Interview with Sammy Odonnell
Read the interview between Kaitlyn C. and Sammy Odonnell.
Samantha: I’m Samantha O’Donnell. I’m 19 years old and I currently live in Boca Raton, Florida. I was born in Reno, Nevada to two performing parents. I grew up singing and dancing and watching my parents perform.
Kaitlyn: When were you first introduced to musical theatre and how?
Samantha: I was always exposed to it at a young age since my parents grew up doing it. However, my mom didn’t really want me to perform because of how attached she got to it. After several years of failed sports teams, she finally allowed me to do a musical theatre “glee” summer camp at this place showtime. The owner saw a lot of potential and offered me a scholarship to stay and train there during the school year. That’s where I really started to perform and learn all of the basics to theatre.
Kaitlyn: That sounds like so much fun! Have you ever faced any other hardship being a musical theatre actress other than your mom’s initial hesitation?
Samantha: Oh for sure!! High school was really hard for me because i was always known as the crazy theatre girl! It wasn’t really the normal thing to do. Also, kids in high school drama can be so mean and so much drama is created too. I’ll admit I have been a mean girl from time to time when I let pressure and everyone’s opinions get to me. But through my mistakes I’ve learned that no one else opinion matters as long as you love yourself and truly believe you can achieve in this industry.
Kaitlyn: That’s really good advice that teens should definitely keep in mind. What are your future goals for musical theatre?
Samantha: I just want to be able to make it a career. A lot of people get blinded by fame but i don’t want to let that happen to me. It’s what I love to do and i just want to keep performing and telling the story as long as I can! Once my time is up, I would like to teach. I definetly want to end up performing in New York however eventually
Kaitlyn: That sounds like a great goal to have! I definitely think it’s something you’ll achieve in the near future! How did your family support you, or help you reach your goals with this?
Samantha: I’ve actually had to figure a lot of this stuff out on my own. Sadly, I don’t have a fantastic relationship with either of my parents due to mental illness and alcoholism. I know that they really do believe in me however and want me to achieve my dreams. Me and my mom are always talking about my New York apartment on our dates to get our nails done!
Kaitlyn: How many musicals have you been in and of those which are your favorite?
Samantha: My first musical ever was Honk where i played the ugly duckling. And since then I have been in Shrek, Les Mis, West Side Story, The Wedding Singer, Rent, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcast, Bye Bye Birdie, In The Heights, Company, Sweet Charity, Freaky Friday, Cinderella and My One and Only! My top two are probably Cinderella(Ella) and Sweet Charity(Charity). But I must say, bring ensemble in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the most fun I’ve had in a show EVER!
Kaitlyn: That sounds like so much fun! I was just in a production of West Side Story this summer! What is your favorite musical?(It doesn’t have to be one that you’ve been in.)
Samantha: My favorite musical EVER is Jesus Christ Superstar. But I also love Mean Girls. Jesus Christ superstar just has my favorite score ever. The vocals are insane.
Kaitlyn: I happen to be going through a Hadestown phase myself, but Jesus Christ Superstar and Mean Girls are also really good! Taylor Louderman is so amazing! What’s your dream role?
Samantha: Oh Regina George 100%!! I thoroughly enjoy playing mean girls. There’s something about finally living up to what I wish I could have done in high school if you know what I mean. Besides that I’d probably say Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime or Amber in Hairspray
Kaitlyn: Regina George would be such a fun role! So would Evelyn or Amber! Who is your theatre role model? (Who do you look up to?)
Samantha: I love love LOVE Eden Espinosa! I also truly admire Renee Rapp for how young she is and how much she’s accomplished. My day on role model will always be Lea Michelle, however. I’ve loved her so long now and she’s so strong and determined and talented it’s amazing.
Kaitlyn: So true! What would you say the most difficult part of being a musical theatre actress is?
Samantha: Rejection. It’s someone you have to grow to become accepting of. Also relationships are super hard too. But if there’s one thing I will take to my grave it is to never ever date a theatre guy ever again. Also, the stamina. Theatre people really have to train like athletes because it is HARD to dance and sing at the same time
Kaitlyn: That’s some really good advice. What is your favorite part about being a musical theatre actress?
Samantha: Getting to tell a story. Theatre is such an escape from how stressful life can be and to be apart of an escape from someone’s awful day is really cool. Also being able to take all your own problems and leave them behind for a little is awesome. You get to use your own emotions and your own struggles to tell a story and have someone really believe it and connect with you without even having to talk.
Kaitlyn: I feel exactly the same! It’s a lot of work but at the end of the day I always feel very satisfied with my contribution to helping tell a story to an audience. What is the best advice you were ever given about musical theatre that anyone pursuing that as a career should hear?
Samantha: To never give up. No matter how intense it gets. The stress and crazy ness gives you such a high once it pays off. And to look back at your work and be proud is a feeling like no other.
Kaitlyn: What is the best advice you can give to teens not relating to musical theatre?
Samantha: Just to be nice! Give a random person a compliment. Smile at someone even if you don’t know them. Your kindness can fix someone’s day. It’s so easy to just be nice and so hard to be somewhat standoffish. Stay humble
Kaitlyn: That’s great advice! Is there anything you’d like to add before we conclude the interview?
Samantha: Keep theatre alive!! Go see community shows!! Seeing shows with your friends are so fun and you meet so many new people!! Even if they are not the best at least you experienced it with people you love!
Kaitlyn: For sure! Supporting local theatre is so important! Thank you for your time! Have a great rest of your day! I wish you luck in your Broadway endeavors! I truly believe that someday soon you’ll make it up on one of those stages! Keep your head held high!
Samantha: Thank you!!! Have a great day!
Kaitlyn: You too!
Samantha's Instagram: @sammy.odonnell
Kaitlyn: When were you first introduced to musical theatre and how?
Samantha: I was always exposed to it at a young age since my parents grew up doing it. However, my mom didn’t really want me to perform because of how attached she got to it. After several years of failed sports teams, she finally allowed me to do a musical theatre “glee” summer camp at this place showtime. The owner saw a lot of potential and offered me a scholarship to stay and train there during the school year. That’s where I really started to perform and learn all of the basics to theatre.
Kaitlyn: That sounds like so much fun! Have you ever faced any other hardship being a musical theatre actress other than your mom’s initial hesitation?
Samantha: Oh for sure!! High school was really hard for me because i was always known as the crazy theatre girl! It wasn’t really the normal thing to do. Also, kids in high school drama can be so mean and so much drama is created too. I’ll admit I have been a mean girl from time to time when I let pressure and everyone’s opinions get to me. But through my mistakes I’ve learned that no one else opinion matters as long as you love yourself and truly believe you can achieve in this industry.
Kaitlyn: That’s really good advice that teens should definitely keep in mind. What are your future goals for musical theatre?
Samantha: I just want to be able to make it a career. A lot of people get blinded by fame but i don’t want to let that happen to me. It’s what I love to do and i just want to keep performing and telling the story as long as I can! Once my time is up, I would like to teach. I definetly want to end up performing in New York however eventually
Kaitlyn: That sounds like a great goal to have! I definitely think it’s something you’ll achieve in the near future! How did your family support you, or help you reach your goals with this?
Samantha: I’ve actually had to figure a lot of this stuff out on my own. Sadly, I don’t have a fantastic relationship with either of my parents due to mental illness and alcoholism. I know that they really do believe in me however and want me to achieve my dreams. Me and my mom are always talking about my New York apartment on our dates to get our nails done!
Kaitlyn: How many musicals have you been in and of those which are your favorite?
Samantha: My first musical ever was Honk where i played the ugly duckling. And since then I have been in Shrek, Les Mis, West Side Story, The Wedding Singer, Rent, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcast, Bye Bye Birdie, In The Heights, Company, Sweet Charity, Freaky Friday, Cinderella and My One and Only! My top two are probably Cinderella(Ella) and Sweet Charity(Charity). But I must say, bring ensemble in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the most fun I’ve had in a show EVER!
Kaitlyn: That sounds like so much fun! I was just in a production of West Side Story this summer! What is your favorite musical?(It doesn’t have to be one that you’ve been in.)
Samantha: My favorite musical EVER is Jesus Christ Superstar. But I also love Mean Girls. Jesus Christ superstar just has my favorite score ever. The vocals are insane.
Kaitlyn: I happen to be going through a Hadestown phase myself, but Jesus Christ Superstar and Mean Girls are also really good! Taylor Louderman is so amazing! What’s your dream role?
Samantha: Oh Regina George 100%!! I thoroughly enjoy playing mean girls. There’s something about finally living up to what I wish I could have done in high school if you know what I mean. Besides that I’d probably say Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime or Amber in Hairspray
Kaitlyn: Regina George would be such a fun role! So would Evelyn or Amber! Who is your theatre role model? (Who do you look up to?)
Samantha: I love love LOVE Eden Espinosa! I also truly admire Renee Rapp for how young she is and how much she’s accomplished. My day on role model will always be Lea Michelle, however. I’ve loved her so long now and she’s so strong and determined and talented it’s amazing.
Kaitlyn: So true! What would you say the most difficult part of being a musical theatre actress is?
Samantha: Rejection. It’s someone you have to grow to become accepting of. Also relationships are super hard too. But if there’s one thing I will take to my grave it is to never ever date a theatre guy ever again. Also, the stamina. Theatre people really have to train like athletes because it is HARD to dance and sing at the same time
Kaitlyn: That’s some really good advice. What is your favorite part about being a musical theatre actress?
Samantha: Getting to tell a story. Theatre is such an escape from how stressful life can be and to be apart of an escape from someone’s awful day is really cool. Also being able to take all your own problems and leave them behind for a little is awesome. You get to use your own emotions and your own struggles to tell a story and have someone really believe it and connect with you without even having to talk.
Kaitlyn: I feel exactly the same! It’s a lot of work but at the end of the day I always feel very satisfied with my contribution to helping tell a story to an audience. What is the best advice you were ever given about musical theatre that anyone pursuing that as a career should hear?
Samantha: To never give up. No matter how intense it gets. The stress and crazy ness gives you such a high once it pays off. And to look back at your work and be proud is a feeling like no other.
Kaitlyn: What is the best advice you can give to teens not relating to musical theatre?
Samantha: Just to be nice! Give a random person a compliment. Smile at someone even if you don’t know them. Your kindness can fix someone’s day. It’s so easy to just be nice and so hard to be somewhat standoffish. Stay humble
Kaitlyn: That’s great advice! Is there anything you’d like to add before we conclude the interview?
Samantha: Keep theatre alive!! Go see community shows!! Seeing shows with your friends are so fun and you meet so many new people!! Even if they are not the best at least you experienced it with people you love!
Kaitlyn: For sure! Supporting local theatre is so important! Thank you for your time! Have a great rest of your day! I wish you luck in your Broadway endeavors! I truly believe that someday soon you’ll make it up on one of those stages! Keep your head held high!
Samantha: Thank you!!! Have a great day!
Kaitlyn: You too!
Samantha's Instagram: @sammy.odonnell