Playing Sam

Admission is available as a $19 single ticket or $25 VIP Premium Ticket, which includes premium status an hour before the show, access to our fully furnished lounge to network and relax before the show, complementary crafted beverages, appetizers, and exclusive photo opportunities in the lounge.

Directed by: Ramon Felipe Pesante
Written by: Ramon Pesante, Jenni Ruiza
Produced by: Jessica Hernandez, Marc Reign, Jenni Ruiza, Ramon Pesante, Amada Caba, Janeita Bellamy, Elaine Del Valle, Burton Lewis
Cast: Jenni Ruiza, Marc Reign, William DeMeritt, Alana Johnson, Victor Almanzar

After her ex-boyfriend’s acting career takes off, Sam picks up the pieces of her broken heart and (so-called) acting career to rediscover her essence as a modern Latinx actress in this powerful and timely film that addresses the lack of representation of Latinx actors in the entertainment industry.

As a non-Spanish-speaking Latinx actress from the Bronx, Samantha (aka Sam) struggles to fit into Hollywood’s narrow standards of beauty and ethnicity. When she auditions for the role of Anita in the Off-Broadway rendition of West Side Story, she delivers a cringe-worthy monologue with a noticeably fake Spanish accent, “Antonio! What kind of fool do you take me for?” She botches it, and the director, Ivonne Salaberrios, calls her out. But Ivonne sees the potential in Sam and gives her one last chance to deliver an authentic performance. What ensues is an emotional rollercoaster ride of narcissists and F-Boys, as Sam gets to the root of what it means to be your true authentic self.