A special reception was recently held to welcome Nicole Samsel to the creative helm of the Flint Repertory Theatre as its Interim Artistic Director. This is Nicole’s fourth season with the Flint Repertory. Originally from St. Louis, she moved to Flint from Los Angeles. She has worked in several cities across the U.S. — from Florida and the East Coast (New York) to the West Coast (Los Angeles), as well as in multiple Midwest cities.
Nicole’s interest in theatre and the arts began early, when she and her mother watched musicals together. “When I was little, I saw ads for a tour of Cats that was coming through St. Louis. I’m also an animal lover, so I was thrilled when my parents took me to see it,” she said. “It was so baffling, but also so magical. That was the thing that specifically inspired my love of live performance.”
Nicole said that Flint, in general, is incredibly unique. “The whole Cultural Center is so surprising to those who haven’t been here — and such a gift. I think artists feel a lot of freedom coming here. It is a proving ground of sorts because you’re not getting the kind of scrutiny you would get in a larger market, so we can take big swings.”
Flint is at the forefront when Nicole plans a season. “No matter how much I like a script, I always ask myself, ‘Is this a story for Flint?’ Sometimes there’s a script that’s just like a tuning fork — it really rings true for our community. Then I find the words that go along with that feeling to help a director or designer understand what resonates for Flint and how we can enhance those aspects,” she said.
No matter how much I like a script, I always ask myself,
‘Is this a story for Flint?’
When asked what fills Nicole’s time outside the theatre, she said that she and her husband, Kevin, have several fruit trees — apricots, peaches, figs and apples. “Fruit trees take a lot of work, so I like spending weekends in the yard with the trees,” she said.
As a multi-disciplinary leader serving as both Managing Director and Artistic Director, Nicole shared how she balances creativity with practicality. “In some ways it’s easier to do both roles,” she said. “I don’t think the permanent solution is having one person do everything, because moments of tension — prioritizing artistic versus business needs — can create really exciting energy. But streamlining the process, passing decisions through one person instead of two, is creating space for outside partnerships, which is especially important while planning next season.”
The following are some questions Nicole answered after being named interim Artistic Director for the Flint Rep.
1. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
In L.A., I owned a small business called Puggletown Pastries. I made organic, human-grade dog treats that looked like human food. They had names like Beagle Bites and Pup-Tarts. I sold them at farmers markets and had products in five doggy daycares and seven cafés.
2. Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m an excellent bartender.
3. Any guilty pleasures?
I really like trashy TV — Below Deck, The Traitors, Summer House — basically anything on Bravo.
I like being an open book because I don’t have to worry about who knows what.
4. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My dad’s life advice: If you never lie, you never have to remember anything. I like being an open book because I don’t have to worry about who knows what. I think transparency is really important.
5. What’s your favorite piece of advice to give?
If you think you’re above a job, don’t take it. And if you take a job, it’s not below you.
6. Can you describe one of the most challenging moments in your career so far?
Collectively, the theatre work I was doing in L.A. during COVID was challenging. I was lucky enough that I didn’t lose my job, and we were able to pivot to audio storytelling. But so much of theatre is about being in a room together. An audience changes the show. There is a palpable tension in a space that impacts how actors feel; it truly creates the performance. That’s what I love about theatre — and it wasn’t an option.
7. Who or what inspires you?
Anna Deavere Smith is an artist I have always looked up to. She’s an actress, as well as an incredible playwright and performer. She was at the forefront of the documentary theatre movement, which comes from the understanding that people’s stories are important — and that anyone’s story can be theatre. I love that she created a world where individual stories are compelling and validated.
