Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Baumann.
Caleb, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always loved to be on a stage and entertain others. The first show I ever saw was Goodnight Moon when I was three years old at the Alliance Theatre directed by Rosemary Newcott. I had no idea that Rosemary would one day direct the first professional show I was cast in. Every year my family and I would go see A Christmas Carol and I wanted to be one of those kids up there on the stage. So I started to take acting classes at the Alliance Theatre. I auditioned for the Youth Players and that was a great opportunity for me. Little did I know, this opened the door for my first audition. I got my shot to audition for A Christmas Carol when I was 10. I did not know how the process worked so I was nervous and did my best, but was excited just to get in the room. I got a callback and was ecstatic and genuinely surprised!
Once I went in for the callback, I was dismissed pretty quickly and wasn’t sure what would happen next. But before my mom and I even got home we had gotten an email saying I had gotten the role! This was my first professional show and led to several other opportunities at The Alliance. Working with Rosemary and the entire cast and crew became a second family to me. After this show, I signed with an agency to give me my first chance in film and tv. I have gone on to be in six more shows at the Alliance, including returning to A Christmas Carol two more years. Most recently, I just finished Shenandoah at Serenbe Playhouse.
The hardest part is going to regular school full time and keeping my grades up while working so much. To stay on the honor roll, while everyone else is resting I am studying and going to school. While my friends are doing things together, I am memorizing lines and at rehearsal. It is worth it because I love it so much. I only have gotten here because of hard work and the support of the amazing Atlanta talent I get to work with.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the hardest parts of being a child actor is balancing my school life and acting life. Sometimes I have to make hard choices of taking a job or audition or going on field trips and birthday parties with my friends. I also do not have much time to sleep when I am in a show, I usually get home around midnight and have to be at school early the next day.
I also leave school for auditions or for rehearsal and the people at school don’t understand and say things to me like, “Oh, you’re leaving again” or clap when I leave. They also make fun of things like the remains of mic tape on my neck. The kids are sometimes mean and it is hurtful, and that is the biggest struggle. When I was cast as Mogli in The Jungle Book at the Alliance, the kids made fun of me and my costume. They did not understand the work that went into the show and the emotion of being Mogli.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Caleb Baumann – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
What sets me apart from others is how passionate I am about learning my craft. A lot of times I am the only kid in a group of adult actors which is good for me because there is always someone there that is wiser than I can learn from. I learn about more things than just the show we are in. For example, when I am reading Shakespeare they help me with the words, when I need help with dialect they coach me, and they tell me about the business and what it is like being an adult actor. I am most proud that directors and actors that I have worked with want to work with me again and I continue to get opportunities that help me grow not only as an actor but as a person.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I don’t know all my plans for the future, but I definitely know that I am going to continue acting and perfecting my craft. I really want to do voice-over acting and hope to be able to do some in the future. I also hope I continue to work in Atlanta theaters and get some more commercials and TV and film work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.calebbaumann.com
- Phone: 404-593-7400
- Email: caleb.eichner@gmail.com
- Instagram: @_cbaumann
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/itscalebbaumann
Image Credit:
BreeAnn Clowdus, Greg Mooney, Aiva Genys – AG Picture
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