This Was Never Supposed To Be A One Woman Show

Samantha is not only an absolutely beautiful performer, she is a beautiful soul. You can feel her honest, authentic and loving energy throughout the show and off stage as well. In her phenomenal one woman show, she takes you on an emotional journey filled with laughter and tears. She plays instruments, tap dances, sings, shares her truth, and boy does she have jokes! 90 minutes is a longer show for me to sit in, but it flew by because her priority was to take care of the audience and made it about them/ us. She portrayed different roles and it was so lovely to see her paint all the colors. Along, with the message(s) that the show is about. Her voice (especially the last song), breaks your heart just by its gentle and loving tone. This i... full review

Touching and thoughtful one-woman show.... full review

This show was incredibly entertaining- and I was also in tears! A meditative and erudite examination of life, the cosmos and loss, it also manages to be very funny. Samantha Bowling transitions seamlessly from critiquing her own fashion choices to telling her rape story, from afterlife jokes to grappling with her friend and creative partner's suicide. ... full review

This is one of my favorite shows I’ve seen at the Fringe this year, and one of two that deeply affected me. The talented performer Samantha has crafted a beautiful solo show, poignant and unexpected, brutal and hilarious and deeply intelligent. I’ll just say, what you think it’s about isn’t all it’s about. It’s incredibly effective. And even if you don’t connect with her story personally, her strength and graceful generosity are something to be witnessed. Just go. ... full review

This powerful show is a must-see for anyone on the universal, painful, beautiful journey through life and loss. Sam demonstrates through personal stories, gorgeous songs and a hilarious guardian angel the strength in vulnerability, in honesty, in humor in the face of tragedy. A talent beyond compare and a heart bigger than words can say, Sam breaks down the stigma around mental health and how we can take care of ourselves, and each other, through life's darkest moments. Hot tip: skip your makeup, you'll cry it off!... full review

This show speaks to everything everyone is scared to talk about, much less make art about. Samantha cut my heart in two, sewed it up, tore it again, then added some tape at the end. Couldn't look away, not even to wipe my eyes. Definitely bring tissues.... full review

Samantha Bowling’s crafting and performance of this show is nothing short of masterful. She has taken the immense feeling of grief, all the individual threads of how losing someone affects your self, spirit, and soul, and woven them into an ornate and beautiful tapestry. For a lesser performer, this show would heave and groan, but Samantha brings you along with her. She is disarming without undercutting her emotions, she is engaging without evoking desperation, and she is sharp without coming across as preachy. The full effect of Sam’s performance is that she has taken her own traumas and misfortunes and through introspection and self-care has not just crafted a stunning work of art, but forged herself as an artist who is capable of telling ... full review

Both funny and raw, Sam takes the audience to some dark places and cares for them so tenderly as she does so that by the end you feel that even the darkest corners have a little light after all. Spellbinding from minute one, this show will make you laugh and cry and fall in love with all the joy and heartbreak that comes with being alive.... full review

I was absolutely floored by this show! Samantha takes you on a compelling journey of reconciling with your mental health in the midst of trauma and grief. The show is transcendent and not to be missed.... full review

What an incredible example of storytelling. Sam’s ability to sing, act, dance, and tell the story of this very intimate event/relationship from her past like it’s off the cuff and in such a funny way is quite incredible. Great script, great acting. And such fantastic original songs! ... full review