Sam Fromkin ’19: Musical Theatre Major and Kennedy Center Actor

Sam Fromkin is a freshman from Massachusetts currently pursuing a double major of musical theatre and Spanish. From October 22 to October 25, Sam starred in a production of Antigone at the Kennedy Center alongside critically acclaimed actress and winner of the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (1997) Juliette Binoche.

Sam’s makeup artist, Juliette Binoche and Sam. 

Her Campus American University: How did you hear about this opportunity and get involved in the production?

Sam Fromkin: In the Department of Performing Arts there is an email list which sends out opportunities at AU, as well as opportunities in DC. Over the summer I received an email saying an extra person was needed for a production of Antigone at The Kennedy Center with Juliette Binoche. I submitted my headshot and resume, and in September I got the good news! The show first premiered in Luxembourg in February and eventually traveled to the United States, where it was shown in Chapel Hill, NC, Ann Arbor, MI, Brooklyn and NYC. The final stop on the tour was Washington, DC. 

HCAU: What was your favorite part of the experience?

SF: My favorite part was when the whole company went out to dinner on the night of the last show. This was a time to really get to know the people I had been working with for only a few days, and although I felt a little awkward at first, I warmed up to everyone and loved hearing all of their stories from the tour. Because it was the last stop on the tour, I heard all of the “farewells,” and even though I only shared the stage with them for four days, I was really sad to leave. 

Sam and his makeup artist, in the processes of making Sam into a dead body.

HCAU: What was the most surprising aspect of the experience?

SF: The most surprising aspect was that even though the company (The Barbican Centre) is from London, everyone is from all over Europe. The lead was from France, my make-up artist was from Rome, my stage manager was from London, and the director was from Luxembourg. Getting familiar with their different backstage terminology was interesting because I like hearing and seeing how others do theatre differently than we do. 

The tour had been going on for eight months, and when I first got there I heard the cast and crew complaining about how it’s been too long and that they couldn’t wait for it to be over. At first this made me feel a little skeptical, but when I first saw the actors perform I could not tell one bit that they were tired of the tour; they are all powerhouse actors.

It was also pretty surprising to hear that Jill Biden was in the house opening night! She came backstage and I got to meet her. On the final matinee, the president of The Kennedy Center came backstage and thanked us all. 

HCAU: Would you say this has encouraged your performing ambitions and if so, how?

SF: Definitely. I learned so much while being a part of this experience. This makes me want to go back to The Kennedy Center and explore the other professional theaters in DC, but I haven’t even been in a main-stage production yet at AU, so I think I’m just going to focus on that. I’m just a first-semester freshman, I can’t wait to see what happens within the next three years! 

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