“I pick John,” she said with a huge smile as she pointed to artist John Legend on the September 27 episode of NBC’s The Voice.
In August, 32-year-old Samara Brown posted to social media, “I auditioned for The Voice!” Since then, the staff and faculty at Genesee Community College in Batavia have been on the edge of their seats, waiting to see her performance, which is now available online. Her audition left judges John Legend and Ariana Grande fighting over who would get to be her coach this season.
Samara Brown from Bronx, New York, earned a Theatre Arts degree from Genesee Community College (GCC) in 2009. One of the first times western New Yorkers got to see Brown perform on stage was as Patient #2 in a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in October of 2007.
Then, as a freshman, Brown found her home in GCC’s Stuart Steiner Theatre. Flying onto the scene in April of 2008, literally from the ceiling, as Peter Pan in the college’s performance of Peter Pan-The Musical.
Her performances continued. As the Village Doctor, Brown played a leading role in bringing the children’s fable, The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria to life in March of 2009. From entertaining children to making audiences of all ages laugh in her role in the farce, Noises Off, later that year Brown demonstrated the depths of her singing and acting talents.
Then in November of 2009, Brown played Lady in Blue in the Forum Players performance of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange, one of the featured shows at the Theater Association of New York State Festival (TANYS). The performance was awarded “Excellence in Acting to the Ladies of Color for their Ensemble Work” and received the highest honor, “Best Long Play of 2009,” a great achievement for Genesee’s Theatre Arts program.
“In my career specifically, you need two things; technique and talent; I think the technique is definitely what GCC gave me,” said Brown in GCC’s Alumni Spotlight Story.
“Samara’s talent was compounded by her drive and her passion performing. She worked hard at rehearsals, she took apart each role she played and fully embraced the character,” said GCC’s Maryanne Arena, Director of the Fine and Performing Arts, who directed Brown in numerous shows and one-act performances as well as cabarets. “Samara is a star whether she is on or off the stage.”
GCC’s award-winning Theatre Arts program is designed to expose students to the richness of the performing arts and to provide a solid academic foundation for further study and career opportunities in theatre. Graduates typically transfer to a baccalaureate institution as juniors to continue their educations. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact GCC’s Career Center for more information.
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