WHIZ KID OF THE WEEK: Samantha Levin

Whiz Kid's Name: Samantha Levin

Whiz Kid's Age: 17

Whiz Kid's School: Pikesville High School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Serves as stage manager for the school plays for the past two years—after being assistant stage manager for two years. 
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: "I've grown a lot through the theater," said Samantha.

Nominated By: Jeff Seidel

For a long time Samantha Levin wasn't all that interested in drama.

Through her elementary school and middle school years, she had gone to a few plays, and during her freshman year she didn't think much of it when a teacher asked her to help with a few things in the school play.

But that activity changed her mind—and has become her passion.

Now a senior at Pikesville, Samantha has fallen in love with the theater. She quickly became an assistant stage manager as a freshman, and kept that job through her sophomore year.

Since her junior year, Samantha has worked as the stage manager—a step up from her former role. Among the plays she has worked on are "Arsenic and Old Lace," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." She will help with the school's spring production, as well.

"I like our director, and I've made a lot of friends," she said. "It's just really fun getting to be a part of the backstage work."

As stage manager, she goes to every rehearsal during the three-month period that the play is in production; and to perform her job she is required to learn all kinds of details.

While Samantha isn't sure yet where she'll go to college, she will likely major in psychology and minor in sociology. And she is certain she will remain around those bright lights of the stage—wherever she lands.

"I liked going to shows in middle school, but I never, ever thought of trying to be a stage manager or anything like that," she said. "But I'm glad I did."