Meet Sammi Sicinski

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sammi Sicinski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sammi , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I have been an actor for over 30 years, and I can honestly say my work ethic comes from lessons I was taught by the amazing teachers and collegues in my life. My high school theatre teacher at HSPVA, Bob Singleton, taught me that every actor builds a reputation in the community, and this community is smaller than you think it is! From Mr. Singleton, I learned to arrive to call time early, to arrive prepared, to listen, and to work hard.

I know that my talent and skill are important to getting hired. However, I also believe that my reputation as a dependable, reliable, hard worker has gotten me cast a lot too. A collaborative and positive attitude goes a long way in this field.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an actor and educator in Houston. I have worked with numerous theatre companies and directors in the city who have helped me strengthen my craft. Most recently, I was proud to be cast in the world premiere of Memoriam at Main Street Theater. We were fortunate to have the playwright, Noga Flaishon, visit from London to watch several rehearsals and our opening night performance. I really enjoy being involved with new works and to see how the script develops and changes over time. Also, last year I was thrilled to work with Mildred’s Umbrella on their production of Cry It Out. I have worked with Mildred’s Umbrella several times before and it is always a wonderful experience. I simply love their mission and commitment to empowering women in the theatre community. I have recently joined them as a company artist and fundraising assistant.

I also teach 4th grade reading and writing at a lovely elementary school in my neighborhood. Teaching is like getting to practice your theatre training nonstop for 40 hours a week! Having to entertain and inspire 9 and 10 year olds can be challenging, but I truly love it. I get to share my love of authors and language with my students and when I see them devouring books, I know I helped make that love of reading possible.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the three most important skills to help build a successful career are to be prepared, learn how to take direction/criticism, and know when to say no.

BE PREPARED: This goes back to my work ethic lessons. You could be at an audition, at rehearsal, at a networking event, or taking a class. It doesn’t matter what the specific situation is, you should arrive dressed appropriately, you should have your materials packed the night before, and you should have the directions and travel time already known. An occasional late arrival due to some unforeseen incident is one thing. But if you are habitually late and unprepared, then that is being built into your reputation. And you don’t want that!

LEARN HOW TO TAKE DIRECTION/CRITICISM: This one is hard. It has gotten easier for me as I’ve gotten older, but when I was a young actor I found it hard to NOT take direction or criticism as a personal attack. I think experience helps build this skill, but my advice would be to remember that you were chosen to be in that room for a reason. Your talent was what got you the job. Any criticism you may get is there to help make you and the whole production stronger and cohesive. Trust yourself and trust your director to work together to make the final product the best it can be.

KNOW WHEN TO SAY NO: This one can be hard too! Being an actor is feast or famine. Some seasons I have several jobs booked, and sometimes I have absolutely nothing on my schedule. It can be easy to fall into the trap of feeling like my self worth and talent is only measured by how many jobs I get. I now appreciate when I have a break between gigs. I am more selective about what I choose to audition for. I recognize that I need that time to recharge, relax and care for myself. My advice is to remember that you can only bring the best of yourself and your talents to the stage when you are at your best. Take the time you need. Say no when you need to.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

This past year has been one of uncertainty and anxiety. My husband and I have had to manage some pretty stressful and traumatic health issues concerning both our parents. I have had to face a lot of challenges in my professional life as an educator due to political and district changes beyond my control. The political environment of our country is disheartening and unnerving. It’s been a lot.
This convergence of “things beyond my control” has taught me that (news flash) some things are beyond my control! I am working on learning to center myself and take inventory of my needs. I have recently learned about “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins in which she teaches that your happiness can be found when you stop trying to control the people around you. I am looking forward to summer break (only a few days away) when I can have more time to read, reflect and practice her Let Them theory to help my personal growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bulletproofrep.com/home

Image Credits

Pin Lim/ Forest Photography; Tasha Gorel/Natasha Nivan Photography; Melissa Taylor