You’ve already had many chances to see Sam Torres on area stages – “Beauty and the Beast,” “9 to 5,” “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Sordid Lives,” to name just a few of the shows that they’ve been in. Their latest show, the Kander and Ebb musical revue “The World Goes ‘Round,” directed by Jan D. Hunter, opens Sept. 12 at the Virginia Samford Theatre. Torres answered some questions about their theater work, including their favorite roles, something you might not know about them and what’s to come. (Hint: There’s a lot to come).
Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m 36 years old and I was born in Venezuela and came to the USA when I was 17 years old, due to my father’s job, without any knowledge of English. Theater was one of those things that allowed me not only to get better at my English but also to come out of my shell. And besides being an actor, I am also a graphic artist and the marketing associate at Birmingham Children’s Theatre.
What about your Birmingham theater background. What shows have you done and for what theaters?
First show ever was at Clay-Chalkville High School, and I played the herald in “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” under the direction of the amazing Mr. Hal McIntosh, Mind you, I didn’t know English very well, so I had to memorize all of those names in “The Prince is Giving a Ball” (Christopher Rupert, Windemere Vladimir, Karl Alexander, François Reginald, Launcelot Herman). Since then, I’ve been in many performances, like VST’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “9 to 5,” “Scrooge,” “A Bluegrass Christmas,” BFT’s “Reindeer Monologues,” “Sordid Lives,” “Pageant,” Red Mountain’s “La Cage aux Folles,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sister Act,” Encore Theatre’s “Twelve Angry Jurors,” Theatre Downtown’s “Rocky Horror Show,” “Dragula,” “Inspecting Carol,” LJCC’s “Secret Garden,” ACTA’s “Seussical the Musical” and many more. And recently I made my directorial debut with “Rocky Horror” at BFT.
What’s your first memory of being on stage?
My first memory of being on stage is when I was 6 back in Venezuela in a church play. I played one of the disciples, and I didn’t have any lines (Jesus has most of them). In one of the scenes, I screamed, “No!,” to a random question that Jesus had. The guy playing Jesus didn’t know what to say, but the show kept going, and from that moment on my parents knew I wanted to be in the spotlight.
What’s your favorite role you’ve played or show you’ve been in?
It’s hard to pick one, really. They all have something I like, but I most certainly love when I get to do physical comedy. Some that come to mind are Jacob in “La Cage,” Lumiere in “Beauty and the Beast,” Dr. Eve Bolinger in “Sordid Lives” or even Frank-N-Furter in “Rocky Horror.”
Who is your favorite composer?
Stephen Sondheim.
Who is your favorite playwright?
Tony Kushner.
Do you have a favorite song from a show?
“Being Alive” from “Company,” hands down.
Tell me about “The World Goes ‘Round.” Have you done the show before?
I’ve never done this show before, but it’s one that I will remember for a while. I was familiar with some of the songs by Kander and Ebb, of course, but it’s been a delight singing some of these songs that I have never done before and getting to sing “Kiss of the Spider Woman” or the beautiful duet I have with Chris Carlisle, “I Don’t Remember You/Sometimes a Day Goes By.”
Were you a Kander and Ebb fan before doing this show?
Of course. How can you not be? “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” “The Happy Times” and “New York, New York” are classics!
Anything else you’d like to say about the show?
This show is a beautiful display not only of the amazing work of Kander and Ebb, but also it’s possible and made beautiful because of the talented cast that I get to share the stage with (Kristi Tingle Higginbotham, Chris Carlisle, Lydia Yates and Hannah Kuykendall). I’m truly blessed and honored to share the stage with them.
What’s a performance (on stage or screen) that sticks out to you as an audience member?
Locally, one of my favorite stage moments as an audience member would have to be Meagan Oliver in “The Mountaintop” at Birmingham Festival Theatre as Camae, truly a masterpiece. Meagan is an amazing actor. And in a broader stage, I would have to say Rita Moreno as Valentina singing “Somewhere” in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story.”
What is a role you wish you will or could have played?
I don’t have a specific character in mind that I’m longing to play. For me, the excitement lies in diving into roles and shows that are completely unfamiliar to me. I love the challenge of stepping into a character that I might not initially connect with and transforming that role into one of my favorites. By embracing this approach, I’ve found that I’ve already had the privilege of playing some incredible characters — ones that I might never have chosen if I stuck to a wish list. It keeps me open to new possibilities and ensures that I’m constantly growing as an artist. So, rather than holding out for one specific role, I’m more interested in discovering new favorites along the way.
Any great advice you’ve been given by a director or anyone else about being on stage?
Impostor syndrome is something I’ve struggled with throughout my career. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was from Roy Lightner. He told me, “If you weren’t meant to be here, you wouldn’t have been cast. You have what it takes to play this role.” That simple statement really resonated with me because it’s true. The hardest part is often just getting out there and auditioning. Once you’ve made it through the door, you’ve already proven that you belong. From there, it’s about trusting yourself, believing in your abilities and focusing on bringing the character to life. It’s still hard work, but remembering that you’ve earned your place on that stage makes all the difference.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
I don’t per se, really. I think that one thing I do depending on the day is words or affirmations, especially on those days when I feel unaligned. I have a moment to myself with my earbuds in and try to connect to my ancestors, remembering that I’m here for a reason and without them I wouldn’t be here.
Tell me about a time something went wrong on stage.
The first time I played Lumiere back in 2008 at the Leeds Art Council Theatre I completely blanked on the beginning of “Be Our Guest,” and it went something like this: “Mademoiselle … (wait for the keys to end the riff) Your dinner!” Thankfully that did not happen years later in 2018 when I reprised the role at Red Mountain Theatre.
Tell me something people might be surprised to know about you.
Some people might not know that I am also a graphic artist (oil, pastels, watercolor, charcoal and digital art). From a very young age, my parents saw the potential in my art and enrolled me in one of Venezuela’s higher education art schools.
What kind of music do you listen to when you’re not performing?
My Spotify playlist is pretty eclectic. Everything from Celia Cruz, Shakira, Beyonce, Dolly Parton, Chappell Roan, Janelle Monáe and Raphael Saadiq to Snoop Dogg.
What’s the last book you read?
“The Mother of Black Hollywood” by Jenifer Lewis. An amazing read for anyone in the industry.
What podcasts do you listen to?
“Hyphenated” with Joanna Hausmann and Jenny Lorenzo and “Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast.”
What’s the last TV series you binged?
“House of the Dragon.”
What’s next for you?
Once we close and “The World Goes ‘Round” at VST, I will be entering rehearsals for my one “woman” musical, “Working Title,” written by me with music by Flannery Whaley and lyrics by Tyree Walker. It runs Nov. 15-24 at Birmingham Festival Theatre. After that I go into rehearsals for “Little Women” at VST, and after that “Assassins,” also at VST.
“The World Goes ‘Round,” at the Virginia Samford Theatre Sept. 12-22.
