Camille Eanga Selenge

She only graduated in 2012, but Camille Eanga-Selenge has already built an illustrious resume. She’s performed on Broadway, toured the United States, and helped bring new musicals to life. In 2012, just months after earning her Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Eanga-Selenge made her debut in the touring company of The Book of Mormon, one of Broadway’s most successful musicals.

Eanga-Selenge auditioned for the Book of Mormon right after finishing her work at Sheridan, winning the role of female swing, a coveted position that acts as an alternate for all female ensemble members.  She also became the understudy for Nabulungi, the show’s female lead in the production’s second American tour. She played the role for four consecutive weeks, touring three cities. In October of 2013, Eanga-Selenge joined the Broadway company of The Book of Mormon. There, she acts as the Dance Captain, maintaining the choreography aspects of the show and working with new cast members. In December of 2016, she will join the Original Australian Company of the musical. Her accomplishments have earned her Sheridan’s nomination in the recent graduate category for the 2016 Premier’s Awards. Given out in November, the awards celebrate graduates from Ontario’s colleges who have excelled in their fields.

Eanga-Selenge is quick to recognize that her journey from Sheridan’s Oakville campus to New York City has been a remarkable achievement. "The Book of Mormon will soon have brought me, not only to the epicenter of musical theatre here in New York City, but across the planet,” she says. “It has shown me what it is like to be in a spectacular hit show and be a part of such an amazing theatre family. I am, and will be forever, grateful for this opportunity."

A life-long student of Afro-Caribbean dance, Eanga-Selenge credits college with giving her the skills she needed to emerge as a full-fledged, triple-threat performer who excels at dance, singing and acting. She says Sheridan’s world class instructors and excellent students around her gave her the work ethic, professionalism and drive that has allowed her to succeed on Broadway. “Watching the students around me, especially the ones who were so advanced, it pushed me to work hard and become the best version of myself.”

"The Book of Mormon … has shown me what it is like to be in a spectacular hit show and be a part of such an amazing theatre family."

While at Sheridan, Eanga-Selenge took advantage of many opportunities to hone her skills. She experimented with playing numerous different characters, and participated in the inaugural year of Sheridan’s Canadian Music Theatre Project, the country’s first incubator for developing new musical theatre works by Canadian artists. In 2012, she helped one of CMTP’s first musicals, Central Park Tango, get off the ground.

Eanga-Selenge’s commitment to developing new works is all part of her support for fellow artists. In 2014 and 2015, she performed in Blame Canada, an annual celebration of the best in new Canadian musical theatre that showcases songs by members of the Canadian Musical Theatre Writers’ Collective, performed by Canadian artists, in New York City. Her involvement is a result of her connection to the college's theatre alumni community: Blame Canada is produced in part by the CMTP, led by Michael Rubinoff, Associate Dean of Visual and Performing Arts. Those who know her say her commitment to giving back to her colleagues is no surprise.

“She has a knack for sharing her gift,” says Suzan Lavertu, Artistic Director at The Cultural Arts Studio School of Afro-Caribbean Dance in Ottawa, who has worked with Camille since she began dancing as a child. “It’s important to share your craft, and Camille always tries to teach and elevate the performers around her.”

The Premier’s Awards will be presented in Toronto on Nov. 21.