Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

Samantha Simone interview by Jen Bush

Samantha Simone has been cooking with creative gas since the age of 10.  She will be portraying Lana Jones in the upcoming theatrical production of, A Shot Rang Out. 

Michael Hagins’ WORLD PREMIERE:
A Shot Rang Out. Thursday, June 23 @ 8:00 pm; Theatre Row Studios (Theatre 2).
Thursday, June 23 @ 8:00 pm; Theatre Row Studios (Theatre 2) , NYC
Produced in association with the Downtown Urban Arts Festival
A white police officer is trapped in a warehouse during an increasingly violent protest with a scared Black teen and a disgruntled schoolteacher.

She got her start on a cooking show which has been a recipe for success ever since.  “I have been acting professionally since I was 10 years old, starting off on a kids cooking show on the BBC called Planet Cook! Ever since I have not stopped creating. I now enjoy acting and producing work that tells compelling stories. Whether it is on camera, on stage, or any other medium I find ways to stay creative every day.” 

Ms. Simone was drawn to this play because it was a teachable moment for society.  “I was drawn to this play because of my education background. As a teacher in today’s world we have so much to worry about outside of educating the children. In moments of tragedy so many lives get destroyed and that is an important message to share.”

 Ms. Simone’s creative process entails in depth character analysis.  Beyond the script, she explores the life that her character embodies.  “Well, I always start with story and character. I like to know my character inside and out. The play is always just a glimpse into their lives, but what are they like when the curtains close? Once I understand how my character operates, I layer in the story and surroundings. I was a dancer before I was an actor so getting up and putting things in my body always helps me.

A work with serious subject matter can make an artist feel an added responsibility when presenting the piece.  Ms. Simone’s approach to that responsibility is presenting the work in an authentic manner.  “I think our responsibility as artists is to reflect to the public what they need to see, what needs to change, or what we can all learn from. I feel responsible to tell these stories truthfully and with compassion for members of the audience who have potentially dealt with the same issues. At the end of the day, I feel it is an artist’s responsibility to spark dialog. If you got people talking or questioning, then you did your job!”

 With the pandemic came change and things that needed to change as a result.  “Oh god, everything is different. From the nature of auditioning on self tape all the way up to performance, nothing feels the same. Personally there is always a sense of fear with it too. Mostly, for me, it’s a fear that the numbers will spike again and everything will shut down again. The first few months of the pandemic were challenging on many levels, but one of the hardest things to face was the lack of creativity. In terms of what should be different, I think we are learning new things everyday about the people in our lives. This pandemic has helped me be more vocal about my boundaries, but it has also made connecting with others more challenging. We need to continue to share, listen, and respect our fellow artists in order to make it out of this pandemic on the other side.”

 Between a puppy, a partner and performing, Ms. Simone has no shortage of what’s next for her.  “What’s next, a little bit of everything! I love to stay busy so this summer is full of teaching, auditioning, acting as the opportunities arise, producing and of course spending some time with family, friends, partner, and my adorable puppy Ned.”