LaGuardia Performing Arts Center presented Away, You Ethiop! by David Samuel and directed by Danaya Esperanza as part of the Rough Draft Reading Festival on October 15, 2024 at 7:30pm.
For Shakespeare lovers, it’s a line in A MidSummer Night’s Dream. For actor/artist David Samuel, it’s the title of the solo show meets concept album meets short film that tells the story of what it was like to grow up the eldest son in an immigrant Habesha (Ethiopian/Eritrean) household in the DMV. Think of it as if RAMY was a Christian-raised, fat East African and could also rap and produce music really well (like Donald Glover), and really loved the mediums of live theater and storytelling (like Shakespeare). He also has a sick impression of his Dad that really sounds nothing like his Dad. That’s Away, You Ethiop!
Red Taxi by Banna Desta
David Samuel played the role of Yohannes in the staged reading of Banna Desta’s new play Red Taxi. Directed by Yohanna Desta and featuring Semere Desta, Marchant Davis, Kate Pittard, Hubert Point Du Jour, James Udom, Mahalet Tegenu, and Bisserat Tseggai, Red Taxi follows Abraha, a new immigrant and Eritrean cab driver in Washington, D.C. Over four decades, from the 1980s to present day, Abraha and his four close friends experience the emotional and political highs and lows of being in the taxi business, which begs them to question how they can thrive and maintain relationships in such a fragile democracy. The reading took place at Signature Theatre in NYC on June 14th, 2024.
Away, You Ethiop! at BRIC Arts House
“So you achieved the American Dream...Was it worth it?”
Away, You Ethiop! is a solo show written and performed by David Samuel, that uses film, music, and theater in a mythically autobiographical way to explore his Ethiopian family's journey to and through the American Dream. Developed as a part of his 2022-2023 BRIClab Performing Arts Residency in March 2023, Away, You Ethiop! was performed on March 30th and 31st at BRIC Arts House in downtown Brooklyn. The show was directed by Josiah Davis. Lighting and set design were by Josiah Davis and David Samuel, and sound, projections, and music were created and designed by David Samuel. All images were taken by Ellen Qbertplaya.
2022/2023 BRIClab Performing Arts Residency
David Samuel will be a part of the BRIClab Performing Arts 22/23 cohort!
His piece, “Away, You Ethiop!” is a solo show + concept album + short film, all based on this question: “You achieved the American Dream. Was it worth it?”
“BRIClab is a multi-disciplinary residency program created to advance opportunities for visual artists, performers, and media makers.” - @bricbrooklyn
Head to the BRIC website to learn more about his show and the other artists in residence this year. There are four tracks (Film/TV, Contemporary Art, Performing Art, and Video Art), with several artists in residence in each category.
Hart Island
David Samuel played R.I. in the world premiere of Hart Island at The Gym at Judson, from March 8th - April 9th, 2022.
“How do we reckon with our earthly pain to transcend it?“
Hart Island is a multimedia theatrical meditation that wrestles with this question, through the history of the real Hart Island and it’s use as a burial ground since 1869.
Hart Island
The Gym at Judson
243 Thompson Street
New York, NY
March 8th - April 9th
Written by Tracy Weller
Directed by Kristjan Thor
Featuring Julie Asriyan, Nora Cole, Jimmy Crowell II, James Foster Jr., Daniel Kublick, David Samuel, Tracy Weller
Poster designed by Third World Vision.
Scorpio Sounds, Vol. 1
After receiving the 2021 City Artists Corps Grant, David Samuel (via Third World Vision) produced a live performance featuring local musicians in Brooklyn. KINGOFAXUM (aka David Samuel), Sufi Hamilton, Yaya Bey and DJ Eden are performed, while Nehemiah Markos of comedy duo, Never Sad was the host. The performance took place at HIDDEN BK (127 Tompkins Ave.) at 8:30pm on October 26th, 2021.
City Artists Corps Grant - David Samuel
David Samuel has been named a 2021 City Artists Corps Grant (Cycle 3) recipient. He is excited to be given the opportunity to create new opportunities to perform and tell stories through this grant. More news coming soon!
Niguse and The Red Terror
In 2016, Ethiopian-American actor David Samuel was completing his MFA in Acting at Brown University, when he learned that he had an uncle (on his mother’s side) that was killed in Ethiopia in the late 1970s, during a period of time known as The Red Terror. Inspired by what he learned, David began imagining how he could tell his uncle’s story and began raising money to film this project, with local Providence filmmaker Alex Laferriere. After a successful campaign, they spent ten days in Addis Ababa and Gondar interviewing a few of Niguse’s family members who were willing to speak about these traumatic events. Using a mixture of found footage from home videos, audio diaries recorded during filming, and music from David Samuel’s solo show, “Away You Ethiop”, and his musical project, KINGOFAXUM, Niguse and The Red Terror explores what grief looks like when you don’t get a chance to mourn, and what it means to find a home in the midst of sorrow. To view the film: CLICK HERE
Habeshas In The Arts- Actors
Habeshas In The Arts is a video series that seeks to tell the stories of a variety of Habesha artists and shine a light on the creative spirit of the Habesha community.
Read More
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory- 1st National Tour
David is excited to be joining the 1st National Tour of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory as Mr. Beauregarde. The musical opens on September 21st in Buffalo, NY at Shea's Performing Arts Center. For more information and to see the other cities where Charlie will be making a stop visit: https://www.charlieonbroadway.com/tour/.
Blood Wedding with The Williams Project
David Samuel is performing as Leonardo in the Langston Hughes-translated adaptation of Fredrico Garciá Lorca's Blood Wedding, with The Williams Project, a theater company in Seattle that takes theatrical works, and re-imagines them in spaces all across Seattle.
Performances are 7pm, August 2nd-4th, 2018, at Equinox Studios (6555 5th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108). There will be live music, drinks, and food.
Brother Toad at Kansas City Rep
David Samuel is currently in rehearsal for Brother Toad at Kansas City Rep. The play, by Nathan Louis Jackson (Sticky Traps, Broke-ology, When I Come To Die), deals with the issues of gun violence, gun control, and how they affect the Black communities and families in Kansas City. The production is a part of Kansas City Rep's OriginKC: New Works Festival, which seeks to develop new work that will be part of the national theatre landscape. Brother Toad runs in rep with Welcome to Fear City by Kara Lee Corthron from April 27th, 2018 to May 27th, 2018. For more info: http://kcrep.org/show/brother-toad
Lia Chang Photography
Ain't Misbehavin' at New Jersey Performing Arts Center
David Samuel performed the role of Ken in the Crossroad Theatre revival of their 2011 production of Ain't Misbehavin'. The rest of the cast included Zurin Villanueva as Charlayne, Rheaume Crenshaw as Nell, Borris York as André, and Johmaalya Adelekan as Armelia. This production, which performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, was directed by two-time Tony-nominee André DeShields, who was an original cast member in the Broadway production and the 10th Anniversary Broadway revival.
Twelfth Night with Fiasco Theater Company at Classic Stage
David is excited to be returning to Classic Stage for the Fiasco Theater Company's production of Twelfth Night. He will be playing Antonio, alongside Jessie Austrian, Noah Brody, Tina Chilip, Paul L. Coffey, Andy Grotelueschen, Javier Ignacio, Ben Steinfeld, and Paco Tolson.
More information: https://www.broadway.com/buzz/189989/casting-announced-for-fiasco-theaters-twelfth-night-at-classic-stage-company/
As You Like It with Bay Street Theater and Classic Stage Company
In a few weeks, David will be making his Bay Street Theater debut with the John Doyle-directed production of William Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT as Charles/Silvius. The cast features Ellen Burstyn as Jacques, Andre De Shields as Touchstone, Kyle Scatliffe as Orlando, Hannah Cabell as Rosalind, and Quincy Tyler Bernstine as Celia. The show also features new music composed by Stephen Schwartz, that the actors will sing and and play live on-stage. AS YOU LIKE IT runs in Sag Harbor for the month of August, and then returns to Classic Stage in September and October.
For more info: http://www.playbill.com/article/ellen-burstyn-kyle-scatliffe-andre-de-shields-set-for-bay-streets-as-you-like-it
Committee Films TV Project
A few weeks ago, David was involved in shooting a proof-of-concept with Minneapolis-based production company, Committee Films. The project is being pitched to various networks. More details to come!
After being called back for the Williamstown Theatre Festival Non-Equity Company, and offered positions at the Guthrie Theater's Summer Actor Experience and at the Chautauqua Theater Festival, David decided to spend his summer in upstate NY, training and performing at the Chautauqua Institute.
Blues For Mr. Charlie
David played the role of Richard Henry in Blues For Mr. Charlie in this limited three performance engagement at Trinity Rep. The show is running in conjunction with To Kill A Mockingbird, in which David plays Tom Robinson. The first performance had a huge response, and 100 members of the audience stayed for the talkback, which was full of emotional stories and illuminating messages of hope.
WELCOME!
Here you will find updates on David's projects. If you're into social media, David's Instagram is @kingofaxum.