Interview: THEATER CAMP Stars Jimmy Tatro & Owen Thiele Look Back on Their Camp Experiences

Hi guys, how are you

Hello. How are you? I'm good. I am so excited to talk to you about this movie

It stole my theater kid heart and was just so fulfilling. While I was watching it, I was kind of reminded how so many theater people have such vivid and heartfelt memories of their time at theater camp

So while you guys were filming this movie, did you have any theater camp experiences growing up that you were sort of brought back to at all

Well, you didn't go to theater camps. I didn't go to theater camp. I'll take this. I didn't really go to theater camp either. I went to Canyon Creek Sports Camp, but I made it theater. I made it theatrical. I sang a Rihanna song, Unfaithful at the talent show. And I had all my little camper mates behind me in dresses. I put them in drag. So I would say, yeah, it felt like camp. It really felt like camp. It was just like a bunch of our best friends

making a movie together and having fun and eating food and sweating and loving each other

So, yeah. My experiences were more with, like, sports camps. Like, I would go to sleepaway basketball camp

And then there was also a camp I went to in Sequoia National Park growing up that was right on a lake

So it wasn't a theater camp, but there were still, you know, there were talent shows

There was lip syncing involved. And I think when you creative at heart you always make whatever situation you in a bit theatrical 100 I love that Yeah As you mentioned it seemed like such a fun crew working on this movie

like you guys are all friends. Do each of you have sort of a specific day or memory on set

that stands out to you the most when you look back? I think there was one scene I did with Jimmy, where we were, I don't know if it made the movie

actually, but we were in his office and we were talking a lot about my costuming needs

and it was like the most fun I've ever had improvving because he's a genius improver

and it was like the take was probably like an hour long I was going back about that

it was so fun I don't think that actually made it into the movie I don't think so I think it was a lot of fun

but Owen was because you know Nick Molly Ben and Noah were you know they had to be on set the whole time

on our off days me and Owen were spending the most time

together out there hitting up the outlets in upstate New York, Outback Steakhouse

I mean, we were turning it up out there. Outback Steakhouse is amazing, I have to say

He's their number one fan. I am. Yeah, it sounds like some quality days off

Love it. This movie has such a great message at the end that, like, totally pulled at my heart

For you guys, what do you hope audiences take away from this movie when they see it

I think Molly, Nick, Ben, and Noah did such a beautiful job adding heart into

comedy and I think comedies kind of lack that nowadays and they just like managed to infuse so much heart into it So I hope honestly audiences leave feeling like they need to call their best friend and reconnect

And yeah, I hope it brings a sense of family and that community is alive and well

Yeah, I hope it just leaves them feeling happy. I think there's like you said, there's so many comedies now that are tackling difficult issues

And while that is important, it's nice to watch a movie that's just there to make you happy and make you feel good

And the feeling that we had making this movie, I think, translates when you're watching it

And the way it wraps up is just such a beautiful moment

And it just leaves you with a smile on your face. So I hope the audience is just leave having as much fun as we did making it

What up at Rondex? Listen out, squad game? Maybe uh... zip it

Could we just get you guys a shit? Oh, what a beautiful... Morning

Oh, that's dope. Welcome of auditioners. You guys are so talented, so unbelievable

This will break you. This will fully destroy you. Congratulations on being the most talented kids at camp. Starfish. Starfish

Jiggle like a jackal. These are the things we can do with masks These people are really weird That a good song she was right I do believe her as a French prostitute Famous

Oh, I'm sorry. Sex worker. Thank you. Sad news, I will not be doing piercings anymore in The Hutt

Because there's a narque amongst us. Cassie has narked. Totally fine. We're gonna need to prioritize the musicals

which means the straight plays are gonna have to be acoustic. Quick question

What's a straight play? There are musicals and then there are straight plays

So then what would be a gay play? I guess I'm a musical

Oh, cool. I know this one's a theater camp classic, so similar regards to Broadway Bits

We only have three weeks to create a masterpiece. It's on you now. All on you

Let's do this. And cue cocaine. You need to know that only 3% of people make it

The rest end up in a mental facility or on a go-go box in Hell's Kitchen

This is a complete disaster. Everything is gonna be okay. It doesn't work okay

We're theater people. We know how to turn cardboard into gold. You think this is fun in games

It's not fun. It's art. Minor housekeeping issue, whoever stole my CBD gummies, please return that

I'm pretty sure I know who it was