An Inside Look: The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts
Last week, we had the chance to see The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, California! New Village Arts was founded in 2001, and has become the most critically acclaimed theatre in North County San Diego. And I just have to share their beautiful mission statement with you, which is to “create adventurous artistic experiences to awaken the human spirit.”
Location: Carlsbad, California
The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts
The Servant of Two Masters was based on the original Italian commedia dell’arte play by Carlo Goldoni, and it was written by AJ Knox and Samantha Ginn (see interview below). AJ Knox is also the director of this production. To catch you up on the plot, the play follows the story of Truffaldino – a poor servant who attempts to serve two masters at once in the hopes of receiving double the wages. Samantha Ginn plays the role of Truffaldino in this production, and she is dynamite.
The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts is a super high intensity show! Jokes spill out of every other line, and you really have to pay attention to catch them all. There’s lots of wittiness, crazy amounts of wordplay, and wild physical humor throughout. It was a nice breath of fresh air to attend a show that’s 100% comedy.
New Village Arts hosts many wonderful initiatives, and a couple of them are taking place during this show. First of all, two of the shows in this run are featuring fundraiser tickets for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. And in addition to that, they run a professional training program for young adults with neurodiversity.
Related Topic: San Diego Theatre Guide – All You Need to Know
In this program, “The Mainstage Players”, the members audition, study, and rehearse their feature roles before stepping onto the stage for their professional theatre debuts. And the best part? The featured Mainstage Player in The Servant of Two Masters was AMAZING. He absolutely won over the audience. What an incredible initiative.
On top of all of that, New Village Arts actively raises funds for programs that benefit students of all ages. This company is proof that theatre can change the world for the better. We can definitely all learn something from this theatre company.
At Theatre Trip, we love getting to know interesting people in the industry. And that’s why we had a chat with Samantha Ginn, the lead and co-writer of the show! So keep reading for valuable insights on preparing for a role and and how to keep up the energy!
Theatre Trip’s Interview with Samantha Ginn
Theatre Trip: How did you initially get into theatre?
Samantha: Initially, I always thought I was going to be a professional athlete since I was so active. However, I got a knee injury as a young kid and had to quit sports for a while. But it was a blessing in disguise because I ended up auditioning for “Robin Hood” in 5th grade. I was Flagholder #3. And ever since I experienced that rush of being on stage, I was hooked.
Theatre Trip: Truffaldino in The Servant of Two Masters is a very physically demanding role! Can you share any tips with us on how to keep up a high level of energy during a show?
Samantha: Yes, this role is a workout for sure! My tips for sustaining energy for the part is self care. I make sure to get enough rest, drink enough water, meditate on the beach, and do yoga before every show. Oh, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
Theatre Trip: Is there a particular role that you would love to play one day?
Samantha: I would love to play Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or Miss Hannigan in “Annie” one day.
“International traveling is very important for the soul”
Theatre Trip: Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Samantha: Before every show I like to stretch on stage and do my vocal warms ups, dance in the dressing room with my fellow cast mates, and then say a prayer in the wings before I enter.
Theatre Trip: What’s next for you?
Samantha: After this show, I plan to rest a lot and catch up with family and friends I’ve been missing. I will also be traveling to Thailand, since I think international traveling is very important for the soul. Also, I will be putting on my director’s cap at New Village Arts in 2020. I’m thrilled to direct The Roommate by Jen Silverman.
Did you see The Servant of Two Masters at New Village Arts?
Or were you a part of the show? Either way, feel free to say hi in the comments below! And in the meantime, you can always check out our blog post archive of past theatre visits for some insight on what’s going on in theaters around the world!
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* The featured image is by Daren Scott.
* A special thanks to New Village Arts for inviting us to the show!
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Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.