When Every Seat matters!
“Every seat is filled — except for five.”
Those words were shouted up to me from the lobby by Michael Bowman, the Schomburg Center’s Manager of Events, as I stepped out of the production booth to check on the front-of-house team. Eight simple words — but to a playwright, producer, director, and cast, they are pure music.
I paused, smiled, and took it all in.
Moments like that instantly take me back to my very first ticketed production, Dear Diary, Black Lives Matter. I didn’t know what to expect then either. It was my first large-scale production, staged at my home church, Ephesus — a space that felt safe and familiar. On June 18, 2017, I sat in the sound booth when my director, Versella, walked over and quietly said, “We’re going to have to open the balcony.”
Again — music to my ears.
Fast forward to 2025 and six years later since my last production. After a long hiatus, I found myself back in the booth, this time at the historic Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, during its 100th anniversary year. The questions crept in, as they always do:
Did I do enough marketing? Will people show up? Will this story resonate?
So when I heard those words from Michael that night, all I could do was smile — and thank God. The Bachelor Pad was sold out.
This production represents months of work, years of growth, and a lifetime of calling. I poured my heart and soul into every scene, every line, every detail. To every person who purchased a ticket, to every friend who traveled near and far, and to every family member who showed up — thank you. To every audience member who laughed, gasped, cheered, and leaned into the story — I am deeply grateful.
Storytelling is my superpower, but it is also a sacred gift — one God entrusted to me. A masterpiece made up of moving parts, purpose, and people.
On November 15, 2025, The Bachelor Pad made history. And this is only the beginning.
We’re bringing it back in 2026, continuing to create, inspire, and make history through the arts and entertainment space.
So don’t just read this story — come experience it.
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I’ll see you at the next show.
With gratitude,
Samantha Byam
Playwright & Producer | Byamhouse Entertainment