren lived just 15 minutes away in Centerville. Both began their theatrical journeys at Town Hall Theater and went on to perform around Dayton, often at the same venues but never crossing paths. During these formative years, they unknowingly built connections with the same groups of friends and studied under the same teachers. As seen in the photo collage below, they shared many mutual acquaintances, though their paths never directly intersected.

Lauren eventually attended Ohio University, while Montana enrolled at Wright State University. After graduating in 2019, Lauren moved to New York City to advance her acting career, adopting the stage name Charmien Byrd. That same year, Montana left Wright State to co-found and perform with the rock band Bohemian Funk. Over the next few years, Lauren added an array of impressive roles and experiences to her résumé, while Montana toured multiple states and recorded a full studio album with his band. However, in 2021, Montana decided to leave the band to return to musical theater, setting his sights on La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro. Coincidentally, Lauren, feeling drawn back to Ohio, also turned her focus there. It was here that their paths would finally run parallel.

In 2022, Lauren and Montana were cast in Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom at La Comedia Dinner Theatre. The experience was magical—what some might call “lightning in a bottle.” The cast formed a close-knit group known as the "Goon Platoon," and over the course of the production, Lauren and Montana became fast friends. They made up for lost time from their youth, bonding with the Goons through outings to Dave & Buster’s, movie nights, karaoke sessions, and cast parties. When the show ended, Lauren returned to New York City, and Montana began performing at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Despite the distance, they stayed in touch as good friends until the summer of 2023.

As fate would have it, in July 2023, Lauren reached out to Montana while she was touring as a backup dancer for a Michael Jackson impersonator. She asked if he was still performing at Kings Island, as she planned to visit Ohio to see her mom and two close friends from the Phantom cast—Maid of Honor Meg and Bridesmaid Emma—and wanted to catch his show. Montana, excited to reconnect, assured her they would meet up. What began as a simple plan to catch up turned into something much more. The day Lauren returned, Montana invited her to hang out. From the moment they hugged, they quickly realized they had never spent time alone together before, and it became clear there was something special between them. They were inseparable during her two-week visit, and by the end, Montana knew Lauren was the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

The early months of their relationship were long-distance. Montana moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to start a job at a Hilton hotel, while Lauren returned to New York City. However, this time, they had a plan. Lauren would join Montana in Atlanta at the start of 2024. Montana, unable to wait that long, proposed to her on Christmas Eve 2023.

Since then, they’ve spent the past year building their life together in Georgia, working side by side on various projects. Most notably, they most recently performed as Sam and Molly in Ghost (The Musical) in 2025—a triumphant return to Ohio and La Comedia, their first since Phantom. With countless adventures behind them and endless possibilities ahead, Lauren and Montana are thrilled to continue writing their story. Two paths that once meandered independently have now merged into one, bound together always and forever.

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