Sam Weiser designing Passing Strange at the University of Michigan (2018)
Samantha “Sam” Weiser, is a lighting designer and associate based in New York City. Sam began lighting design at 13 years old at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Plainview, NY, went on to attend the Long Island High School for the Arts, and eventually received her BFA in Theatre Design and Production from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in May 2020.
Recent designs include “The Wedding Singer” at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, “The Last Romance” at Cortland Repertory Theatre, and “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Long Island University. As an Associate LD, Sam has worked on productions including “Mystic Pizza” at the La Mirada Theatre in California, “Tick Tick… Boom!” at George Street Playhouse, NJ, and “Blackstar Symphony”: the Music of David Bowie at the Kennedy Center, DC. She has assisted regionally at theaters including: The McCarter Theatre, NJ, TUTS Houston, Bucks County Playhouse, PA, The Signature Theatre, VA, and Theatre for A New Audience, Brooklyn.
In 2022, Sam was named the “Howell Binkley Lighting Fellow”. Through the fellowship, Sam assisted Ryan O’Gara and Amanda Zieve on 7 shows in 3 months. The fellowship threw Sam into the assistant/ associate LD role on commercial musical productions and gave Sam experience working at various regional theaters throughout the US.
As a designer, Sam loves to create and tell stories through her lighting. Her designs are known for her color choices and musicality within her cueing.
When not working on a production, Sam can be found drawing, running, crocheting, or playing rugby!
She looks forward to any opportunity to collaborate, design, and create!
Sam Weiser focusing for Blackstar Symphony: The Music of David Bowie at the Kennedy Center, DC
Ryan O’Gara (LD) and Sam Weiser (ALD) at the invited dress for Mystic Pizza (2024)
Sam onstage at the first transfer stop of “Jesus Christ Superstar”
