Animated Entertainer
photo by Tyler Ross
In a city like Hollywood, being pretty, smart and tough isn’t always enough, but a sense of humor can give you the edge to cut past the competition. Erin Lampart has these qualities, as well as a personal style that is kind of dark and a little dirty. “I like to be weird. I like to do silly things,” Lampart told CULTURE. Her material includes concepts like work, dating and family, infused with a twist that is as sardonic as it is comedic. “I guess a lot of times I take bad things that have happened and turn them into comedy. I like putting sunshine into the gray.”
“The first time I put it on the base of my skull for my headache, there was instant relief from the pain. So many people can benefit from it.”
Although originally from New York, Lampart’s family moved to Pennsylvania, she said, after a series of unfortunate events. “I’m sassy but still a country girl,” she said. Lampart started performing for a living after taking summer acting jobs when she was 11 years old. “I was always a theater kid.” After growing up the talented lady had enough of daydreaming at a country club and moved to L.A. “I started doing Second City Improv, but it wasn’t until I saw Rory Scovel perform that I decided to do stand-up. I was single and alone, so I had plenty of time.”
Aside from being a successful comedian, she is also a seasoned film and television actress. Lampart has starred in a currently unreleased independent horror film, a yet-to-be named but soon-to-be-released Comedy Central series, a television series called GayCare and in the documentary 100 Jokes, where she expertly performed the role of herself. She feels that film is certainly easier than stand-up. “I love taking direction. I’m into details and I listen very well. With stand-up you have complete control. You can do what you want.”
Both mediums call for a performer to quickly actualize an amusing imaginary fantasy by evoking pure emotion and expressing it for a hopefully captivated audience. Lampart uses the same process for her signature stand-up comedy. “There’s more emotion, more pain. When I am onstage really going for it, my performance has exhaustion and frustration.” She knows how to amp herself up in order to make her set more electrifying. The young woman said- that before going onstage to do comedy, “Sometimes I’ll just read Yelp reviews about me to get angry.”
“I totally want to endorse 100 percent CBD oil. I suffer from a lot of migraines and a lot of stomach problems.”
photo by Tyler Ross
But just like “the force” in Star Wars, comedy has a dark side, and every comic is aware of it. What’s the worst part, for Lampart? “The constant self doubt,” she said. “You can keep having great sets until you have a terrible set.” This makes some comics stop, or even quit, paralyzed by the fear of failing. Lampart believes that all artists struggle the same way. “I live with and date a painter. He goes though the same thing.” She still believes that the bright side is worth it. “I love making people laugh. I love making people happy and forget their pain for a little while. I love connecting with people and making them feel good.”
Lampart was candid with CULTURE about her own personal experience with medical cannabis. Now that she’s in California, what does this funny, brilliant actress think of cannabis? “I totally want to endorse 100 percent CBD oil. I suffer from a lot of migraines and a lot of stomach problems.” Lampart got her medical card after a friend recommended using 100 percent CBD oil for similar problems. She shared, “The first time I put it on the base of my skull for my headache, there was instant relief from the pain. So many people can benefit from it.”
Catch Erin Lampart perform live comedy at Sauce, Fridays at 8 p.m. at DeSano Pizza Bakery, Santa Monica
Website: www.facebook.com/Saucecomedy
Twitter: @ThatsSoLampy
