We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raphael Campos. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raphael below.

Alright, Raphael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

We artists know how hard it is to be able to express your art, not to mention make money doing it. I have a back and forth relationship with my creative self since it is challenging to balance my primary job while also being available for auditions and committing to performing arts jobs. I recently got cast for a project called “The Freedom Project”, which will be a one night only and totally free presentation that will pay homage to Influential African-American Floridians. When I auditioned for the job, I thought I was just auditioning to be a singer on the show. After getting cast, I realized that I am the artistic creator of my own piece! This means that I get to create a whole presentation that includes acting, singing, dancing, or all three together, and develop my own story regarding the piece based on the material that was provided to all of us. When I realized what I got myself into I was like, “WTF!”. I thought about quitting and told myself that I was not capable. I was scared to disappoint everyone.
After the first rehearsal, and after talking to the creative team behind the scenes, I realized that I AM capable. I realized that I have great ideas for my presentation and I started to become excited to create and perform a finalized piece. The whole show will be 10 performances, created by different artists like me, and it is scheduled to happen on July 29th at “The Abbey” here in Orlando, FL. This whole process has helped my self-esteem by helping me to reach into a part of myself that I didn’t even know existed. Although this project is a great addition to my portfolio, I have really enjoyed the experience of creating something from scratch and bringing it to life. This experience has served to prove to myself that sometimes you just need to get through the fear of messing up and making a fool of yourself. After that phase, you can have so much fun and you’re gonna be so proud of yourself.

Raphael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Raphael Campos. I am an Orlando based artist and I have been sharpening my musical theater skills since 2009. I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was here that I started my journey in performing arts with dance classes. I then began exploring acting and singing as well. I am very passionate about sharing my art with others. In commercials, straight plays, and entire musical theatre performances, I always want to bring all of the love that I have for the craft every single time. I have worked with and learned from outstanding industry professionals along the way and the most important thing I have learned is to do my part and to trust the process.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In the second half of 2019, I was living in Boston and I was enrolled in a theatre program at a community college. I wanted to get a degree but also reconnect with my artistic self. It had been 6 years since the last time that I had done anything artistically. While in school, I was able to not only reconnect with myself, but also make friends and collaborate with people that spoke the same “language” as me. They understood me and we all loved and needed to be there. 2020 came and we decided to put up a play. We did auditions, we chose the cast, we started rehearsing, and then, when the play is almost done, Covid happened. It was a catastrophe. Nobody knew what to do. We tried to keep going but eventually we all had to stop and start the quarantine. I was devastated. I was so involved in everything due to my role as the vice-president of the theatre club at that time. I saw the position as an opportunity to really support and make art.
I had to see all of that taken from me so quickly. I was forced back into my regular life, got furloughed from my job, and had to find new employment in an uncertain time. Life was sad. But fast forward to 2022 and covid restrictions had started to ease. While looking for auditions for plays and musicals, I came across an open audition for Dance Nation by Clare Barron for a community theater called Kapok. I sent my material for the audition with no faith. At that time I hadn’t been on a stage for 9 years and I didn’t think that I could compete with anyone. To my surprise, I ended up getting a spot at callbacks and eventually got the part! I couldn’t believe it. There was only one spot for a male presenting character and it was mine! I didn’t believe in myself and my capability of being artistic again but because I held to that very thin layer of hope, I proved myself wrong. I met and worked with incredible creative people and got to do what I love unapologetically.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The feeling of making other people escape from their lives for a bit and to make them feel what I am feeling. It’s a moment of vulnerability that is unseen to the eyes, yet so strong and so magical. When someone from the audience comes up to you afterwards and thanks you for giving that feeling to them, it makes it even more remarkable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://raphaelcampos.net
• Instagram: @camposraphi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campos.raphaell/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcamposteixeira/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2BpYnL8hMPAbXYM4qKEhTQ
• Other: Actors Access: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/raphaelcampos

Image Credits

Photographers:

Laura Irion
Matthew Lomanno
Cesar Brandi
Dany Falcon