Their Eyes Saw Rain
From Joe Straw #9 reviews, Nov. 26, 2012: “Samantha Klein as Peach is torn between two men. Klein is very good in the role and presents a fertile emotional life. But her intentions with each man is secretive and possibly not all that honorable. Klein’s working class portrayal is simply splendid.”
From LA Weekly Nov 15, 2012: “Performances from the cast of eight are all good… a blossoming romance between Joanus and a young, single mother, Peach (Samantha Klein), provokes an eruption from her wannabe sheriff boyfriend, Jake.”
From The Examiner Nov. 20, 2012: “Boasts terrific acting by the entire cast.”
From Playwritinginthecity.com Nov. 19, 2012: "What is most captivating about Their Eyes Saw Rain are the performances. Samantha Klein, James Thomas Gilbert and Kavin Panmeechao build the tension and desperation within their characters performances by providing a love triangle, filled with foreboding that brings gasps of suspense from the audience.”
Speed Merchant of Venice
From Backstage West June 19, 2012: "... and Samantha Klein as an irreverent Nerissa is delightful..."
From TalkinBroadway.com: "...One place the creativity of the production comes through is in the casket selection.... Nerissa (Klein) says "Choose the Right Casket" as though she were saying "Wheel of Fortune"... the show gets some great laughs."
From Turnstyle.com : "This cast. This adaptation. This production. So good. So very, very good. Not to be missed at the Hollywood Fringe this year."
Trip to Bountiful
From The Tolucan Times, March 17, 2004: "… their production is stunning! It is perfectly cast… Samantha Klein is innocent perfection as the kind young girl who befriends Carrie…"
From Variety, March 26, 2004: "Carrie...is assisted by glowingly youthful army bride Thelma (Samantha Klein). A vivid highlight of the production is the second-act bus ride shared by Carrie and Thelma. Klein and Young have a tangible emotional bond, with Thelma's fresh beauty, dreams and insecurities vividly juxtaposed against Carrie's crusty realities and determination as they trade confidences and encouragement."
From Backstage West, March 18, 2007: "Samantha Klein makes the most of a brief but important role as a sweet young passenger, whose hopes for the future provide a poignant counterpoint to Carrie's yearning for the past."
Company
From Sondheim.com, May 9, 2005: "This is an excellent production of this show, and well worth catching…I have only seen one other production attempt "Tick Tock" but it works wonderfully here…. Kathy rising up from the middle of them out of the bed like a phoenix. A lovely bit of dance work by Samantha Klein, both erotic and touching."
From The Daily Breeze, May 13, 2005: "A cute Samantha Klein (also the show's choreographer) impresses with her sensual ballet as she glides across the stage in a skimpy slip."
Two Gentlemen of Verona
From Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1996: "Samantha Klein's sense of comedy takes the usually unrewarding role of Julia's waiting-woman, Lucetta, and makes it a small gem."
From Garden Grove Journal, June 20, 1996: "Some of the unsung heroes of this particular production were… Samantha Klein as Lucetta and an outlaw. Klein was perhaps undercast, but sparkles in the role she is given."
Wait Until Dark
From Metro LA, March 13, 2006: "Samantha Klein as Gloria, the dead-pan teenaged neighbor whose childish lies and prankish theft actually set up most of the deadly action, got the warmest response of the evening as she actually went through a character arc, learning, growing, changing."
Local Heroes Sketch Comedy
From bluntreview.com: "… and Samantha Klein… all write their own material and have a great time performing it on the trendy stage of the Westside Eclectic. It's obvious that they love what they do and are all strong actors… Some highlights include… Samantha Klein singing "Spolish Green" as pure-as-snow twins in a deliciously wicked spoof on Christian singers."
Resident Demon aka Lich
From horrortalk.com: "However, one thing saved this film from being a complete and utter disaster: Samantha Klein as Maggie. In a sea of monotony, she was my lifeboat. Klein was more-than-believable as the dead witch's sister, who escapes from an insane asylum to help the new tenants of her sister's house. With her attractive girl-next-door looks, she comes across very well as a young woman harboring a secret and battling her own inner demons. Klein is the only reason why Demon doesn't get an "F." Simply avoid this until Samantha Klein makes it big, then give it a whirl to see her roots."
The Speed of Darkness
From LA Weekly, March 19, 2007: " …his teenage daughter (Samantha Klein) adores him … Director David Blanchard has recruited a fine cast who serve the play faithfully and well."
From Joe Straw #9 reviews, Nov. 26, 2012: “Samantha Klein as Peach is torn between two men. Klein is very good in the role and presents a fertile emotional life. But her intentions with each man is secretive and possibly not all that honorable. Klein’s working class portrayal is simply splendid.”
From LA Weekly Nov 15, 2012: “Performances from the cast of eight are all good… a blossoming romance between Joanus and a young, single mother, Peach (Samantha Klein), provokes an eruption from her wannabe sheriff boyfriend, Jake.”
From The Examiner Nov. 20, 2012: “Boasts terrific acting by the entire cast.”
From Playwritinginthecity.com Nov. 19, 2012: "What is most captivating about Their Eyes Saw Rain are the performances. Samantha Klein, James Thomas Gilbert and Kavin Panmeechao build the tension and desperation within their characters performances by providing a love triangle, filled with foreboding that brings gasps of suspense from the audience.”
Speed Merchant of Venice
From Backstage West June 19, 2012: "... and Samantha Klein as an irreverent Nerissa is delightful..."
From TalkinBroadway.com: "...One place the creativity of the production comes through is in the casket selection.... Nerissa (Klein) says "Choose the Right Casket" as though she were saying "Wheel of Fortune"... the show gets some great laughs."
From Turnstyle.com : "This cast. This adaptation. This production. So good. So very, very good. Not to be missed at the Hollywood Fringe this year."
Trip to Bountiful
From The Tolucan Times, March 17, 2004: "… their production is stunning! It is perfectly cast… Samantha Klein is innocent perfection as the kind young girl who befriends Carrie…"
From Variety, March 26, 2004: "Carrie...is assisted by glowingly youthful army bride Thelma (Samantha Klein). A vivid highlight of the production is the second-act bus ride shared by Carrie and Thelma. Klein and Young have a tangible emotional bond, with Thelma's fresh beauty, dreams and insecurities vividly juxtaposed against Carrie's crusty realities and determination as they trade confidences and encouragement."
From Backstage West, March 18, 2007: "Samantha Klein makes the most of a brief but important role as a sweet young passenger, whose hopes for the future provide a poignant counterpoint to Carrie's yearning for the past."
Company
From Sondheim.com, May 9, 2005: "This is an excellent production of this show, and well worth catching…I have only seen one other production attempt "Tick Tock" but it works wonderfully here…. Kathy rising up from the middle of them out of the bed like a phoenix. A lovely bit of dance work by Samantha Klein, both erotic and touching."
From The Daily Breeze, May 13, 2005: "A cute Samantha Klein (also the show's choreographer) impresses with her sensual ballet as she glides across the stage in a skimpy slip."
Two Gentlemen of Verona
From Los Angeles Times, June 17, 1996: "Samantha Klein's sense of comedy takes the usually unrewarding role of Julia's waiting-woman, Lucetta, and makes it a small gem."
From Garden Grove Journal, June 20, 1996: "Some of the unsung heroes of this particular production were… Samantha Klein as Lucetta and an outlaw. Klein was perhaps undercast, but sparkles in the role she is given."
Wait Until Dark
From Metro LA, March 13, 2006: "Samantha Klein as Gloria, the dead-pan teenaged neighbor whose childish lies and prankish theft actually set up most of the deadly action, got the warmest response of the evening as she actually went through a character arc, learning, growing, changing."
Local Heroes Sketch Comedy
From bluntreview.com: "… and Samantha Klein… all write their own material and have a great time performing it on the trendy stage of the Westside Eclectic. It's obvious that they love what they do and are all strong actors… Some highlights include… Samantha Klein singing "Spolish Green" as pure-as-snow twins in a deliciously wicked spoof on Christian singers."
Resident Demon aka Lich
From horrortalk.com: "However, one thing saved this film from being a complete and utter disaster: Samantha Klein as Maggie. In a sea of monotony, she was my lifeboat. Klein was more-than-believable as the dead witch's sister, who escapes from an insane asylum to help the new tenants of her sister's house. With her attractive girl-next-door looks, she comes across very well as a young woman harboring a secret and battling her own inner demons. Klein is the only reason why Demon doesn't get an "F." Simply avoid this until Samantha Klein makes it big, then give it a whirl to see her roots."
The Speed of Darkness
From LA Weekly, March 19, 2007: " …his teenage daughter (Samantha Klein) adores him … Director David Blanchard has recruited a fine cast who serve the play faithfully and well."
