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Samantha Cocco is an actor and writer based in Cleveland, Ohio, originally from San Francisco, California. Throughout high school and her undergraduate education, she received training in runway and print modeling, signed with a modeling agency, and had her first experiences with formal stage acting - a high school musical and one play, and little monologues and scenes throughout college. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology with honors and upon graduation, and spent two years on a Pacific island as a full-time volunteer teaching high school. She returned to the states and earned her Master of Arts in nonprofit administration, also with honors.
After finishing her education, Samantha took some acting classes on a whim in 2016 and quickly fell back in love with performing. She trained on and off for a few months with the Houde School of Acting in Cleveland, Ohio, primarily under the late Tom Cullinan. She studied improvisation, screen acting, scene study, and Shakespeare. She has also received training from casting director Delora O'Bryant, AEA actor Corey Mach, and SAG-AFTRA actor Kurt Yue.
Her first professional role was in The Phantom Tollbooth at Ensemble Theatre in January 2017. She has since worked on dozens of shows at all kinds of houses throughout the region, including two appearances on stage at Cleveland's Playhouse Square in 2019. Favorite roles include Phyllis in Double Indemnity, Melissa in Love Letters, and Truvy in Steel Magnolias.
In 2023, due to pressure and encouragement from local playwright-friends, she began writing short plays. She also returned to writing poetry and hopes to publish a chapbook. By early 2025, she has had two pieces produced locally and has been commissioned to write a piece for a local theatre. (wait, why am I writing this in the third person?)
By day, Samantha is a nonprofit administration and higher education professional. By night and weekend she is an avid kayaker, cyclist, dog connoisseur and volunteer. She lives in the Tremont neighborhood with her partner and fellow playwright and actor, Jonathon, and their Rottweiler puppy, Zuzu. For a number of years, she facilitated spiritual retreats for women in recovery from addiction and resettled refugees from around the world.
After finishing her education, Samantha took some acting classes on a whim in 2016 and quickly fell back in love with performing. She trained on and off for a few months with the Houde School of Acting in Cleveland, Ohio, primarily under the late Tom Cullinan. She studied improvisation, screen acting, scene study, and Shakespeare. She has also received training from casting director Delora O'Bryant, AEA actor Corey Mach, and SAG-AFTRA actor Kurt Yue.
Her first professional role was in The Phantom Tollbooth at Ensemble Theatre in January 2017. She has since worked on dozens of shows at all kinds of houses throughout the region, including two appearances on stage at Cleveland's Playhouse Square in 2019. Favorite roles include Phyllis in Double Indemnity, Melissa in Love Letters, and Truvy in Steel Magnolias.
In 2023, due to pressure and encouragement from local playwright-friends, she began writing short plays. She also returned to writing poetry and hopes to publish a chapbook. By early 2025, she has had two pieces produced locally and has been commissioned to write a piece for a local theatre. (wait, why am I writing this in the third person?)
By day, Samantha is a nonprofit administration and higher education professional. By night and weekend she is an avid kayaker, cyclist, dog connoisseur and volunteer. She lives in the Tremont neighborhood with her partner and fellow playwright and actor, Jonathon, and their Rottweiler puppy, Zuzu. For a number of years, she facilitated spiritual retreats for women in recovery from addiction and resettled refugees from around the world.
Skills & Talents
- Proficiency in Spanish language and remote island language (Pohnpeian)
- Some vocal training (tenor)
- Strong projecting voice
- Excellent sight reading ability
- Accent proficiency in RP (English), American Southern, Boston/Jersey/NY
- Yoga (advanced) and Latine and African dance (beginner)
- Narrative writing, graphic design, desktop publishing, interior design