All women cast performs Samos first spring play
For the first time in Samo history, the theater production presented students who preferred not to do the musical with an opportunity to perform in a Spring play. The all female cast put on “the Wolves”, a play originally written by Sarah DeLappe. This social commentary/comedy follows a girls high school soccer team as they learn how to navigate life as young women. This special two night production gave audiences the opportunity to laugh while also raising awareness to how everyone faces their own struggles and the importance of kindness, especially in high school. During rehearsals, because of it being a smaller production, the cast had the opportunity to form a more tight knit group than a cast of 50 plus students. Many cast members shared a similar sentiment from their experiences in the play.
A24 Film’s take on a simple rom-com
In recent years, Zendaya has shined as a young and up and coming movie star, dazzling the screens with her effortless presence and sincerity. This year, Zendaya will be starring in numerous projects with a wide range of characters— Ruby “Rue” Bennet in “Euphoria”, Chani in “Dune: Part Three”, MJ in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and Athena in “The Odyssey”. Hollywood has seen many stars rise and fall; Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sicily Tyson and Dorothy Dandridge have all made waves in the film industry. Zendaya has been marked as one of these actresses, one who will continue to inspire the film industry for years to come.
Cafe samo serenades listeners
On Jan. 30 and 31, the Humanities Center at Santa Monica High School was transformed into the student-led choir event, Cafe Samo. The Humanities center showcased a variety of live music, broadcasting the range of talent within Samo’s choir program.
Melania Trump and her 15 seconds of fame
About a year and a half ago, when the now First Lady was trending on social media as an icon who hated her husband instead of a supporter contributing to the hateful presidency, Muse Films decided to document Melania Trump’s day-to-day life in the few weeks leading up to the inauguration.
Orchestra holds annual gala
Samo’s orchestra held their annual Spaghetti & Strings gala in the cafeteria on Feb. 7 from 5:30 till 9 p.m. to raise funds for the students’ South Korea tour this March. The event started with an auction where attendees bid on a variety of items from gift cards to weekend retreats while the Chamber Orchestra played background music.
The downfall of stranger things through season five
After a long three years since its last release, critically acclaimed TV series Stranger Things released its fifth and final season. The first volume, airing on Nov. 26, consisted of four episodes, followed by a three-episode volume released on Christmas Day, with the finale episode airing on New Year’s Eve. After years of anticipation, expectations for the finale were at their peak - but, instead of celebration, the finale caused viewers to feel widespread disappointment and borderline psychosis. Although it was an enjoyable watch, it should have been better prepared and executed as it ultimately felt more like a Marvel movie than a horror show.
Unrest over Netflix’s buyout of Warner Bros.
As of Dec. 25, 2025, Netflix announced its big merger deal to buy out Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max for more than $72 billion. Expected to be put into action by the summer of 2026, the decision has had varying reactions. Some claim the merger contains certain benefits, such as a larger library of films/TV, but it has also faced extreme backlash from the film industry and movie lovers all over the world for numerous reasons concerning the downfall of Hollywood.
Jazz and concert bands come together for winter concert
The Samohi Band and Jazz Band programs held a joint winter concert on Tuesday, Jan. 13th.
Netflix vs. Pentagon: the boots controversy
“Our standards across the board are elite, uniform and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay or straight,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. “We will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
The play that goes wrong....goes right???!!!!!
On Nov. 14, Samo Theatre’s ‘Scotch’ Cast performed “The Play That Goes Wrong,” written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields for their first of six showings, followed by the ‘Paint Thinner’ Cast on Nov. 15. The cast and crew did an excellent job bringing a massive catastrophe to the parents and students of Samo. The humanities center was filled with laughter as soon as the lights dimmed to begin the show.
Mediocre media marketing: it’s boring please make it stop
Advertisement is the off-the-record make-or-break of any film. A movie can be serene and meticulously crafted beyond comprehension, but make absolutely nothing in box office if it's poorly advertised. Good marketing creates word of mouth and anticipation for all forms of cinema, television, movies and even music videos. Without it, the spotlight ceases to shine, leading potentially monumental films to be utterly disregarded. We are all taught at a young age not to judge a book by its cover. However, in the hyper-commercialized world we all live in, if a billboard is bad, it’s simple: just look elsewhere. Recently, it seems the marketing of up-and-coming blockbuster films with notable actors and beloved directors have been falling flat.
What happens to stolen art: in lieu of the louvre
From the Ocean’s franchise to classic Pink Panther films to the real-life phenomenon, the concept of a museum heist has always been something that pulls the public's attention. The elaborate plans and suspenseful escapes are bound to draw in a crowd, whether or not the story is fiction or reality. In recent years, however, art heists had become far less common-until Oct. 19, 2025, when $102 million worth of historical jewelry was stolen from the Louvre Museum. Immediately, social media exploded, mocking the Louvre’s security, memeing the event and even coining the heist as ‘chic’. Among this uproar, almost nobody seemed to be concerned about the stolen items; millions of dollars worth of culturally significant jewelry was taken, quite literally pieces of history, but despite this, there appears to be no concern for the future of these jewels.
Free Art Opportunities on the Westside
All of the following art experiences are free and located on the West side of Los Angeles.
honoring culture through creative expression
The Día de los Muertos art exhibition opened on Oct. 23 from 4-7 p.m. at the Roberts Art Gallery, showcasing Samo and JAMS art students’ pieces. This yearly exhibition serves as a communal space where students in all of the different art classes on campus come together and are able to honor the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s complex commentary on modern america
Paul Thomas Anderson’s long-awaited directorial return, “One Battle After Another,” released on Sept. 26., was a film that starts off sprinting and somehow manages to keep up that pace for a lengthy two hours and 50 minutes.
The sweetest of serenades
The Samo Choir program held its annual Sweet Serenade event on Oct. 18 at John Adams Middle School (JAMS) in Santa Monica. Choir students performed a variety of pop, alternative, and country music from multiple eras. The event is the choir’s biggest fundraiser of the year and is an important source of income for the program.
HOTLB: Whats your go-to study playlist?
With school approaching the halfway mark into the semester, we asked some Samo students what their go-to study music is to listen to when they need to focus on schoolwork. Do people prefer soft, low-beat, classical music to soothe them through their work, or do they need music to be more hype for them to focus? Here is what people around campus had to say about this…
The death of perspective
One of the most remarkable aspects of media is that people have the ability to interpret it in any way they deem appropriate. This is media literacy, a term defined by the ability to critically analyze stories presented in media and determine their credibility and accuracy.
Inside Samos art classes
AP Art is one of Samo’s hidden gems. Students of all skill sets, backgrounds and ages are able to come together to create complex and extremely personal portfolios over the duration of the school year.
The comeback of Blood Orange
Devonté Hynes, better known as Blood Orange, released his newest album, “Essex Honey,” on Aug. 29. This record is his first major release under the Blood Orange name since 2019, and with it, Hynes takes listeners on a journey through the cycles of grief and resilience in the face of change.