Getting To Know Camille Theobald; A StandUp Comic And Actress Making Waves In NYC

In this highlight we turn our attention to Camille Theobald. A professionally trained actress and reputable stand up comic in the NYC comedy scene. I asked Camille a series of questions, here is what we discussed;

Tell us a little about yourself, where your from, grew up, what H.S./College you attended etc.

I was born in Salt Lake City Utah August 30th and lived in a suburb in the greater Salt Lake area called Murray until I was 13 years old. Went to Parkside Elementary, Hillcrest Jr High and then decided to move with my dad in Bayfield, Colorado.

I graduated Bayfield High with a class of 86 people, so small! Going to such a small high school allowed me to be a part of the community in a more impactful way, such as starting up a Dance team as well as choreographing and performing solos in show choir. I even lettered in choir… which I didn’t even know was a thing!

When I wasn’t at school I was rehearsing and competing with the dance team Rocky Mountain Rockettes. I would drive to Durango most days to rehearse. Basically had to keep myself busy because there was nothing to do there and I had the dream of being the next Brittany Spears. After graduating highschool I was set to study Dance and Theatre at CSU but then my big sister called me with the crazy idea of moving to NYC together. I, of course, said yes and started working 60 hours a week to save up money. A month after turning 18 I moved to NYC and applied to the American Musical and Dramatic academy where I studied musical theatre.

What inspired you to be an entertainer? Early experiences worth sharing?

I grew up around a very musical family so I was always surrounded by music. I was given a guitar at around 11 years old, played trombone from 6th through 7th grade and almost all my siblings played an instrument of some sort. Then every summer my dad’s family would all go camping and sing songs around the campfire while my grandma played ukulele and my dad played guitar. When the MTV was on I would be completely fixated on the dancers in music videos and I wanted to learn every single dance which is why I started taking dance lessons at 12.

I would sing to almost any song that played and when my favorite ones came on I performed it like it was my own. My best friend in 6th grade had a karaoke machine and we were singing on that thing every second we could, which means whenever her parents were out. I also just loved being silly and goofy to get people to laugh. Basically, I loved attention!

Talk about a time where you have faced adversity/conflict and have triumphed.

I would say my biggest challenge has been having confidence in myself as an artist. When I was auditioning for musicals i would get so nervous about screwing up that I my vocal chords locked up and I couldn’t sing the song correctly. When I was focusing on dancing I would do really well in the audition but I felt like I still wasn’t good enough. When I switched to focus on comedy the pressure of being perfect subsided and that really helped but eventually the insecurity creeped back in and I would constantly tell myself I wasn’t funny enough. In last last few years I’ve been able to rise out of this self doubt and focus on the art rather than what people think or say. It’s definitely not easy and always a work in progress but I believe that often times the number one person to hold you back is always yourself.

What do you believe sets you apart from other people in the world of comedy?

I have jokes that are vulnerable and dark while also being animated, goofy and weird on stage. I’m not afraid to say something that makes people uncomfortable, in fact I love it. I want to make people laugh at something that also makes them think a little. My main goal is for everyone in the audience to feel a connection with humanity, a one-ness.

Do you have any other interests or hobbies?

I really love yoga and fitness in general. Dancing was always an amazing release of stress for me but when it became competitive it lost it’s fun so I started doing yoga and going to the gym. I get bored easily so I switch up my workouts a lot. I’ve done cross fit, bootcamp style classes, spinning, biking through the city. Exercise is a major mood booster and I feel awesome when I’ve finished a hard workout. I like it so much that a little over a year ago I started a podcast called Healthy AF where I talk about nutrition, fitness and mental health with health professionals and comedians.

Any projects you have out or currently working on?

I got back from doing a mini tour not too long ago and doing a week of shows at The Creek and the Cave so now I’m honing my stand up comedy hour. I want to create an amazing hour and then go to colleges across the US to perform.

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I’d like to be a regular at the major clubs in NYC and have a recurring role in a TV series.

What advice can you give to aspiring comedians?

My advice would be to not base your sense of self worth on the amount of laughs you get. Do what makes you laugh and do it with confidence. Just worry about being funny and finding friends in the community to create with. Having a community of other comedians is really important

How can we follow along in your journey? Social media?

You can find all my updates at www.camilletheobald.com

Follow my silly photos and videos on instagram at @camilletheobaldcomedy

I tweet jokes and show information once in a while at Camille Theobald