Vera Jeanne Samuels

[title of show]

 

"Samuels has a dry, almost deadpan delivery to her lines that can be quite funny."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Susan Rife

 

 

The Rocky Horror Show

 

"Vera Samuels is flirty fun as Columbia."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman 

 

"Vera Samuels portrays Columbia again and she does it well. She is one of the returning cast members.

It is easy to see why she was selected. Samuels has the talent to carry off the multifaceted character,

with emphasis on the word 'character,' and she does not miss a beat."

VENICE GONDOLIER by Kim Cool

 

 

Frankenstein

 

"Playing the role of William's nanny Justine Moritz and the female creature is Vera Samuels, who portrayed Columbia in another Frankenstein variation at Venice Theatre, The Rocky Horror Show. Her Justine is believable, delicate and caring. Her execution by hanging is riveting."

VENICE GONDOLIER by Kim Cool

 

"...but Vera Samuels as the doomed Justine is even better, making the shift from a dry humor at the outset to true pathos at the end."

ARTS SARASOTA by Kay Kipling

 

"Vera Samuels, who has been impressive in some musical productions, draws you into her role as William's nanny. When Justine faces severe legal trouble, Samuels lets the character's raw emotions pour out of her."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

 

 

 

Next to Normal

 

"Samuels brings acting chops to her Natalie. She goes from overworked to petulant to pot-smoker and back to the boyfriend in two hours. She makes her troubled teen feel natural, from the leopard leggings to the cute blue dress."

NAPLES NEWS by Chris Silk

 

 

HAIR

 

"Vera Samuels is lively as Sheila, who loves one man while having another's baby and brings some heart to the song 'Easy to Be Hard."'

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

 

"...and sort-of-shared girlfriend Sheila, (Vera Samuels, also very effective)...."

SARASOTA MAGAZINE by Kay Kipling

 

"Samuels is moving as Sheila - a smart, politically savvy NYU student. She's particularly effective in the scene where Berger rips up her gift and slaps her. You can see she's starting to realize that all hippies are equal, but some are more equal than others."

YOUROBSERVER.COM by Marty Fugate

 

 

 

Venus in Fur

 

"Samuels has no fear as an actress, whether it's spewing profanity or insults or wearing barely-there slinky undergarments and thigh-high boots. But it's her commanding attitude that draws us into her performance."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

 

"O'Dea and Samuels have great chemistry together - bubbling with volatility as they alternate between their characters in the play and their roles in the play-within-a-play. They're both psychological quick-change artists; all their little changes turn their characters into different people by the play's end."

YOUROBSERVER.COM by Marty Fugate

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Beehive: The 60's Musical

 

"...and then literally stunned by Samuels, who turns in a performance that was more Janis Joplin than Joplin herself may have been, right down to the swig from a hidden flask after 'Me and Bobby McGee.' While Joplin died long before Samuels was even born, Samuels nailed her."

VENICE GONDOLIER by Kim Cool

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Singin' in the Rain

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"The three leads are joined by Vera Samuels, who is often hilariously grating as Lina, the dim-witted actress who comes to realize she'll never make it in the talkies. With her screechy voice, Samuels nicely evokes Jean Hagen, who created the role on film."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

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"The script sets up Vera Samuels to fall. On the page she's a rotten person and a rotten actor. Samuels redeems this unredeemable role with a fine comic performance."

YOUROBSERVER.COM by Marty Fugate

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"Ms. Samuels cleverly made Lina Lamont the voice you loved to hate."

BROADWAYWORLD.COM by Carolan Trbovich

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Funny Girl

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"Samuels is outstanding as Brice. It's a sweet characterization without a hint of second-hand Streisand. (Samuels' sweetness also fills me with cognitive dissonance. She was terrifying in the lead role of Venus in Fur at Venice Theatre. I suppose that just shows her range.) Samuels is particularly funny in the "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" number, where she sabotages Flo Ziegfeld's sentimentality with  a cheeky gag.  ... and Samuels delivers a star performance as Brice."

YOUROBSERVER.COM by Marty Fugate

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"I was so glad to see Vera Samuels put her own spin on Fanny Brice and make it her own. Fresh off the previous production of Singin' in the Rain, Miss Samuels brings a delightful spirit to Fanny. Her more playful songs were sweet and sincere."

BROADWAYWORLD.COM by Carolan Trbovich

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"Funny Girl essentially rides on the back of its leading lady and Samuels has the charisma and chutzpah to help you root for Fanny."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

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"Once Vera Samuels took the stage as Fanny Brice, the recalcitrant horn player didn't matter so much. Just as Samuels brought down the house with her Janis Joplin number in Beehive at Venice Theatre, she once again made the stage her own as the brash comedienne who bulldozed her way to stardom. When a role calls for a memorable voice, Samuels is one actress who can carry it off. In Funny Girl, Samuels did that in spades."

VENICE GONDOLIER by Kim Cool

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Reefer Madness: The Musical

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"Vera Samuels is dead sexy as Sally - the baby-selling, barely dressed bombshell who lures kids into the dive. Poor Sally. After an insane bout of piano pounding, the giggling degenerate Ralph comes down with the munchies and eats her for breakfast."

YOUROBSERVER.COM by Marty Fugate

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"Vera Samuels is wild as the sex-crazed addict Sally, who has some of the best lines in the show."

HERALD TRIBUNE by Jay Handelman

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HAMLET

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"Vera Samuels, as Hamlet, is a gifted actress who will leave you wanting more of the Shakespearean experience. Her delivery is powerful and riveting."

OUR TOWN SARASOTA by Val Walters

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"Chase [director] was gender blind in his casting. He used the best he could find for every role. In this case, the best was female - Vera Samuels"

VENICE GONDOLIER by Kim Cool