A Comedic Diva from Oakland


That sense of hope and encouragement that is felt when one of your own embarks on pursuit of a dream is not based on sentimentality; it is based on recognition of the courage required to set sail on that path. We see the courage required, and we say, “yes”.

Having recently graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Oaklander Lauren Kampf is pursuing an acting career in New York City. This month she is performing July 16 thru July 26 in a production of Beauty and the Beast sponsored by Middlesex County’s Plays in the Park.

The Oakland Journal caught up with Lauren between rehearsals and asked a few questions so we could report back to the hometown crowd.

-How do you compare the role of The Wardrobe in the movie with the role of Madame La Bouche in the play?
Honestly, I tried not to watch the Beauty and the Beast movie very much because I wanted to create my own version of the character. But from what I can remember, Madame de la Grande Bouche in the play is much more of a “diva”. In the play she is an opera veteran that happens to be transformed into a Wardrobe when the spell is placed on the castle. Consequently, she randomly sings arias and boasts her status as an opera diva; whereas, in the movie she was just a servant of some sort in the castle. However, I was inspired by the movements of the cartoon character, and the voice of the Wardrobe as performed by Joanne Worley.

-Is there any person and/or character you look to for inspiration in this role?
The cartoon provided a bit of inspiration, (again, although I didn’t want to watch it too much). I just hoped to create a character that was very outspoken, loud, and larger than life, both physically (literally!) and in voice and actions. This was probably one character where being a bit “over-the-top” actually works! Also, being a Disney musical it is a bit more presentational. Moreover, I wanted to make her a “diva” but not in the stuck-up way, but in a jovial manner. I suppose most of my inspiration for the role came from her name “Madame de la grande bouche”…aka “big mouth”.

-How much work/time goes into auditioning for roles?
I definitely put a lot of time into auditioning for roles. Not only do I have to be extremely prepared for every audition, but I always have to be “on top of my game”. This includes weekly voice lessons, lots of dance classes, learning songs and monologues, as well as… the dreaded trip to the gym. Also, I am always looking for new songs to learn, just to keep my pieces “fresh”. Every actor has his/her “book” of songs for auditions that constantly has to be updated. (A casting director may ask you for a second piece at a moment’s notice, and you have to be prepared.) I also think that auditions are about 75% “mental”, meaning that you may be super prepared with your pieces, but if you are not focused and confident in that 1 minute of time when you are in the room with the casting directors, it would all be for nothing. Overall, the auditions themselves can be about 30seconds to 1 minute (for a 16 bar cut or so), but one spends hours preparing, and sometimes hours waiting on line at an open call.

-Did you act in high school, or participate in local playhouses while a teenager?
I had been singing all my life (and training in voice since age 10), but I never really thought of a career in theater while growing up. In fact, during high school (Indian Hills) I didn’t perform in any of the spring musicals until my Senior year, which was the first musical I ever performed in! Furthermore, when applying to colleges, I was actually thinking about pursuing a career in medicine. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college at Washington and Lee University that I was bitten by the acting “bug”. The Spring Term my Freshman year I performed in the tribal rock musical “Hair”, which pretty much changed my life. It was then that I realized that I would not be happy dedicating my life to anything else but performing. Of course, I also realized the challenges I would face, and immediately started to train in acting and dancing as well. The first few shows I did in college were a huge learning experience for me. I hadn’t had much acting training, and I was learning along the way about how to create characters and interact with my scene partners. It was really only at the end of my Junior Year, and Senior Year, that I began to gain more confidence in my performances, and realize that I could possibly have a career in the field.

– Was there a particular teacher, friend or relative who inspired or supported your goals?
I have been absolutely blessed to have so many great supporters along the way. At Washington and Lee, the faculty and students definitely come together as a family. It was just such an amazing environment where the professors truly care about the students both in and out of the classroom. My professors and directors we absolutely amazing in helping me develop the skills I needed as an actor and singer. I am also inspired by the amazing, talented, and fun casts I have gotten to work with. Each time I do a show with these people, I am reminded why I love doing what I do. Also, my parents have also been so supportive this whole time. I am so grateful to have parents that want me to go for the “dream”. Whenever I’m feeling low or a bit discouraged, they are the ones that cheer me up and tell me to keep “going for it”.

-Is there a particular type of performance you enjoy more than others? Drama, Comedy, Musical, Cabaret?
Comedy is definitely the genre in acting I love the most, especially musical comedy. I am a “character actress” who loves juicy parts where I can tackle the most diverse of characters. I also love being able to experiment with movement, voice, and even accents for these roles.

Performances for Beauty and the Beast begin at 8:30pm and run from July 16th thru July 26th, no shows on Sunday, and are held in Roosevelt Park in Edison, NJ next to Menlo Park Mall. ( if you Mapquest it, use the Mall address 100 Menlo Park Dr, Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey). Tickets are sold on the day of performance only. No advance sales. Ticket price is $5.00 per adult; $4.00 per senior citizen, and children twelve and under are free. The Box Office opens at 5:30 PM. Patrons must bring their own standard size lawn chairs.