SAMANTHA BARKS
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
It feels like a long time since I performed a solo concert in London so when the opportunity to play at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane came along, I knew it was the perfect venue for my show. I’ve been playing eight shows a week there in Frozen and it’s become a second home and what a beautiful home it is! I feel very lucky to perform Elsa every week on that glorious stage and to now be bringing my own show to this historic venue is a real ‘pinch me’ moment!! Since my last London show, I have performed on Broadway, in Japan and of course in Arendelle!! I was also delighted to release my album ‘Into The Unknown’ last year.
LATEST ALBUM
Samantha’s stunning new album Into the Unknown is the first studio release from exciting new musical theatre label Westway. The album focuses on modern musicals, and Samantha has chosen 12 of her favourite tracks from shows and films that she has seen in recent years. The album showcases why Samantha is one of the most sought-after performers on both sides of the pond. Stand out tracks include Heart of Stone (SIX), Let Me Be Your Star (SMASH), a duet with her Frozen co-star Stephanie McKeon, and the title track Into the Unknown (FROZEN 2).
‘I wanted to really celebrate musical theatre with some of my favourite songs from shows and musical films I have seen and loved recently. I wanted to focus on more modern musicals as we really are in a fantastic new ‘Golden Era’ of musical theatre with composers such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, Glen Ballard and not forgetting of course the writers of ‘Frozen’ Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez who have been taking Broadway by storm these past 10 years!’ – Samantha Barks
- Into The Unknown (From Frozen 2)
- Heart Of Stone (From Six)
- Never Enough (From The Greatest Showman)
- How Far I’ll Go (From Moana)
- Reflection (From Mulan)
- Waving Through a Window (from Dear Evan Hansen)
- Only Us (Feat. Ramin Karimloo) (From Dear Evan Hansen)
- I’d Rather be Me (From Mean Girls)
- With You (From Ghost)
- Let Me Be Your Star (Feat. Stephanie McKeon) (From Smash)
- Falling Slowly (From Once)
- Mary Jane (From Jagged Little Pill)
Samantha singing Into The Unknown on All Star Musicals on ITV1 on Boxing Day 2021.
‘What a powerhouse of a voice! I was blown away from the first track all the way through this absolutely wonderful album. ’ – Musical Theatre Review
‘Into The Unknown is a flawless album, never putting a foot wrong with a range of songs that have been perfectly arranged to suit Samantha Barks’ talents perfectly. An album to have on repeat.’ – Love London Love Culture
ABOUT
Samantha Barks is one of the most sought-after musical theatre performers on both sides of the atlantic. She is currently starring as Elsa in the acclaimed production of Frozen in the West End for which she has received rave reviews.
Samantha made her West End debut, as Éponine in Les Misérables from June 2010 to June 2011. The role changed her life as producer Cameron Mackintosh chose her to play the same role in the 25th Anniversary Concert of the show at London’s O2 Arena in October 2010. Following her West End run, Samantha played Nancy in the UK tour of Oliver! and it was during the tour, that Mackintosh appeared on stage after a performance, to announce that she would reprise her role of Éponine in the 2012 Les Misérables film. The casting led her to perform, alongside her Les Misérables co-stars, at the 85th Oscars ceremony in February 2013.
In July 2013, Samantha took on the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago at The Hollywood Bowl, before returning to London to star as Mallory/Avril in City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse in 2014. From August to October 2015, she starred in the title role of the world premiere of Amélie at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California. Back in London, she took on the leading role of Cathy in the Off-West End production of The Last Five Years at the St. James Theatre from October to December 2016 and starred as Betsy Nolan in a concert presentation of Honeymoon in Vegas at the London Palladium on March 12, 2017.
From March to April 2018, Samantha starred as Vivian Ward in the world premiere of Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, which transferred to Broadway and marked her Broadway debut in July 2018. She played the role until July 2019.
In December 2019 it was announced that Samantha had been cast as Elsa in the upcoming production of Frozen in the West End. Due to Covid-19, the show was delayed but eventually opened in September 2021. In December 2021 she was nominated as Best Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Musical in the What’s On Stage 2022 awards.
FROZEN
Samantha is currently starring as Elsa in the smash hit musical Frozen in London’s West End.