Sam Sirena Morales (she/her/hers), is a transgender Hispanic artist from DFW. Growing up in Richardson, Texas, she was always surrounded by the arts, whether it be band, choir, or theatre. She loves to tell stories that speak about society and hopes to break barriers through her artistry and presence. Whether it be acting, directing, or playing an instrument, she hopes to inspire others and continue to learn and grow in every aspect, no matter how difficult.

Her Story

Musician first, she started in band in the 6th grade as a clarinetist, following her older three siblings. At the end of 6th, she was required to join a magnet program if she wanted to continue with her friends and not go to her feeder school. She chose theatre due to her love of performance and to follow her sister’s path. Sure enough, she made it in, and made her official debut as an actress in the fall of 2016 in The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. 

While she experienced many prejudices and discrimination being a trans actress, college is where she started to find her place in performance. Being accepted into the BFA Musical Theatre program at UT Arlington, she had a fresh slate and was surrounded by supportive professors and like-minded peers who took this art form seriously, and pushed her to succeed. She used her past experiences, identity, and skills to elevate her abilities and storytelling.  

What’s next?

Post-grad, she plans on staying in the DFW area and continuing to perform for a while. Eventually, she would like to move to New York, but for now, she’s excited to see what else DFW has in store for her! Though she might be one degree richer, she’ll  never stop being a student and yearns to soak up more knowledge that the wider world has to offer.

Beyond Theatre

While performance is a huge part of her life, it's not the only thing she does! When not performing, she likes to learn new languages (日本語を話しますか。), practice and read tarot, collect crystals, play video games, try new foods, go to concerts, write songs, and nap. She’s  also constantly trying to learn new things and be politically involved and fight for causes near and dear to her, such as queer and immigrant rights. Always down for new experiences and very go with the flow outside of work, and could always use a friend to adventure with!