Samantha Wyer Bello
Samantha Wyer Bello is an award-winning stage director and educator with over twenty years of executive leadership success in not-for-profit theatre. Throughout her artistic career, Samantha has worked to uplift all she serves through her direction of breathtaking stage productions and vital relationship development within each community.
For Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ms. Bello has directed readings of A Number, Miss Evers’ Boys, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Arcadia, R.U.R. and created and adapted A Mini-Summer Night’s Dream and The Tiny Tempest. Previously, she served as Associate Artistic Director for Arizona Theatre Company for twelve seasons, where her directing credits include I Am My Own Wife, Permanent Collection, A Streetcar Named Desire, Proof, Lost in Yonkers (with Judy Kaye), To Kill a Mockingbird (co-pro w/ Kansas City Repertory), Tuesdays With Morrie, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. In Kansas City, she worked as the Director of Playwright’s Stage for Missouri Repertory Theatre.
Ms. Bello has directed for The Playwright’s Center, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Childsplay, Spooky Action Theatre, Voice and Vision -New York, and Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. Ms. Bello has been a grants panelist and guest speaker for arts organizations including Theatre Communications Group, DC Commission on Arts and Humanities, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Tucson Pima Arts Council, Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture and West Valley Arts Council. She has taught and directed for University of Missouri, Arizona State University and University of Arizona. Ms. Wyer received her MFA in Acting/Directing at University of Missouri/Kansas City and is a proud member of SDC.
“One of the big lessons I’m learning from Moon for the Misbegotten is that we as a society are always asked to be honest about ourselves, but we’re given so many opportunities not to be honest. The power of that play comes from people taking off their masks and looking at themselves honestly, and within that is a lot of love, and redemption, and pain.”
Samantha Wyer Bello
Samantha Wyer Bello proves to be the playwright’s ally and muse. Meticulously prepared, she masterfully excavates text to illuminate intention while also finding the ‘play under the play,’ those mysterious subtextural nooks and crannies that often go undiscovered without a far longer process. She expeditiously translates her script analysis into spot-on direction, using every valuable minute of rehearsal time to guide and inspire her actors. Over 30 years I’ve developed my plays with directors in 18 states and Canada, and can recommend Samantha as one of the very best.
Hal CorleySamantha Wyer Bello has earned a reputation for her deft handling of challenging classic and contemporary drama.
Kathy AllenSamantha has people skills that just don’t quit. She is not only a natural leader, she is an inspiring one. As a director, she has a keen and precise eye. Her productions always look visually stunning, but it’s the human relationships that she mines on stage that make her top-notch. True, she is a force of nature, but it’s a gentle force that has taken into account all the humans realizing her vision. She’s indeed a rare combination of art and humanity.
Elaine RomeroTo Kill a Mockingbird is still a relevant tale and this production, directed by Samantha Wyer Bello, tells it very well.
Kansas City Star ReviewHow can so many spot-on productions be directed by someone who is resolutely invisible? Once the curtain rises, Samantha Wyer disappears; you’re never aware of a director’s heavy hand, or some deep “concept” that migrates from play to play whether it fits or not. Nor do you sit there watching thespians delivering lines; you see actual people with real problems and aspirations. There’s honesty in every emotion and every gesture, whether the play is a comedy or tragedy, or whether the actors are Equity professionals or UA students. (Best Director, Best of Tucson)
James ReelSamantha’s greatest strength as a director is the sense of ensemble that she can build between actors, and behind the scenes among the design team, to get everybody pulling in the same direction.
David GoldsteinI’ve been lucky enough to work with Sam in my capacities as a writer and as an actor and can attest to her skills as a director from both vantage points. She is a consummate storyteller, with a keen and caring eye for character, but who also never neglects things like pace or structure. She always makes the rehearsal room an open, welcoming environment to explore and play. From Neil Simon, to Chekhov, to my own horror scripts, some of my very favorite theatrical experiences have been with Sam in the director’s seat and, frankly, I can’t wait to work with her again.
Nat CassidyExcellent direction… A Moon for the Misbegotten
Aisle Say, Phoenix, AZDirected with clarity and humanity. I Am my Own Wife
Tucson.comMasterful production…emotionally engaging. Lost In Yonkers
Curtain Up, Phoenix