Samantha’s chasing a dream

Samantha recently graduated from El Camino High school in her hometown of Sacramento, CA. From a very early age she knew she wanted to be a performer. Samantha started taking ballet lessons when she was 4 and is now an exceptional dancer and choreographer. She was even hired to be the official choreographer for her school's musicals her junior and senior years. Samantha fell in love with musicals in elementary school after going to a summer season at Music Circus. Once she was introduced to that world, her aspirations grew beyond dance alone. In high school she began taking drama and learning how to become the best actress she could be. Samantha also joined the choir and worked very hard to develop her vocal talents. By the time she graduated high school, Samantha had performed in 24 ballets, 7 plays and 4 musicals. She had been cast as a principle dancer and in leading roles numerous times. Samantha has earned a number of awards, including the gold medal in a district wide theater festival for Best Female Monologue, Best Musical Performer (3 years in a row), and Honors Thespian of the Year (2 years in a row). Samantha worked very hard to keep up with all her classes while in high school. She was enrolled in many honors and AP classes and graduated with a 3.92 GPA. Last winter she went on her first college audition which happened to be her first choice school, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), and was accepted. 

Samantha will be going to two AMDA campuses while in college. She will start in New York City at the Manhattan campus. She'll be there for two years before transferring to the Hollywood campus in Los Angles where, after another two years of study, she will graduate with her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, and Conservatory Certificate.  Samantha was awarded a merit scholarship from AMDA, a federal grant and financial aid. However, her dreams are big and expensive. After her scholarship, grant and aid, she will still owe close to $25,000 for each of her 4 years. We are asking our community, family and friends to help if possible. Investing in performing arts may seem uncertain and maybe even unnecessary, but I encourage you to look at art the way Samantha does. When asked why she wants to risk everything for the performing arts her answer is a quote from An American in Paris, "Life is already so dark. If you have got the talent to make it brighter, give people joy or hope, why would you withhold that?"    

Singing Broadway, Here I Come from NBC's Smash

Dancing at Preston Castel in Ione, CA 


As Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It



4 yeah old Samantha in her first ballet recital

As the President in The Mad Woman of Chaillot

Winning gold at a theater festival 

As Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It

Dancing at Preston Castel in Ione, CA 

As Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It

With hard work, her dreams are coming true


Samantha and her best friend sang For Good at their graduation. Samantha is the first voice you'll hear.