Four Questions With: Cam Swartz
- TPAC
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
2017 Gary Surmacz Memorial Scholarship Recipient
Our Penn-Trafford community prides itself in offering support to high school seniors getting ready to set off on the next step of their journey.
We sat down with the Theatre Factory’s 2017 Gary Surmacz Memorial Scholarship recipient Cam Swartz to catch up. Cam has been involved in community theater in Trafford since 2013, and currently works as a 3D Animator, Puppeteer, and Creative Designer in Orlando, Florida.
Thanks for chatting with us, Cam!
Tell me about your journey with community theatre in Trafford.
A: So many great memories! One of my first roles at the Theatre Factory was Peter in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and boy was that a memorable experience. Aside from that, I played several other roles on the Theatre Factory stage, appearing in Myth Adventures, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlotte’s Web, to name a few.
Interestingly, I’ve appeared as a pirate twice at the Theatre Factory, once as Sharktooth the Pirate in How I Became a Pirate, and then again as Patchy the Pirate in The Spongebob Musical.
One of my most memorable experiences on the Theatre Factory stage was the role I took in Over the River and Through the Woods, where I played Nick, a career-driven man in his late 20s who deals comedically as well as tragically with his two sets of grandparents in the dramatic farce. I enjoyed the unique challenge of playing such an emotionally driven role, and couldn’t have asked for better castmates. “Tengo famiglia.”
What are some of the things that you learned at the Theatre Factory that you took with you for the rest of your life?
A: The Theatre Factory exposed me at a young age to people of many different backgrounds and age groups, which I really feel expanded my ability to relate to new people. In the 2010s the Theatre Factory gave me a unique experience at an important age, showing me what it felt to be a part of a community that supports one another, listens, and cares. Every new show presented a new cast of unique folks that I’d get to know throughout the process of rehearsals and shows. In many of those cases, I ended up developing life-long friendships.
Aside from that, a dedicated space to practice my acting skills contributed to my path in animation, a career which combines acting skills with digital artistry.
How did receiving the scholarship help you with your journey?
A: Many of us as artists struggle with seeing our own worth, always striving to get better at our skills while being blind to our current achievements, and to our value beyond our technical skills. Receiving the scholarship award helped me to recognize that I was appreciated by folks at the Theatre Factory, and that I was believed in. In 2017, that was huge for me, and helped to boost my confidence and prepare me for whatever could come next.
Tell us about what you’re doing now!
A: Since departing from the Theatre Factory, I’ve earned my BFA in 3D character animation, and directed and animated an internationally award winning short film, Shift, in 2021. I’m currently in Orlando, FL pursuing a career with Universal Creative, and I most recently worked with the Entertainment division as a Puppeteer at HHN 2025, delivering scares on the night shift in a certain pizzeria, with a certain bear. Feel free to check out my website for more information about my films and created works, from films, to props, and beyond! Shift is available to watch on YouTube.
Thank you, Theatre Factory!
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Did you know that the Trafford Performing Arts Center also offers a scholarship? When you donate to our book raffle next season, you’ll be supporting the big dreams of one of our high school seniors who’s about to take off on the journey of a lifetime.
Learn more about qualifying and applying for the scholarship on our scholarship page.
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