Something Better Productions
In April 2019, Something Better Productions was launched by Samantha Roberts to support new works, beginning with Forget I Said Anything. Forget I Said Anything is a 90 minute musical about unhealthy relationships and the warped perceptions we get from them. The show talks about friendships, love, social dynamics and more. Forget I Said Anything is composed and directed by Samantha Roberts.
Following a successful presentation in both Philadelphia and New York City, SBP has produced 12 different shows and workshops, exclusively of new works. Something Better Productions aims to produce works by young collaborators looking to bring… something better to the world.
Check out our website HERE!
How did Here I Am come to be?
After both moving to New York City in 2021, began planning their introduction to the theatre world: "Just Getting Started." They decided to put together a two-act musical event featuring their individual works and four collaboration pieces, two of which became the main themes of "Here I Am!"
The first song they wrote together was "Down," a smoky jazz song with the theme of falling down. Shortly after, during a brainstorming meeting, Christian began playing a tune that instantly caught Samantha’s attention. She immediately knew what this piece would be… an apology she had struggled to musicalize on her own.
While not initially connected, following a last-minute casting change, Roberts ended up singing both "Down" and "Here I Am"... leading the duo to realize that these weren’t standalone songs; they were the protagonist, Scarlett's, evolution.
The rest is history!
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Samantha Roberts
Co-Creator/Director
Samantha Roberts (she/they) is a graduate of Temple University where she obtained a BFA in Musical Theatre. Her performance credits include: Mrs./Betty u.s. in Sunday in the Park with George, Ensemble in Age of Power, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and Ensemble in Forget I Said Anything. Her directing and choreographing credits include: Mirror, Mirror, Here I Am, Forget I Said Anything, Just Getting Started, The Quartet, Seussicial, and Godspell. She is incredibly passionate about musical theatre and strives to create non-conforming theatre that can be told by any person and remain universal. She is also a second degree Black Belt In Tang Soo Do karate and loves teaching self defense.
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Christian Cantrell
Co-Creator
Christian Cantrell (He/They) is a Queer, Filipino-American Composer, Lyricist, Book Writer, Orchestrator, Music Director and Conductor who received a BA in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University. Their original works include Here I Am (2022), Color Your World (2021), Golden Gate Dreams (2020), and The Waiting Room (2018). Other music direction and orchestration credits include Forget I Said Anything (2021) and Just Getting Started (2021). He is influenced by pop and contemporary musical styles, and strives to write stories for the underrepresented.