Artist of the Week: Sam Williamson

Junior Sam Williamson is one of six of the Executive Board team for the East Theater department and is also involved in two outside theater companies: First Act and Stage Right. 

Q: What is it like balancing being an SME Theater Exec, First Act and Stage Right?

“It’s fun and it gets really busy sometimes, but it’s what I like to do. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done just depending on what show I’m doing or what I’m working on at the time with each company. For the company Stage Right Performing Arts, we’re always in rehearsals for different show choirs that perform and shows that we do through that company. And then East, there’s always stuff going on within the theater department that we’re always working on, and we’re always trying to make the Theater Department better here at East. It’s not too tasking and it’s always a good time.”

Q: What are the main differences between East, First Act and Stage Right?

“They all have their strong attributes but they’re actually pretty similar just in the sense that we’re all working together for one purpose, which is to put on as high quality of production as we can. Each company/department makes sure everybody feels included, and everybody’s able to be a part of theater everywhere that you go. So they all really celebrate their similarities instead of defining the differences.” 

Q: What has been your favorite “production” for each program?

“My favorite project for each program is always hard to decide but for First Act, the company I’m working with right now it would have to be Bright Star. It’s a really great show with a really great story so I really love that one and it’s also my first production with First Act. With Stage Right, my favorite production has probably been either “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” which is a really fun show because it has so many different characters in it. Or I’d probably have to go with Matilda, because it’s just a show that everybody knows everybody loves. For Shawnee Mission East, there’s been so many fun things going on here but I really liked “The Wedding Singer” which was last year’s mainstage.”

Q: What projects are you currently working on?

“Right now at East, the department is getting ready to have their Fall play in November, which I am not in. But we’re prepping for auditions in the East department for “SpongeBob” which is this year’s mainstage. The auditions for that will be in November because the show will be early February. But right now it’s kind of an off season around this time for theater productions. We also have our Frequent Fridays, which are the senior lead productions, but so for East we’re just getting ready to be auditioning for the musical. And then at First Act I am rehearsing for “Bright Star” about two or three times a week and that will be opening early November. Then for Stage Right, we’re always in rehearsals for our show choir performances. Coming up after that will be the show “Chicago,” performing in January.

Q: What have been some challenges you’ve faced in theater?

“Theater is a lot more competitive than people think. It’s constantly auditioning and there’s a lot of competition for the parts that people always want. But after that we all come together and work on the project which really releases the challenges faced before. And really, no matter what role you’re in, you’re gonna have an amazing time. I might be a lead in some shows but in other shows I might be an ensemble, and every single show is just as fun as the last.”

Q: What advice do you have for any non-theater people?

“Theater is often looked upon as something that is not cool or something not as many people do. But I’d say don’t be so quick to judge theater because once you actually look into it, it can be a really fun and exciting thing. It’s not for everybody and it might not be to everybody’s tastes. But don’t be so quick to judge because it can be a really fun and exciting thing to watch.”