Theatre Alumna Earns Job Off-Broadway  

Samantha Dyar '20 recently put her Theatre degree to use as part of the crew of the Off-Broadway show A Sherlock Carol. Crediting her time at Seton Hall in the theatre program, Dyar's first stop is Off-Broadway. As a College of Communication and the Arts graduate, Dyar now works as a virtual assistant at Emily McGill Entertainment as part of the team of A Sherlock Carol, a New York Times Critic's Pick. Dyar first interned as a publicist there during her undergraduate career.

Dyar notes that her studies in Theatre and Public Relations has helped her along her way. "It was the blending of those two fields of study that helped me get to where I am today," she said. "In the fast-paced world of theatre, determination and will power are key, and when you're in the middle of a show and something doesn't go as planned, you need to be able to adapt!"

Dyar shared her early struggles to find a job due to health concerns amidst the pandemic, and how this struggle affected her job search after graduating from the University. Sharing her battle with Lyme Disease during her senior year, Dyar articulated that she often struggled to feel healthy enough to work, yet she persisted. She has since received treatment and her health has very much improved.

Dyar credited the tools she gained at the University for her new role as a virtual assistant. "I may have been out of the workforce for a while, but the tools I needed to be a virtual assistant and help with an Off-Broadway Show were still there, they just needed to be polished," she said. "I dusted off my theatre knowledge, pulled out old notes from my public relations classes, and got to work."

Part of Dyar's current role is to assist with earned media, draft pitches and press releases, schedule and facilitate interviews, as well as contributing to the design of the Playbill. She also remarks on her excitement to be part of this crew, and credits virtual workplace software as a way to work on a New York production all the way from California. She said, "I am beyond grateful to the Theatre and Public Relations programs, CommArts, and everyone at the University who helped me get to where I am today. Hazard Zet Forward has never rang truer for me than it did these past two years."

A Sherlock Carol is a new holiday play written and directed by Mark Shanahan. When a grown-up Tiny Tim asks Sherlock Holmes to investigate the peculiar death of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Great Detective must use his tools of deduction to get to the bottom of the crime. But it is a dark and treacherous Christmas Eve, and once again the holiday is haunted by the spirits of the past, present and future. The show plays an eight-week limited holiday engagement at New World Stages in New York City through January 2, 2022. Tickets are available here.

About the College of Communication and the Arts
Seton Hall University's College of Communication and the Arts offers diverse, flexible undergraduate programs anchored in the humanities, featuring cutting-edge technology and innovative curricula, and provides opportunities for meaningful collaboration across disciplines. Students can explore emerging technologies as well as learn from industry professionals about the latest trends in the ongoing digital revolution that is affecting communication and arts' industries. For more information about the College's undergraduate programs, please contact Amanda Carcione.

The College currently offers graduate-level programs in Museum Professions and Communication, including the opportunity to pursue a unique area of study, including options in Public Relations, Digital Communication/Communication Technologies, and Communication in Organizations. In addition, four dual-degree options, including three accelerated master's/B.A. programs and a dual M.A. degree with the School of Diplomacy and International Relations are offered. For more information about Graduate Studies within the College of Communication and the Arts, please contact Dr. Ryan Hudes.

Categories: Alumni, Arts and Culture