Stand-up comedy spotlight: Lauren Dufault
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Published by Sareth Ney on May 18, 2018 at 8:01 p.m.
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Photo credit: Florida's Funniest Female 2017
Sareth Ney (SN): What inspired you to perform stand-up comedy?
Lauren Dufault (LD): I've always been a goofy girl. Growing up, I was an athlete. So, I really didn’t give myself a chance to try it until my mid-20s. I was inspired by the passing of Robin Williams. I thought about how much he made the world laugh and I thought it would be fun. My second inspiration came from “Game of Thrones”, season six and episode nine: “Battle of the Bastards”. After watching that show, I realized the amount of emotional influence it had on me (not in the most positive way). Everyone knows that episode as quite intense. Like the show, I wanted to be able to influence people but in an empowering way. I live for the laughs!
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
LD: My very first time on stage was a blur. I can't quite place the feeling because it was such a surreal experience. I do remember that it went by fast and I got off stage feeling a bit lighter than I did before.
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
LD: It’s hard to choose my favorite comedy specials. I like to watch and study stand-up from different decades. I love Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett, Moms Mabley, Joan Rivers, Lee Evans, Robin Williams, Jo Koy, Dane Cook, Maria Bamford and a bunch more.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
LD: My favorite sketch show is “Saturday Night Live”. I enjoy watching “Friends”. I would say that my favorite comedy movies always have Will Ferrell in them. “Bridesmaids” is another one that will never get old!
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
LD: I would go on tour with Carol Burnett. Honestly, there are too many but she is my idol. So, I have to name her.
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
LD: Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Phyllis Diller
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
LD: I have performed stand-up, improv, sketch and in comedic film. I think off forms of comedy have their nuances and I like to have an understanding of all of them.
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
LD: I want my audience to obviously have had a great time. I also want them to leave knowing it is okay to be you and be goofy. I want to show women specifically that they have more power than they think.
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
LD: My goals in the next five years include becoming a touring comedian. I want to expand my comedic portfolio and be able to contribute to all forms of comedy on a national level. I also want to lip sync with Jimmy Fallon but that’s a very specific one. Oh, and meet Carol Burnett.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
LD: Facebook: Lauren Dufault
Instagram: LaurenDufault
www.laurendufault.com
www.thecommittedexgirlfriend.com
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Lauren Dufault (LD): I've always been a goofy girl. Growing up, I was an athlete. So, I really didn’t give myself a chance to try it until my mid-20s. I was inspired by the passing of Robin Williams. I thought about how much he made the world laugh and I thought it would be fun. My second inspiration came from “Game of Thrones”, season six and episode nine: “Battle of the Bastards”. After watching that show, I realized the amount of emotional influence it had on me (not in the most positive way). Everyone knows that episode as quite intense. Like the show, I wanted to be able to influence people but in an empowering way. I live for the laughs!
SN: What was the feeling like, when you first performed stand-up comedy?
LD: My very first time on stage was a blur. I can't quite place the feeling because it was such a surreal experience. I do remember that it went by fast and I got off stage feeling a bit lighter than I did before.
SN: What are your favorite comedy specials and record albums?
LD: It’s hard to choose my favorite comedy specials. I like to watch and study stand-up from different decades. I love Gilda Radner, Carol Burnett, Moms Mabley, Joan Rivers, Lee Evans, Robin Williams, Jo Koy, Dane Cook, Maria Bamford and a bunch more.
SN: What are your favorite sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy films?
LD: My favorite sketch show is “Saturday Night Live”. I enjoy watching “Friends”. I would say that my favorite comedy movies always have Will Ferrell in them. “Bridesmaids” is another one that will never get old!
SN: If you could go on tour with any comedian, which one would you choose?
LD: I would go on tour with Carol Burnett. Honestly, there are too many but she is my idol. So, I have to name her.
SN: If you could get roasted by five comedians (past or present), which ones would you choose?
LD: Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Phyllis Diller
SN: Which other forms of comedy would you like to venture off into?
LD: I have performed stand-up, improv, sketch and in comedic film. I think off forms of comedy have their nuances and I like to have an understanding of all of them.
SN: What experience would you like for your audience to take with them, after a set is over?
LD: I want my audience to obviously have had a great time. I also want them to leave knowing it is okay to be you and be goofy. I want to show women specifically that they have more power than they think.
SN: Where do you see your comedy career, in the next five years?
LD: My goals in the next five years include becoming a touring comedian. I want to expand my comedic portfolio and be able to contribute to all forms of comedy on a national level. I also want to lip sync with Jimmy Fallon but that’s a very specific one. Oh, and meet Carol Burnett.
SN: Where can the readers find you online and on social media?
LD: Facebook: Lauren Dufault
Instagram: LaurenDufault
www.laurendufault.com
www.thecommittedexgirlfriend.com
Editor's note: This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareth Ney is the journalist for A Quarter and Dream Pictures. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is a former apprentice to master of horror, Clive Barker. He is a Wu-Tang Clan inspired superhero, Wu-Man Chu. He is an award-winning short filmmaker; his goal is to write 150 articles in select time zones, he inducts every article into his hall of fame, is a stand-up comedian, motivational speaker, philanthropist, founder and co-host of Pueblo's Independent Multimedia Podcast, is the festival director at Sareth-Fest Music and Comedy Festival and Corazon Comedy Festival.
