ARTistry Convention at Atlanta Dance Central is around the corner & I can’t wait for our students to experience the incredible world of Sam’s Room.
Sam’s Room is a pop concert dramedy following a high school senior quickly approaching the new millennium. Sam is nonverbal, consciously trapped in his own body and searching for a way to communicate. Without the benefit of what are now readily available technological devices, Sam must rely on support and encouragement from his Mom, his Pap, and his first friend, Sallie. We meet Sam from inside the one place he can truly be himself: his room. When Sam crosses the threshold of his bedroom door, he is able to express his inner self through spoken word, reenactments of his day, and best of all, through his imaginary alter ego, global music icon- Sammy Star. Sammy Star takes us on his own musical journey, one that parallels Sam’s quest to be heard.
5 reasons I love this show . . .
- It’s thoughtful & well-researched. When approaching a topic so nuanced as a non-verbal teen, it can be easy to just create something stereotypical. The Sam’s Room team took a thorough approach to make sure that Sam is presented with authenticity & care. Through conversations with people & organizations that work with people of all abilities, the writers of Sam’s room have updated their script as they continue to learn about the community.
- The music is AMAZING. It might be simple to create a hit pop song but what about one that also propels a very specific story? That’s what you get with Sam’s room. The composers have created music that you’ll want to sing & dance with but that also creates an emotional impact.
- The acting is top-notch & mind-blowing. A cool part about Sam’s Room is that the cast is very small (only 4 people) & each actor plays a wide-range of characters. Actors transform to new characters before your eyes – both in body & voice. Dale Sampson, who plays Sam, does a phenomenal job showcasing the struggles that Sam has to communicate as a non-verbal teen while also rocking out as Sammy Starr.
- Sam’s story is reflected in all of us right now. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we have to find new ways to connect & communicate. Just like Sam, we are navigating a world that we aren’t always comfortable with. We have to find ways to escape in order to keep our spirits thriving.
- The staging is creative & intentional. The Sam’s Room team made the decision to use a debate technique called Forensics. In this technique, actors don’t actually touch. One actor might pass an item towards the audience & another receives it facing the side. It’s a really cool way to highlight our challenges to connect AND they do it so well!
If you are unable to attend the whole convention & are interested in taking part in this amazing workshop on Sunday at 3 PM EST, please email us so I can share the link with you. It’s perfect for all ages and will leave you in high spirits.
This musical deserves to be seen. It’s unlike anything I have seen before & it’s truly special.
PS Want to see a sneak peek of their work before the event. Here’s a performance for New York Theater Barn: https://www.facebook.com/insidesamsroom/videos/238023130787603
Leave a Reply