Samantha Ginn is an American actress, stage director, and playwright who directed a production of The Roommate (2023), appeared in productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (2013), Well (2017), The Mineola Twins (2021), and won a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female for her role as Cari Lee in Hickorydickory (2012).
Personal life Ginn was born to Twila Ginn and grew up in New Jersey and Carlsbad, California. She began acting when she was 12, following diagnosis of Osgood–Schlatter disease which prevented her from pursuing a career as an athlete. Ginn attended La Costa Canyon High School and was a drama major at Sonoma State University. She later moved to University Heights, San Diego.
Career Ginn worked as a special education teacher for preschoolers in Solana Beach, California. She auditioned for The Real World and in 2011, Ginn founded Circle Circle Dot Dot, a theater production company in San Diego. In 2012, she won a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Female for her role as Cari Lee in Hickorydickory. In 2016, Ginn wrote "Giovanni & Charlie", one part of three 12 minute plays titled Bedrooms and Boyfriends for San Diego International Fringe Festival in which she shares a Best Writing Award with Michael Mizerany and Jonathan Hammond. Ginn later starred as the titular character in Hammond's short film Kathy.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleLocationNotesBye Bye Birdie2008Noises OffPoppy Norton-TaylorWhittier Community Theatre, Whittier, CaliforniaLobby HeroDawnThe Poway Performing Arts Company, Poway, California2009All This and MoonlightAndreaScripps Ranch Theatre, Alliant International UniversityBy Charles R. Johnson2011Pardon Me, Prime MinisterShirley SpringerThe Poway Performing Arts Company, Poway, CaliforniaThe Break-Up/Break-DownThe 10th Avenue Theatre, San Diego, CaliforniaRagnarokBriThe 10th Avenue Theatre, San Diego, California2012Almost, MaineScripps Ranch Theatre, Alliant International UniversityComing AttractionsAnita BryantMoxie Theater, San Diego, CaliforniaWorld premiere, by Zsa Zsa GershickMuch Ado About NothingUrsulaNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, CaliforniaHickorydickoryCari LeeMoxie Theater, San Diego, California2013The Master ForgerBLKBOX @ 6th & Penn, San Diego, CaliforniaOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestSandraNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, CaliforniaScrooge in RougeVestaDiversionary Theatre, San Diego, CaliforniaMiss Firecracker ContestNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California2014San Diego, I Love You, 2.0PlaywrightEdgar and AnnabelTaraIon Theatre, San Diego, CaliforniaFar AwayIon Theatre, San Diego, California2015Trouble in MindJudy SearsMoxie Theater, San Diego, CaliforniaShe-Rantulas from Outer Space in 3D!Lynn Redgrave Theater, New York CityNew York International Fringe FestivalThe WeirValerieNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California2016Bedrooms and BoyfriendsSpreckels Theatre, San Diego, California"Giovanni & Charlie" playwright for San Diego International Fringe FestivalSeminarKateDiversionary Theatre, San Diego, California2017WellLisa KronDiversionary Theatre, San Diego, CaliforniaThe RevolutionistsCharlotte CordayMoxie Theater, San Diego, CaliforniaBy Lauren Gunderson2018FallingDirectorMen on BoatsHawkinsNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California2019The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth DogNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, CaliforniaDirectorThe Servant of Two MastersTruffaldinoNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, CaliforniaAround the World in 80 DaysNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California2021The Mineola TwinsMayra / MyrnaMoxie Theater, San Diego, California2022SapienceMoxie Theater, San Diego, CaliforniaInclusion specialist, world premiere2023The RoommateNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, CaliforniaDirector2024Hand to GodJessica / JoleneDiversionary Theatre, San Diego, CaliforniaThe Thanksgiving PlayLoganNew Village Arts Theatre, Carlsbad, California
Accolades EventYearTitleAwardResultRef.San Diego Theatre Critics Circle2012HickorydickoryCraig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, FemaleSan Diego International Fringe Festival2016Bedrooms and BoyfriendsBest Writing Award
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