Department of THEATRE and DANCE

SAMANTHA JO JAFFRAY

 

Samantha Jo Jaffray has been a part of the LAVC staff since 2018. Having received her A.A. Degree from the Valley College Theater Department, she has designed and been a part of many productions here, both as student and staff.

 

Samantha Jo is a Valley native who designed and made her first costume at ten years old for her role as Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Samantha Jo started her career working all over the San Fernando Valley with a variety of  youth theater groups, whom she has to thank for her nearly endless supply of patience and inspiration. As a student she started as a dresser in LAVC's production of In the Heights, she then went on to design costumes and work on many LAVC and VCP Productions, including The Crucible and Wonder of the World. Upon graduating from LAVC and becoming a staff member, she has continued to design costumes for productions, such as Liliom, and to help guide student designers on their path. Drawing from her background of working with children and young adults, she likes to lead through kindness and understanding, as well as making each student feel beautiful, motivated, and capable.

 

Samantha has been in love with LAVC's Theater program from the moment she wandered into the building and feels very blessed to be able to work with and learn from an incredibly diverse and talented group of individuals in this department. In her off time from sewing and designing for the department, she likes to sew and design for her own small business, teach youth art classes, and spend time with her husband Alan and their daughter, her muse, Hattie Jane.