Meet the Staff: Sam LaFrage – Lead Teacher

What sparked your interest in theatre?

You know! I honestly don’t remember. All I know is that I picked flowers in the baseball field, loved dressing up as Catwoman, and was unlike the other boys growing up in (small town) Camden, South Carolina. What I do remember is the inspiring theatre teachers and the community theatre (Fine Arts Center of Camden) who really helped nurture and guide me. They taught me, celebrated me, and ALLOWED me to do anything. I wrote. I directed. I acted. I owe everything to those teachers.

 

What do you love about working with kids?

Kids live in the moment. Adults live in their heads. Ok, so not not ALLLLL adults of course, I can’t speak for everyone, but I can have a tendency to take residence and pay rent in the anxiety of the future or shame of the past. I want to be more like a kid. There is this kind of fearlessness, teachable quality that young people have that inspires me. I admire anyone who says, “This is me!!” without worrying about what other people think of you.

 

What is one show you have either performed in or worked on that stands out to you?

One would be working on and developing the musical adaptation of “To Wong Foo.” I was brought on as the assistant director and drag consultant, and watching the writer (Douglas Carter Beane) and composer (Lewis Flynn) create the material in front of my eyes is something that I will never forgot. I also rediscovered the power of drag working with the cast. Drag is a vehicle for self celebration.  People go to drag shows to celebrate and to laugh. Because laughter is celebration. It’s the ultimate release. And drag presents us with the idea and the OPPORTUNITY to not take life so seriously. I will also never forgot the time I opened my show “Rapunzel” Off Broadway at the SoHo Playhouse, where so many playwrights and shows I admired started as well.

 

What is your favorite book?

My favorite book is probably…oh gosh. I’m very much an O! Magazine kind of guy. Take that as a warning. No, don’t! I’m not ashamed! I love books like “Eat, Pray, Love” (and I think that’s my favorite book?) and other self discovery books. Books about healing. I love autobiographies. There is something about relating to another person’s experience that can teach you so much. So I love books by Elizabeth Gilbert. Her book “Big Magic” is also amazing. I also just read a book called “Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton that I loved. I also enjoy reading Carrie Fisher. (I’ve said “also” now 3 times.)

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Bali. (Eat, Pray, Love style) Or Rome. (also Eat, Pray, Love style)(“also now 4 times.)

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

The impossible question. I go in flavor waves where I’ll obsess and indulge over one flavor. I just got off the “cherry” coaster where I loved all things cherries. Now I’m just surfing around.