Support Sam: Rare Shakespeare Training Opportunity in London

Help Send Sam to RADA in London — A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

Hi everyone — my name is Samuel Karpinski. I’m an actor, storyteller, and a senior studying Acting at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama.

This fall, I’ve been given a chance that truly comes once in a lifetime: to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London — one of the world’s most prestigious acting schools, with alumni like Cynthia Erivo, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Tom Hiddleston.

Each year, only one American student is selected for the Shakespeare in Performance program. This year, it’s me. And I’m honored, humbled — and ready to rise to the moment.

Why This Means So Much — Personally and Professionally

This opportunity isn’t just a semester abroad — it’s the culmination of a life spent fighting to live freely, love deeply, and create boldly.

I grew up queer in spaces where being different felt dangerous — where I learned to suppress who I was to survive. Acting became my lifeline. It gave me a language for my pain, my longing, my joy. It gave me a place to be whole.

Over the years, I’ve worked relentlessly — not just to become a better actor, but to become a braver human. I’ve trained rigorously, pushed through personal trauma, mental health challenges, and financial limitations — and I’ve never stopped believing that art, when made with truth, can save lives.

Professionally, this program will allow me to study Shakespeare in the place where it was born, train with world-class teachers, and expand my artistic vocabulary in ways I’ve only dreamed of. Personally, it’s a healing homecoming to the artist I’ve fought to become — one who leads with depth, discipline, and compassion.

This Isn’t Just For Me

Theatre is not about me standing in a spotlight — it’s about creating light for others. I believe in theatre that transforms, challenges, and uplifts. I want to use what I learn at RADA to mentor young artists, champion queer stories, and contribute to building a more honest, inclusive world onstage and off.

Your support doesn’t just send me to London — it helps me bring back tools, wisdom, and courage to serve something much bigger than myself.

What It Costs — And Where You Come In

Unfortunately, my financial aid from CMU doesn’t transfer for this program, as it’s a direct-pay program through NYU Tisch. I’ve applied for every scholarship I can find, taken on side jobs, and received generous support from mentors and faculty — but I can’t do this alone.

Tuition: $30,000

(based on the Fall 2025 NYU Tisch Special Programs RADA track — see tuition details here)

This is a direct-pay program, meaning CMU financial aid does not apply.

How You Can Help

If you’ve ever believed in me, my work, or the power of art to connect and heal — please consider supporting. Truly, every dollar counts: $5, $25, $100 — it all brings me one step closer to London.

Can’t give right now? Sharing this with friends, artists, teachers, or anyone who might care — that means the world. Know someone with a room in Central London? Let’s talk.

A Promise to You

If you donate $100 or more, I’ll send a handwritten card from London — a piece of this journey, from me to you.

More than that, I promise to pay your belief forward — by creating brave work, lifting others up, and living with the kind of integrity this opportunity deserves.

I’ll share updates every step of the way — from packing my bags to stepping into the rehearsal room at RADA — so you’ll see how your support is shaping this chapter.

Thank you for believing in me.

Let’s make this happen — together.

With love and endless gratitude,

Sam