1. Samantha Hill
2. Jonathan Toews
3. Neil Young

In her own way, Samantha Hill is taking part in theatre history. The Winnipeg-born actress who cut her teeth starring in Rainbow Stage productions of Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast has moved on to the Broadway stage. After a successful run as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera (which remains the longest-running show in Broadway history), Hill is now starring as Cossette in the newest revival of Les Misérables at the historic Imperial Theatre.

“You get a chance to settle and explore the character more over time,” says Hill of the notoriously difficult Broadway performance schedule of eight shows a week. “Sometimes with a shorter run, you feel like you’re just falling into your stride in the work and then it’s about time to close the show. However, especially around the holidays, it can start to feel a bit like Groundhog Day.”

Despite her long history in the theatre, the multi-talented Hill is excited to hone her acting and musical skills in other media. “I’ve always wanted to do interesting work in any medium, really,” Hill elaborates. “This year I’m hoping to gain a bit more experience in the TV and film world (she stars alongside Paz de la Huerta and Udo Kier in Matt Kennedy & Adam Brooks’ new flick The Editor). Also, I’ve definitely been developing aspirations to be in a band and just create.”

Hill says that she’s glad Winnipeggers back home are still rooting for her out on The Great White Way. “All my family and a lot of my friends and peers are still in Winnipeg,” Hill explains. “So I was thrilled to hear I’d been voted for. Honestly, one of the best parts of succeeding in New York is learning how much the people of my home town are proud of what I’ve accomplished. No one wants to be told, ‘Good riddance!’ The arts community is the reason I’ve done as well abroad as I have. I can’t thank
them enough.”

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 69, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 7, 2015)